Common Road
| H I N C H L E Y W O O D | ||||||||
| E | 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C |
| S | 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
H |
| H | 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E |
| E | 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
| R | 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
S |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
N | |
| O X S H O T T | ||||||||
2024 Planning Applications
№ 56
ADDRESS: 56 Common Road
|
№ 57
ADDRESS: 57 Common Road
|
| ADDRESS: 57 Common Road
|
ADDRESS: 57 Common Road
|
| ADDRESS: 57 Common Road
|
№ 87
| ADDRESS: 87 Common Road
|
Historical Notes
Housing built from 1885 to the outbreak of World War I was located mainly along the northern ends of Vale Road and Coverts Road, along parts of Red Lane, Common Road, in particular the brickfield workers' cottages near 'The Griffin', and towards the southern end of Oaken Lane. Half a dozen houses were also built on the south side of the western end of Red Lane which was then renamed St Leonards Road (not St. Leonard's Road, as is sometimes incorrectly stated) after Lord St Leonards; he became Lord High Chancellor of England in 1852 and lived at Boyle Farm, Thames Ditton.
The Forge, 43 Common Road
The Forge was begun in 1896 by Jesse Hogsden who had worked at the village smithy at № 1 Sydney Terrace, The Green, before it was burned down in 1895. At the start of the 20th century, Claygate's blacksmith in Common Road was shoeing 20 horses a week, such was the importance of horse traffic for the movement of goods. The business stayed in the family, changing after time to the repair of lawnmowers etc and eventually closing to become a private house in 1996.
The Clay Pit at Common Road
The manufacture of clay bricks and tiles was for many years Claygate's principal industry and source of employment. It is said that bricks from Claygate were used in the building of Hampton Court Palace in the 16th century, but no positive evidence to support this has yet been uncovered. But it is known that Claygate bricks were used to repair the Palace during the 19th century, and it would be fair to assume that the repairers would have wanted bricks from the same source as those used when the Palace was built.
There are distinct geological differences between the various types of clay. For example, the clay and sand beds to be found at Claygate, and in some other locations such as around Esher, at Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park, Sydenham and elsewhere, are different in character and composition from most other clay deposits in the Thames Valley. And because of the clear exposure and thickness of sedimentation of these particular clay deposits in Claygate, they were given the generic name of Claygate Beds by Dewey, the geologist, in 1912.
The oldest of the three clay pits in Claygate was located near Common Road and Stevens Lane on land now occupied by Kilnside and Fishersdene. Fishersdene took its name from the clay pond over which it was built.
In 1838 the pit was being worked by George Waffew. In 1888 this brickfield was known as Roser's Brickfield. Evidence suggests the brickfield was leased by Roser from the Speer family who acquired the Manor of Weston in 1801, and owned extensive lands in Thames Ditton and Claygate. However, the reference to Roser must have been a hangover from earlier years, as in 1874 through to the late 1890s, Thomas Dawes is recorded as working the Common Road brickfield, presumably under a lease from the Speer family. There may be a connection between Thomas Dawes and Dawes Court, a small turning off the Portsmouth Road, near Esher police station. The small wooden-fronted cottages in Dawes Court date back to the 18th century, although they have been refaced externally and renovated internally in recent years. This court also used to contain one of Esher's two blacksmith's shops.
In 1899 the brickfield was leased by Hannibal Speer of the Manor House, Thames Ditton, to Welch & Sons: Charles and his two sons Charles and Thomas. Charles senior died in May 1900 at the age of 69, while his son Charles died in 1905. Thomas lived until 1939, and his wife Rosina until 1956. All four are buried in Holy Trinity's churchyard. The Welch family lived for many years in various houses in St Leonards Road, and owned several properties in Common Road.
Hannibal Speer died a bachelor in April 1915, and his heir to this property, Marianne Litchfield-Speer, also of Manor House, Thames Ditton, leased the brickfield for 21 years from 1921 to Frederick de Bertodano, Marquis del Moral, of Belsize Square, London, and his brother, Henry de Bertodano of Walton-on-Thames. Presumably, therefore, the Welch family relinquished their interest in the brickfield in that year. During this period adjoining lands were leased or purchased from Lord Foley and Mary, Countess of Lovelace, but these were relatively minor parts of the total brickfield site.
In 1925, the de Bertodanos assigned their lease to Claygate Brickfields Ltd, and in 1930 Mrs. Litchfield-Speer sold the freehold to the de Bertodanos for £2,600. They in turn sold the freehold to Claygate Brickfields for £4,000 in 1934. In 1922 an affiliated company called Claygate Fireplaces Ltd was established, the last chairman of which was Martin de Bertodano.
Claygate Fireplaces rapidly acquired a pre-eminent position in the manufacture of brick fireplaces to the point where its name became synonymous with the product throughout the UK and in some overseas markets. Within a few years the whole output of this brickfield was devoted to the manufacture of high-quality, small bricks (or briquettes) for fireplaces, providing employment for about 100 local people.
