Firbank Dairy
The tyre shop was originally Firbank Dairy, run by Mr Burchley, or his name may have been spelt Birchley, then Funnell's when run by Mr Funnell. He was bought out by Mr Chizlett and then it became Spar. We have a photo of Mr Funnell outside the shop.
Orange Cafe
The shop now occupied by By George hairdressers was called the Orange Cafe and there was a shoemaker's next door. The owner of the Orange Cafe had a daughter who worked at the zoo: she would ride an elephant to the cafe a few times in the summer, and the elephant would have some bath buns to eat before walking back.
Voss'
Across the road, on a site now occupied by two or three 1960s town houses, stood another grocers, in a bungalow approached by a garden path, which we think was called Voss. It was later sold to a Mrs Judge. It was there before 1941 and probably pulled down in the late 50s early 60s.
Ferris Newsagent/Tyler's
Nearby, Ferris Newsagent at 53 Leatherhead Road also started opening on Sundays in later years. It had started life as Tyler's, then became Fleetwood Newsagency with J P Harris as proprieter but has now been demolished along with the neighbouring Fleetwood Garage and been replaced by new houses in St Catherine's Close. As Fleetwood Newsagency it was also a tobacconist, confectioner, stationer and "The Wayside" lending library
1952 Advert
Leatherhead Road Houses
This large house was home to the Mitford Family, in the 1930s
Locally it was rumoured that this was a branch of the famous socialite Mitford Family, but extensive research by local historian Mark Davison has so far failed to establish any such link.
Any information confirming or supporting the connection would be of great interest so please email Local Memories if you have any
Pear Tree Cottages, Leatherhead Road
Bridge Road Roundabout - Chessington Parade Shops
Blakeys
These 1952 adverts illustrate what customers could expect at Blakeys, the grocers/general store
Wendy's wool shop by the bus stop was well-known for miles, when knitting was a very popular and essential means of clothing a family. The window display was covered in yellow cellophane, a common practice to prevent the goods from fading
The shop on the corner was the local greengrocers Peates, now an Estate Agent
The original hairdresser's there was Smith's
Travelling further along the Leatherhead Road towards Epsom and the Zoo, tucked in next to some houses is the Chessington Parish Hall. In 2004 an application to demolish the hall was approved, but the application was withdrawn later in the year
This picture shows it in 2004,
but it dates back much further, having been a popular local dance venue in World War II
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