Number 34 Victoria Road


Formerly 5 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 5 Merstham Terrace.

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

1871-1872: The first identifiable residents were the Mitcalfe family. John and Mary Mitcalfe had one son and one daughter and lived with a 15 year old domestic servant. Although only aged 46, it appears that John did not have active employment as the family was living on its own means derived from 'houses and interest'

1871 residents: John B Mitcalfe age 49 b.1822 Middlesex; Mary Mitcalfe age 26 b.1845 Richmond Yorkshire; Thornton S Mitcalfe age 7 b.1844 Whitley; Amy G Mitcalfe age 1 b.1870 Sutton; Annie Townsend age 15 b.1856 Newington Surrey.

1876-1881: Henry W Williamson lived here with his Bavarian born wife called Adela, their 2 sons, three daughters and a servant.

In 1879 the house was assessed as having a maximum annual rental income of £23 and a rateable value of £21. It also attracted a 'Lighting Rate' of nine shillings and fourpence halfpenny!

1881 residents: Henry W Williamson age 46, Surveyor b.1835 Tooting; Adela L Williamson age 41 b.1840 Bavaria (naturalised british subject); William L Williamson age 15 b.1866 Ryde I O W; Mary L Williamson age 13. b.1868 Sutton; Henry J Williamson age 8 b.1873 Sutton; Maud H Williamson age 5 b,1876 Sutton; Ethel M Williamson age 3 b.1878 Sutton; Marie Franck age 21 Domestic Servant b.1857 Germany .

By 1882 all 5 houses in the terrace were now owned by J Tressider.

1890-1896: John Charles Herring was the Assistant Overseer and Rate Collector for the Parish and he lived here with his wife, daughter and a servant. They purchased the freehold for the property from J Tressider in 1890. The family had previously lived at 1 Park Villas in Grove Road Sutton.

1890 residents: John Charles Herring age 54 b.1836 Teddington; Emma L Herring age 43 b.1856 St. Marylebone; Miss A S Herring age 6 b.1884 Sutton; Miss E E Farlow age 17, Domestic Servant b.1873 Lambeth.

On 12th July 1898 , all 5 terraced properties were connected to the main sewerage system. For the 30 years prior to this, cess pits located in the gardens of No28 and No30 were used for domestic waste. These were then drained and filled at this time.

1898-1937: The Rhodes family lived here for 39 years, initially Robert and Emma Rhodes with their son and daughter. In 1898 they had purchased the freehold from the Herring family.

1901 residents: Robert Ernest Rhodes age 42, Coal Merchants Clerk b.1859 Epsom; Emma Louise Rhodes age 42 b.1859 Kentish Town; George A S Rhodes age 13 b.1888 Sutton; Dorothy Louise Rhodes age 10 b.1891 Sutton.

1937: Alfred Simmonds lived here but the house was now owned by Mrs E A Burrage of 65 West Street Sutton who also owned number 30

1938-1946: L Tucker and others

In 1947 the house was purchased by Mr L C Bushby who also bought number 30.

1947-1952: Cairns, Lester lived here and the house continued its multi tenancy.

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.