The Banstead Image Library
Victoria and High Street, 1960
A Photochrom postcard, reference V8026 and postmarked 7 April 1960, showing the Victoria Hotel and the western end of Banstead High Street. Note the lack of traffic (and the two cedar trees!)
Picture added on 17 September 2021 at 14:45
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No wonder it was so easy to travel by bicycle! (which I did)
Added by Michael Funnell on 21 November 2021
What is other white building and the one peeking out from behind to the right side of the picture?
Note from LNW; I believe that was Wingfield House but need to check.
UPDATE: Yes that was definitely Wingfield House. I have an exact duplicate of this card and a 60 x magnifying loop shows that at the time, it was occupied by Bowditch and Co, valuers and surveyors. Can't see any identifying marks on the other building you enquired about. The whole area was once Wingfield farm (later Winkworth's farm) hence the name. This might need a trawl through Banstead Urban District Council minutes unless someone else can enlighten us.
Further UPDATE: The Council minutes include several years of processing a planning application, starting in the early 1960s, to convert Wingfield House into four shops with offices over the top. There was much discussion, mostly about parking, but one decision was to reallocate the frontage area as part of the highway. Waitrose later set up shop in Wingfield House in the early 1970s.
Note from LNW; I believe that was Wingfield House but need to check.
UPDATE: Yes that was definitely Wingfield House. I have an exact duplicate of this card and a 60 x magnifying loop shows that at the time, it was occupied by Bowditch and Co, valuers and surveyors. Can't see any identifying marks on the other building you enquired about. The whole area was once Wingfield farm (later Winkworth's farm) hence the name. This might need a trawl through Banstead Urban District Council minutes unless someone else can enlighten us.
Further UPDATE: The Council minutes include several years of processing a planning application, starting in the early 1960s, to convert Wingfield House into four shops with offices over the top. There was much discussion, mostly about parking, but one decision was to reallocate the frontage area as part of the highway. Waitrose later set up shop in Wingfield House in the early 1970s.
Added by Kelly Mason on 27 June 2022
Yes, that white building was indeed Bowditch's. Mr Bowditch lived along Brighton Road No140ish? There may have been solicitors in that building as well, but it's too long ago to recall now. Neither can I remember what the dark building was. Banstead Glass Works was in that area, but I don't think in that building.
Added by Michael Funnell on 27 June 2022
Behind Wingfield House (late 50s-early 60s) there was a small garage workshop run by AE Pull. Access was alongside the western side of Wingfield House. I used to help there in my spare time to earn a bit of money. As far as I can remember re-building work on Wingfield House began in about 1963 (maybe 1964). AE Pull then moved to premises at Nork.
Access to other small premises at the rear of that area - a car sales office was one - was a short distance along on the other side of Wingfield House, but I can't recall the exact location.
The Victoria had 3 bars; public, saloon and a small private bar. The extension on the left hand side of the building, as seen in the photograph, was a outside toilet, and conveniently always open!
The publican was Arthur - a rather portly gentlemen.
Access to other small premises at the rear of that area - a car sales office was one - was a short distance along on the other side of Wingfield House, but I can't recall the exact location.
The Victoria had 3 bars; public, saloon and a small private bar. The extension on the left hand side of the building, as seen in the photograph, was a outside toilet, and conveniently always open!
The publican was Arthur - a rather portly gentlemen.
Added by Michael Funnell on 28 June 2022
Was the darker building Wingfield Hall? I've read a lot about a hall in that area the school used to use sometimes - maybe this was it?
Note from LNW: Kelly, that would be Winkworth Hall but I have never found a picture of it.
Note from LNW: Kelly, that would be Winkworth Hall but I have never found a picture of it.
Added by Kelly Mason on 28 June 2022
Look at the map here surveyed 1957 maps.nls.uk/view/103028658 available on the National Library of Scotland website.
That building looks as though it might be No 11.
AE Pull's premises look to be No 3
Note Winkworth Hall is also on this map.
Anyone have access to a Kelly's street directory for this time?
Note from LNW:
Thanks Michael. I sent that very same map to Kelly last night. Was not sure if the other building was no. 11 or the one behind no. 15. I think you are probably right and it is no.11. One of our members has a database listing all the properties from day one. Still has a lot of gaps but a good resource. Will check with him.
That building looks as though it might be No 11.
AE Pull's premises look to be No 3
Note Winkworth Hall is also on this map.
Anyone have access to a Kelly's street directory for this time?
Note from LNW:
Thanks Michael. I sent that very same map to Kelly last night. Was not sure if the other building was no. 11 or the one behind no. 15. I think you are probably right and it is no.11. One of our members has a database listing all the properties from day one. Still has a lot of gaps but a good resource. Will check with him.
Added by Michael Funnell on 28 June 2022
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