Formerly 1 Merstham Terrace

Built late in 1868, this end of terrace house was first owned by James Hall, probably James Hall of the Hall brothers who founded Hall & Co. Ltd. They were originally Building Material Contractors and up until 1864 were based at the Merstham Chalk Pit. Their father, George Hall supplied the 'Merstham stone' used in the new London Bridge . This house was known as 1 Merstham Terrace.

This is James Hall (1814-1890) reproduced from a portrait by Ethel Hall

1876-1879: Miss Marie Crosby lived in this house with her sister Bessie Crosby and used it as a Preparatory School. Marie was born in Holbeach Lincolnshire and at the age of 20 was a Resident Teacher in a ' Ladies School ' in Folkingham, Lincolnshire . She then moved with her sister to 3 The Limes in Sutton before moving to Manchester to live with their 90 year old father. After his death, they came back to London and lived together in Lambeth.

In 1879 the house was assessed as having a maximum annual rental income of £25 and the rateable value was set at £21. It attracted an annual 'Lighting Rate' of nine shillings and fourpence halfpenny!

1881: The sole resident was a single woman called Isabella Scott who moved to Bath prior to 1891. In the 1881 census she was classified as a 'Lady'.

1881 residents: Isabella Scott age 55, b.1826 Middlesex.

In 1882 all 5 terraced properties were owned by J Tressider.

1890-1893: The head of house was Mr William Edward Butt from London who lived with his wife, three children and a servant. They had moved from 2'Edith Villas' in Sutton Grove (1881 census)

On 12th July 1898 the house along with the other 4 in the terrace was connected to the mains sewerage system. At this time the cess pits in the gardens of both number 28 and 30 were drained and filled. All 5 terraced houses at this time had two indoor toilets and a bath which was advanced for the period.

1891 residents:Mr William Edward Butt age 43, Bank Clerk b.1848 St.Georges London. Emily R Butt, wife age 42, b.1849 St.Georges London. Harry C Butt age 17, Merchants Clerk b.Wandsworth. Alice M Butt age 15, Scholar b.Wandsworth. Mast. S F Butt age 8, Scholar b.Sutton. Miss M E Elliott age 17, Servant b.Midhurst.

1894-1900:Mary Isabel Churchill. In 1894 she was a 40 year old widow living on her own means resided in the house with her daughter, two sons and a Servant. Mary was married in 1870 to George Fleetwood Churchill, son of Fleetwood Churchill who was a renowned Physician and medical author publishing a variety of titles including " Diseases of Children" in 1850. Her husband, an Army Surgeon with a rank of Major, died when she was just 28. Her eldest son Brooke Churchill, seemed to be following the family tradition, being a medical student. Her other son Fleetwood was being educated at Christ's Hospital School in London . With her family she moved early in 1900 to 30 Victoria Road when Mr Hardwick moved here. The property which was at that time owned by the Tressider executors was being purchased through the Perpetual Investment Building Society who were listed as the owners.

1900-1907:Mr Charles Arthur Hardwick, a widow and retired Schoolmaster lived here with his three sons, a boarder and a housekeeper. They had moved from 1 Newby Place Poplar(1881 census)

1901 residents:Charles Arthur Hardwick age 59, Retired Schoolmaster b.1842 Lullington Sussex . Courtenay William Hardwick age 24, b.1877 Poplar, married 1905. Edgar John Hardwick age 22, Bank Clerk b.1879 Poplar, married 1915. Somers Henry Hardwick age 17, Insurance Clerk b.Poplar. Erwin Junge age 19, Insurance Clerk b. Hamburg (German Subject). Marie Seymour age 41, widowed, Domestic Housekeeper b.St Martins Middx.

1911-1912:Mr T Henton.

1913-1915:Alfred Still. The house was still being owned by 'Perpetual Investment Building Society'. The rateable value of the house was was £22 which was £2 more than that of no's 32 and 34! Alfred Still appealed and was then only asked to pay £1 18s 4p which was the same as the other properties.

1916-1924:William Campbell Fleming.

1925-1935:George Taylor was the new tenant and owner of the freehold and he lived here with Ada Taylor. In 1934, George was one of only 10 adults in the road who were eligible for jury service.

1936-1938:William Montague Wootten lived herewith Maud Elizabeth Wotten and Ellen Montague Wotten. The register of electors also shows that Gwyneth Jones and Elizabeth Jones also stayed here. The house was still owned by George Taylor who had moved to 8 Thorncroft Road Sutton and then on to 301 Purley Way in 1943.

1939-1951: Mr Coleman was a supervisor working on the buses.

The rateable value of the house in 1943 was £23 (which it stayed at at least until 1952) and the local rate paid was £12 5s 4d.