Pear Tree Cottages, Leatherhead Road

These two cottages were typical workers cottages and stood on the Leatherhead Road until their demolition in 2002

A Bainbridge

1940s photo of Pear Tree Cottages

Mrs Bainbridge who had lived in one cottage wrote this eloquent letter to the Kingston Informer to try and rally support to save them

Copy of text of letter in Kingston Informer

Regarding the article Council is Slammed, week ending January 25, about Pear Tree Cottage in Leatherhead Road, Chessington.

They were once well kept little cottages. I lived in one of them with my parents over 40 years ago for several happy years. I am certain that a lot of people with the resources would be happy to buy and modernise these character cottages. I was told by the council they were to be demolished to make way for affordable new homes. When I enquired as to why they could not be sold and the cash used to yet more houses (sic) for people in need, I was told that if that was done the government would take most of the money. I am 100 per cent in favour of helping homeless people but I think a compromise should be reached otherwise another little piece of old Chessington will be lost forever.

A Bainbridge

I also wrote to English Heritage and The Department of Culture and the Media to try and get them listed but the demolition still went ahead - and as Mrs Bainbridge says, another little piece of old Chessington is lost forever. Thankfully the photos have been kept.

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