There were environmental constraints in the contract: top soil had to be carefully removed and stacked for eventual replacement, and no night working was permitted. Limits on the depth of digging for clay were also prescribed to avoid undermining nearby property and roads.
The Common Road pit had a large working face around 40 feet wide. Where hand-digging was impracticable, a Chaseside mechanical shovel was used to extract the clay. The clay was then piled in mounds and covered with ash, which was later dug into it. The proportion of ash used and the addition of sand was a trade secret and was the major determinant of the colour of the resulting bricks. After de-stoning, grinding and soaking for three days, the clay was processed into blocks and hand-pressed into the 70 odd different shapes required for the various designs of fireplaces made by the firm. After drying, the bricks were fired in round down-draught, coal-fired kilns at a temperature of 950°C for about 70 hours. The process required about one ton of coal per 16,500 bricks — a high fuel consumption by brick industry standards. Finally, the bricks were made up into fireplaces onsite in the slabbing shed.
One of the main entrances to the brickfield was off Common Road, opposite the junction with The Causeway, which later became Glenavon Close. The latter took its name from Glenavon House, once the offices of Claygate Fireplaces. The other main entrance was also off Common Road, not far from the junction with Stevens Lane, and was subsequently developed for housing.
Of the many Claygate families associated with the Common Road brickyard over the years, the aforementioned Welch and de Bertodano families, and the Wellbelove family are probably the best known. The most renowned member of the latter was Jack Wellbelove who started work in this brickyard in 1888 at the age of 12 fetching beer from the local pub, most likely 'The Alma', but possibly 'The Griffin'. His father, nine brothers and nephew also worked in this yard at various times. Jack made the first experimental briquettes for Claygate Fireplaces, and became works manager. Jack Wellbelove finally retired in 1964. The pit and yard were closed shortly thereafter, and after suitable restoration, the land was developed for housing. However, Claygate's association with the manufacture of fireplaces was continued by Galleon-Claygate Ltd which had its headquarters in Tolworth.
The Griffin
Although the earliest surviving deed of 'The Griffin' is dated 1880, it is clear that the original public house, subsequently known as the 'Old Griffin', pre-dates 1843 when it and the land on which it stood was owned by Lawrence Ridgers, together with adjoining land fronting Common Road. The 'Old Griffin' was purchased by Messrs Burrows and Cole of the Twickenham Brewery in 1866 when it comprised a parlour, bar, tap room, kitchen, scullery, cellar and three bedrooms, with stables for four horses and a skittle alley.
From 1896, when 'The Griffin' was purchased by Brandons Putney Brewery, changes of ownership followed the same pattern and timing as that of the Hare and Hounds. The present public house was built in front of the 'Old Griffin', which stood a little farther back from the road.
The Alma
In around 1854, Alma Cottage, 41 Common Road, was built as a public house called The Alma. It was so named, it is thought, to commemorate the Battle of the Alma which took place in 1854 during the Crimean War (1854-56) between Russia and the allied forces of France, Turkey, Sardinia and Great Britain. Old photographs suggest the Alma was very popular with workers from the nearby brickfield, and that it was a tied house selling mainly Watney Combe Reid beers.
Near The Alma must have been a pond, as in January 1868 two boys fell through the ice while sliding. No-one was nearby at the time, but their cries brought help, and one boy was rescued and taken home, almost dead. When he recovered consciousness, he asked after his friend. A search was then made and the body of George Wiltshire, aged eight, was recovered. A verdict of accidental death was recorded at the inquest held at the Alma Inn.
In 1911, The Alma ceased trading as a public house and was converted into a private dwelling house and renamed Alma Cottage.
No account of commerce in Claygate would be complete without mention of Walter Arthur of 43 St Leonards Road. He started his business in 1883 in Mathews Terrace, Common Road, and advertised himself in the 1950s as a builder, decorator, upholsterer, undertaker, plumber, gasfitter, heating and electrical engineer, sign and glass writer, and erector of headstones and memorials. Walter died in 1965 at the age of 101. He had three sisters, one of whom was no less skilled, but in a different way. She conducted from the same premises an entertainments business embracing children's and adults' parties, birthday and wedding celebrations, as well as a fancy dress costume hiring service.
Walter Arthur also owned and built Lantern Hall in Common Road in the 1930s. This hall was used for a variety of community activities until World War II when it was leased from the Arthurs by Naafi. From 1953 to 1954 the Village Hall Association took over the remainder of Naafi's lease. Consideration was then given to purchasing the hall for the village, but other views prevailed and the decision was taken to build a purpose-built village hall in Church Road. In 1965 Lantern Hall was purchased by Surrey County Council and used as a depot for its county library services which were headquartered at Esher until these were transferred to Dorking in 1981. It was then used as a warehouse by Allied Packaging of Thames Ditton.
Sources
- Peebles, Malcolm (1983). The Claygate Book. (Millennium edition). Stockbridge: by BAS Printers Ltd. ISBN 0-9508978-0-9.
- Many thanks also for the photos, many supplied by Terry Gale, from the Claygate Local History Facebook group.
