Heatherside and Chesterfield Roads were laid out in the late 1800's although many of the houses were built much later. In the early 30's Fulford road was much the same as it is now as was Heatherside and Chester-field. Lansdowne was a new road. There was a newt pond where the Church now is. Number 25 was the first house, built by Dracey the builder. Next to it was a pond with newts in it, this was later a private tennis court and is now the site of West Ewell Evangelical Church Then the Bungalows were built, after the war the council houses at the top were added. In 1934 there were 37 homes, all had names - no numbers. The six houses at the South end of Lansdowne Road were council houses, built for hospital workers. These were built on a field were formerly the Parish Church held fetes.
Danetree Rd was begun on the site of Danetree Cottage. A house here would have set you back £695. The School was built in 1939. Both Chesterfield Road and Danetree Road also has council houses at the end. To-day we would call then “Key Worker” homes.
At the north end of these roads was a field where a Fair used to visit (Edwards Fair). There has been no mention of what the shows were like but its vehicles getting stuck in the mud seemed to have caused considerable entertainment. This field is now King George Recreation Ground.
Although a lot of houses were built by large companies, some plots, such as the ones on Chessington road, were bought by individuals such as ex-service men from the Great War, who built their own homes. These houses were built in the evenings and weekends with the owners often living in tents or a shed or commuting by bike until the roof was on. Materials were usually second hand, often surplus from the L.C.C. hospitals and parts of old army huts. The drainage was usually into a cesspool until the sewers were laid in the 30's. The road surfaces were hard surface gravel originally
After the war the area to the west of the houses i.e. Shawford Road, Gadesden Road and Cherry was used for pre-fabs, these were shipped in large crates from Canada and were constructed on site. Often they were more comfortable inside than the surrounding houses. They had a designed life of 10yrs but were used elsewhere after being used in West Ewell, possibly as holiday homes on the coast.
Ruxley Lane had the appearance of a country lane up until the war.
|
Development of local roads: West from Plough Rd
Posted - 30 Mar 2005 : 03:59:13 AM
