Municipal Borough of Mitcham

Mitcham was a local government district in north east Surrey from 1915 to 1965 around the town of Mitcham.

Mitcham
Mitcham Vestry Hall
History
• Created	1915
• Abolished	1965
• Succeeded by	London Borough of Merton
Status	urban district (until 1934) municipal borough (after 1934)

History

Mitcham local government district was created in 1915 as an urban district from part of the abolished Croydon Rural District. It gained the status of municipal borough in 1934.^[1]

In 1965, under the London Government Act 1963, the municipal borough was abolished and its area combined with that of the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District to form the present-day London Borough of Merton in Greater London.^[2]

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the municipal borough were granted in 1934 and defined as:

Shield

A pale vert (green central vertical band), representing the green of Mitcham. The centre has a fess wavy argent (silver wavy horizontal band) charged with a barulet wavy azure (blue narrow wavy bar) to indicate the ford of north Mitcham, which was once known as Whitford. Below the fess, a tower argent (silver tower) represents the great dwelling, from which Mitcham got its earlier name of Michelham. Above the fess, cross-keys and sword or (gold) represent Mitcham's patron saints, St. Peter and St. Paul. On each side of the pale is a sprig of lavender proper (in its natural colour).

Crest

Three sprigs of lavender on a wreath or and vert entwined by a mural coronet (wall-like crenellated crown, indicative of municipal status).^[3]

Motto

"Mitcham Faeste Gestandeþ" - Mitcham stands fast (Old English).

References

1. "Alderman J Fitch, Mayor 1934-35". Merton Photographic Archive. Retrieved 9 May 2020.
2. "Local Government Act 1963". Legislation.gov.uk. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
3. "Civic Heraldry, Mitcham Borough Council". Retrieved 27 December 2007.

External links

• A Vision of Britain - Mitcham UD/MB

51°24′N 0°10′W