We like the Mitcham Maps

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Anyone who finds themselves in central Mitcham with a bit of time to spare could do a lot worse than take a walk with one of the two new Mitcham Maps.

Both maps have a huge number of places of interst on them, and offer a couple of suggested walk as well as letting you simply wander around and learn about the amazing history and heritage of our area.

The maps include existing places and places that have disappeared for ever. The area covered runs from Figges Marsh to Mitcham Common, from Merton Abbey Mills to Mitcham town centre.

You should be able to find printed copies of the maps in various locations such as libraries, or you can download them from the Borough of Merton web site:

Upper Mitcham

Lower Mitcham

The maps have been produced by Volunteers from the Mitcham Society working with the London Borough of Merton

Save our assets

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One of our latest projects is to identify the buildings and open spaces in the area which are most valued by the local community. We are keen to take advantage of the new legal protection which has been introduced under the “community right to bid”.

Where local assets are included on a register held by the local council this means they can’t be sold off without the local community being given time to come up with some alternative proposals.

We’ve already identified the cricket pavilion and the fire station as early contenders. Neither is currently owned by the community and both are at risk.

We’ve included our ideas on a website gathering examples across the country and you can see the fire station here and the cricket pavilion here.

Let us know which other buildings or open space you think we should be campaigning for. Contact us at the usual address: info@mitchamcricketgreen.org.uk

Our comments on proposals to develop Cricket Green School

We’ve submitted comments to Merton on proposals for work at Cricket Green School.

The school sits in the Cricket Green Conservation area, and is specifically identified in the draft Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan for Cricket Green as one which would benefit from environmental improvement to contribute more positively to the character of the area. It is in that context that we’ve made our submission.

In our comments we say that there is potential for Merton to show leadership by example in how it executes changes. We’re disappointed that some aspects of the plans don’t show that leadership and set a good example for others to follow.

For example, did you know there is a small, Grade II listed, remnant of the 14th Century Hall Place Chapel within the grounds of the school? Merton apparently does not, as the plans do not mention it, nor show it on the very detailed maps which have been complied. Maps which are detailed enouth to include every drainage cover on the site.

One of our aims with our comments is to ensure this piece of local history is properly protected and that there is some interpretation explaining the site. At present it sits with no interpretation at all.

We comment on several other aspects of the plans, and you can read our full comments here.

Fantastic London Open House event at the cricket pavilion

What a fantastic time we had today opening the cricket pavilion for London Open House Weekend.

The pavilion is usually used by members of the Mitcham Cricket Club (the other MCC!) and their guests, but today it was opened to the public free of charge.

We ran a couple of special events at the same time. Local author Keith Booth, a Surrey and England cricket scorer, signed copies of his book “Lives In Cricket: Tom Richardson – A Bowler Pure and Simple” before dashing off to take part in a cricket match.

Meanwhile a specially organised walk around the Cricket Green took in some local historic sights and culminated in a tea in the pavilion.

We also had a display of historic photographs and a rolling slideshow of interesting information about the pavilion and the cricket club.

Not to mention tea and cakes on tap!

We had lots of visitors, both local and from further afield. All in all a very good day.

You can see the photos we took on the day at our Flickr site here.

Book signing at the Cricket Pavilion on 22 September

We’re really delighted to be able to announce that there will be a book signing at our London Open House event at the Cricket Pavilion on 22 September.

Surrey and England cricket scorer Keith Booth will be signing copies of his latest book “Lives In Cricket: Tom Richardson – A Bowler Pure and Simple” between 10 am and 12 noon at the pavilion on Cricket Green.

Although there have been a number of profiles and copious mentions of Richardson in cricket literature and his statistical achievements have been well documented, there has not until now been a full-scale biography.  Keith Booth has written a detailed and lively account of Tom Richardson’s life which should appeal to local people because of his long association with Mitcham Cricket Club.

Keith Booth said “I have played on the Cricket Green a few years ago, but that was before I knew very much about Tom Richardson. It is a pleasure to be returning now to where he played his early cricket. It should be a great day.”

Mitcham Cricket Club is the ground where cricket has been played longer continuously than anywhere else in the world – over 300 years.

The pavilion is opening free of charge to the public as part of London Open House weekend between 10am and 5pm.

The London Open House event is being hosted jointly by Mitcham Cricket Club and Mitcham Cricket Green Community and Heritage.

Looking forward to London Open House on 22 September

London Open House is an annual event which takes place every September. Over a set weekend hundreds of locations in London open to the public free of charge, allowing people to see places that in many cases they would not normally have access to.

For the second year we are working with Mitcham Cricket Club to open the pavilion on Cricket Green. It is a fantastic building, stuffed with historic photographs and cricketing paraphanalia. It is unique in being the only cricket pavilion separated from its ground by a main road – the A239, and it is a common sight to see players crossing the road during matches.

The cricket pavilion is open to all from 10.00am till 5.00pm on Saturday 22 September.

The pavilion is one of several Mitcham locations opening to the public and there are many more throughout the borough. More details from Merton Council’s web site.

If you would like to know more about Open House venues throughout London then visit the London Open House web site.