Formerly 2 Merstham Terrace

Built late in 1868, this mid-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 2 Merstham Terrace.

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

1876: F A Hyne was the first identifiable resident of the property.

1879: The house was estimated to have a maximum annual rental income of £25, and had a rateable value of £21. It also attracted an annual 'Lighting Rate' of nine shillings and fourpence halfpenny!

1879: Miss Phillips

1881-1887: The head of the house was Robert Humphris a builder employing 27 men and 3 boys. He had moved with his wife Louisa from 18 Richard Street Chatham , where he had started married life as a carpenter, living with her parents. They later moved on to Court Road Sutton where they had 2 more daughters Mabel and Edith. Their Eldest son became a Builders Manager and when married to Jessie moved to 4 St Nicholas Road where they lived with his Mother in Law and her son and daughter. They also ran a Furnishing and General Ironmongers shop at 29 High Street and had a Builders Yard and offices on the Carshalton Road where the new police station now stands.

1881 residents:Robert J Humphris age 41, b.Tamworth; Louisa M Humphris(nee Thurlow) age 37, wife b.Pembroke Wales; Louisa Marion Humphris age 19, m.1886;Robert John Humphris age 18, b.Chatham, m.1887; Charles E Humphris age 14, Lavinia Eliza Humphris 12, m.1893; Selina Martha Humphris age 10, b.1870 m.1891; Caroline Clara Humphris age 9, b.1872 m.1897; Alice Gertrude Humphris age 7, b.1873 Ada Florence Humphris age 6, b.1875; Helen Maud Humphris age 3, b.1877; Kate Millicent Humphris age 2, b.1878.m.1909; Lizzie Catherine Humphris age 9m. b.1880 d.1897 aged 17; Harriet Weller age 17 Domestic Servant, m.1890?

Mr Humphris was a reputable builder of new houses and is known to have built 31 and 32 High Street and many more homes in Mulgrave Road . Church's 'Illustrated Sutton' in 1880 commenting on the High Street properties wrote: "These are not unworthy of the high reputation of this gentleman for perfect taste and architectural skill" In 1883 he also built at a cost of £8550, the Baptist Church in the High Street where the Rev. Bergin from 32 Victoria Road led his congregation, and the old Town Hall which stood next to the old Police Station prior to its demolition in the 1970's was built at a cost of £3700. The largest known project built by Mr Humphris was the North Wing of the South Metropolitan District School to the south of Sutton. His daughter, Ada Florence was known to still be single in 1938 and running the Co-operative store at 6a Ewell Road, Cheam.

In 1882 The row of 5 terraced properties were all owned by J E Tressider who also owned all 25 houses in Pellatt Road .

1890: Frederick George Phillips

1892-1893: Francis Lyndon lived in the house and had to pay the local rates of £1 3s 4p twice a year in April and October.

1894: The freehold of this property was now owned by A Pearce who purchased it from J E Tressider.

1894-1898: Rev. W D Standfast. He was the Assistant Curate at St. Nicholas Church in the town centre.

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 date had 2 indoor toilets and a bath which was quite advanced for the period.

1899: Mrs S G Surridge. She was a 'Costumier' and in 1901 had moved to 'Bethersden' in West Street .

1901-1904: The house was only occupied by 2 people and was used as a Laundry byAnnie Hart who employed a live in Laundry Maid.

1901 residents: Annie Mabel Hart age 37, Laundress, b.1864, Belvedere Kent , m.1907; Emily Brown age 28, Laundry Maid b.1873 Bow.

1904-1908: Mrs C Neville. The house at some stage during her occupation was split into appartments.

1909-1910: Empty.

1911-1923: Joseph Smith was the tennant and the house was still owned by A Pearce. The rateable value of the house was £22, just £1 more than 35 years previously. In 1915, the actual amount paid in local taxation for the year was £3 16s 8p!

1924: Mrs M J Smith.

1925-1929: Misses A M and M Parry. Miss Annie Mabel Parry C.M.B. was a certified Midwife. Miss Parry was the first person in the terrace to have a telephone and her number was Sutton 2072.

1930-1938: Mrs Lily Mobsby and Archibald George Mobsby. The 1934 Kelly's Directory shows Mrs Mobsby running a Boarding House and she could be phoned on Sutton 4380. Ethel Dowsett was also living here as she appeared in the register of electors. The house was at this time owned by Mrs F Thompson of Greenhayes Avenue Banstead and the rateable value was now £23. During 1936, Archibald Mobsby died and John Frederick Archer and Minnie Carpenter lived here.

1939-1946: Harry Bensley lived here with his wife Kate and purchased the freehold having moved from 6 Alfred Road. 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. Also living in thehouse were Sarah Duggan, Mary A Gilchrist, Annie P Tunney and Mary Tunney.

1947-1952: Mrs Annie Ransom lived here and she also purchased the freehold.

1962: David Frazer Ruston from Epsom.

1968-1973: Roy Leonard Moody from Wallington.

1973-1977: Vera Winifred Mary Lyndon-Haynes from Sutton.

1977-1983: Christopher John Garret and Zaphira Loraine Angelica Perera