Each house possessed an ample front and back garden, with a covered garage to park the family conveyance – usually on the property or nearby. As there was ample space – these houses were large and roomy. Sutton was only forced to build rental properties for workers post-1945 – although people like Thomas Wall, did use his own money to build workers’ cottages for his employees – but these were few and far between. Today, such cottages are worth millions on the free market and are highly sought after (ironically). The British comedian – Tony Hancock (1924-1968) – was famous for a fictional character he created whose back-story had him living in “East Cheam” – but East Cheam has not be used for probably hundreds of years – despite the odd campaign here and there. In 2022, Sutton Council renamed the “Electoral Ward” where we live into “West Sutton and East Cheam” – thus bringing the designation back to life. Tony Hancock must have really researched this area very well to come-up with this obscure name – making it famous
