Mitcham

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Mitcham
Surrey
Mitcham, Tramlink - geograph.org.uk - 415494.jpg
Mitcham tramlink
Location
Grid reference: TQ285685
Location: 51°24’3"N, 0°9’6"W
Data
Post town: Mitcham & London
Postcode: CR4, SW17
Dialling code: 020
Local Government
Council: Merton
Parliamentary
constituency:
Mitcham and Morden

Mitcham is town in Surrey within the metropolitan conurbation. The town is both residentially and financially developed, well served by London Transport. It is within the Wallington Hundred of Surrey.

Mitcham Town Centre is the commercial heart of the town, with Mitcham Library and the Cricket Green too, notwithstanding the generally suburban nature of the surrounds.

Location

The River Wandle bounds the town to the southwest. The original village lies in the west, although expansion has pushed the eastern boundary the furthest. Mitcham Common takes up the greater part of the boundary and area to the south.

An 18th century milestone on Figges Marsh indicates Mitcham to be 8½ from Whitehall. Nearby lie Streatham, Tooting, Sutton, Croydon and Wimbledon.

Mitcham had never been well served by railway, due to it being equidistant between the historic lines of Waterloo to Southampton and London Bridge to Brighton. The recent addition of Mitcham Eastfields railway station in June 2008, nearer to the centre of the town than Mitcham Junction, on the same line, has improved transport links. It is the first suburban station to be built in 50 years in the area. The station serves routes to London Victoria, Blackfriars and London Bridge, and by changing at Streatham 5 minutes away, bring St Albans, Bedford and Luton Airport within reach by direct trains.

Mitcham appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as Michelham. It was held partly by the Canons of Bayeux; partly by William, son of Ansculf and partly by Osbert. Its Domesday assets were: 8 hides and 1 virgate. It had ½ mill worth £1, 3½ ploughs, 56 acres of meadow. It rendered £4 5s 4d.[1]

Outside links

Mitcham Parish Church

References