Situated
about nine miles from London, the parish of Mitcham contained between
some two and three thousand acres which were chiefly given over to the
cultivation of peppermint, lavender, "physical herbs" (medicinal
herbs) and corn. A beautiful stream called the Wandle, commended in
Regency times for the purity and transparency of its waters, passed
through the parish - it was lined with mills for the grinding of corn,
tobacco and logwood. The banks of the Wandle were also used for the
bleaching and printing of calico. "Upon one of these premises is
a simple and obvious invention, an engine in case of fire, the pumps
worked by the same wheel used in the business."
On
the entrance into Mitcham from Sutton stood a villa called Mitcham Grove,
owned by Henry Hoare esquire, formerly the residence of Lord Loughborough.
The river Wandle, an excellent trout stream, formed a canal through
the villa's gardens.
The
church, pictured above, was an ancient structure that was, nonetheless,
handsome and commodious within.
David
Hughson described the village of Mitcham as remarkable for its romantic
location, and for having once been the residence of Sir Walter Raleigh.
There
was an annual fair held in Mitcham which commenced on 12th August and
continued for three days.
