Tooting History Group

Christmas Quiz 2018 Answers

1. In how many locations around the world does the Commonwealth War Graves Commission care for memorials and graves?

• 23,000

2. The “Classic”, the “Mayfair” and the “Astoria” are names of former cinemas in Tooting. Which of them, located between Derinton and Lessingham Avenues, is now used by the Tooting Islamic Centre?

• The Mayfair

3. Which style of architecture influenced Frank Dickinson, designer and builder of Little Holland House in Carshalton? Was it

• Arts and Crafts.

4. The Tooting History Group joined with The Friends of Tooting Common to celebrate an anniversary at the Café. What was the anniversary?

• 120 years since it opened.

5. What was the occupation of Mr. Henry Thrale, who occupied Streatham Park with his wife Hester Thrale and entertained Dr. Johnson?

• A brewer in Southwark.

6. Which Tooting Community is associated with “crubeen”, “poteen” and the “wearing of the green”?

• The Irish Community

7. Who donated the drinking fountain on Tooting Bec Common, recently restored to working order by the Tooting Common Heritage project.

• Joseph James Jones.

8. Which of these GLC byelaws did NOT apply to Tooting Commons?

• No person shall in any open space exercise racing pigeons.

9. Which Tooting secondary school did local author Beryl Kingston attend during the war and later teach at:

• Rosa Bassett.

10. What was the land now occupied by Streatham Crematorium in Blackshaw Road previously used for?

• Allotments.

11. The ancient boundary of Tooting Graveney Parish is still marked in some places by original boundary markers. Which date or dates can you find on these boundary markers:

• 1864
• 1882

12. In which year did Women of Tooting first get the vote?

• 1918

So how much do you know about Tooting History? Guests at our recent Christmas Party enjoyed our annual Christmas Quiz. The questions are based on our monthly meetings and other events we held in 2018.  There are 13 possible correct answers which will be posted here early in the New Year.

1. In how many locations around the world does the Commonwealth War Graves Commission care for memorials and graves?

• 230
• 2300
• 23,000

2. The “Classic”, the “Mayfair” and the “Astoria” are names of three former cinemas in Tooting. Which of them, located between Derinton and Lessingham Avenues, is now used by the Tooting Islamic Centre?

3. Which style of architecture influenced Frank Dickinson, designer and builder of Little Holland House in Carshalton? Was it

• Arts and Crafts?
• Post-modernism?
• Rococo?

4. The Tooting History Group joined with The Friends of Tooting Common in August to celebrate an anniversary at the Café on Tooting Common. What was the anniversary?

5. What was the occupation of Mr. Henry Thrale, who occupied Streatham Park with his wife Hester Thrale where they regularly entertained Dr. Johnson? Was he:

• A publisher in Fleet Street?
• A judge in the High Court?
• A brewer in Southwark?

6. Which Tooting Community is associated with “crubeen”, “poteen” and the “wearing of the green”?

7. Who donated the drinking fountain on Tooting Bec Common, recently restored to working order by the Tooting Common Heritage project:

• Alfred Hurley?
• Henry Prince?
• Joseph James Jones?

8. Which of these GLC byelaws did NOT apply to Tooting Commons?

• No person shall in any open space sort rags, bones, refuse, or matters of like, or mend any chair.
• No person shall in any open space shake or beat any carpet, mat, or other thing, or place any clothes or other things for the purpose of drying or bleaching.
• No person shall wilfully break glass, china, or other like thing in any open space.
• No person shall in any open space exercise racing pigeons.

9. Which Tooting secondary school did local author Beryl Kingston attend during the war and later teach at:

• Garratt Green/Burntwood?
• Rosa Bassett?
• Ensham?

10. What was the land now occupied by Streatham Crematorium in Blackshaw Road previously used for?

11. The ancient boundary of Tooting Graveney Parish is still marked in some places by original boundary markers. Which date or dates can you find on these boundary markers:

• 1864
• 1878
• 1882
• 1896

12. In which year did Women of Tooting first get the vote?

Poster For November 2018 Meeting

The Commonwealth War Graves Commission is responsible for millions of graves and memorials all over the world. When was it established? How is it funded? Come to our next meeting on Tuesday 13th November at 7.30pm to hear Fiona Smith from the CWGC talk about it’s work. Did you know that as well as finding the records of military casualties, you can look at the records of 69,000 civilian war dead on the CWGC website here.

Details of our meeting venue and how to get there are here.

We will also be selling our exclusive Tooting History Group Christmas card, which is hot off the press.

How many cinemas did there use to be in Tooting? Which Tooting Cinema is Grade 1 listed, the only cinema in Britain to be rated this highly? Come and hear about the heyday of cinemas in Tooting from Richard Gray of the Cinema Theatre Association at our October monthly meeting. The talk is on Tuesday October 9th at 7.30pm at The United Reform Church, Rookstone Road, SW17. You can find more information about the Cinema Theatre Association here.

Flyer For October 2018 Meeting

Details of our September 2018 Meeting

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 11th September. Starting at 7.30, there will be a presentation by Tooting Neighbourhood Forum and two members talks on Crime on Tooting Common and Little Holland House. Members and non-members are welcome. We will be at our usual venue-details here.

Thanks to Peter Ramell from Friends Of Tooting Common for providing the quiz last Monday. Here are the answers.

Answers

Q1.  When was the cafe built?   (1.   1918       2.      1878       3.      1898)

Answer is  3 – 1898

Q2. How many Tooting Commons are there?   (1.    One    2.    Two   3.    Three)

Answer is  2 – Two   [They are Tooting Bec Common and Tooting Graveney Common]

Q3. There is a pond on Tooting Common where Elmbourne Road meets Tooting Bec Rd. What is it known as?   (1. The Ecology Pond.  2. The Old Yachting Pond.   3. Both)

Answer is  3 – Both

Q4.  What was the annual rent paid to run the cafe for the first three years after its opening?

(1.     £25      2.     £15         3.    £125)

Answer is 1  – £25

Q5. The Friends of Tooting Common do bat walks on the Common in summer and have heard lots of bats hunting insects. Which bats have we heard? Circle all those you think are right

(1. Pipistrelle.     2. Daubenton.    3.  Soprano pipistrelle)

Answer is all three

Q6.   When the cafe opened, how much (in “old ” money) would a tea, lemonade and two hot chocolates (all together) have cost?  (1.  2 old pennies (d)    2. 8 old pennies (d) 3.  4 old pennies)

Answer is 3 – 4 old pennies (d) 

Q7. Dr Johnson’s Avenue is named after Dr Johnson, who crossed the Common to visit friends. How did he travel?    (1. Horse & cart.     2. Riding on a bike      3.  Riding on a horse)

Answer is 3 – riding on a horse

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Q8. There is a fossil tree on the Common, near the “main” pond. Who put it there?

(1. The Victorians    2.  The Romans     3. The Edwardians)

Answer is 1 – The Victorians

Q9.   What long distance path runs across the Common, crossing Bedford Hill at the path just north of the cafe, and running towards the Lido car park?

(1.   London Loop    2.   North Downs Way    3.   Capital Ring)

Answer is  3 – Capital Ring

Q10.  What is the architectural structure of the cafe usually known as?

(1.   Half-boarded     2.   Half-timbered     3.   Square-framed)

Answer is 2 – Half-timbered