Wandsworth Common

The first of a new type of prefabricated dwelling to be built in Battersea was to be completed within three weeks. The house stood on the verge of Wandsworth Common, facing Bolingbroke Grove. It was proposed to build 107 of these dwellings. Other sites for the same type of home would be Clapham Common and a portion of Wandsworth Common adjoining St Mark's Church, Battersea Rise.

Home-hungry citizens of South-West London continued their weary search for somewhere to live. The South Western Star had been trying to find out the progress of the 107 Arcon bungalows being built along Bolingbroke Grove on the fringe of Wandsworth Common. Officials on the spot were strictly debarred from disclosing any information. At County Hall, departmental heads referred inquirers from one office to another. Borough Council officials disclaimed responsibility for work in the charge of the Ministry of Works or the London County Council.

The South Western Star had announced that 16 completed prefabricated houses were to be handed over to the County Council on 6 August. At the time of writing, late in this week, no houses had yet been occupied. A County Hall officer questioned earlier in the week did not know whether the Council had actually been told to invite tenants to commence occupation. Another department eventually confirmed that prospective tenants for the first 16 completed houses would be invited to inspect today (Friday) and to move in tomorrow. A few in Bellevue Road were also reported ready for occupation.

After several instalments of criticism of the slow rate of progress on the Bolingbroke Grove Arcon bungalow site, the South Western Star was now able to report that the first 16 of the ultimate 107 tenants had moved in. For the first time in the history of the construction of the little settlement, the planned schedule had been adhered to.

More than [illeg.] tickets were sold for the Wandsworth Common Allotments Association's exhibition of vegetables, fruit, and flowers at Chatham Hall. The show was opened by Major-General Sir H. Wemyss DSO MC, who said he was a keen allotment holder and that at the War Office he often stopped and talked with the porter about tomatoes. There were 450 exhibits in 51 classes, contributed by 70 competitors. Mr L. Mills gained the highest number of prize points in the horticultural class, but as he had won the Banksian Medal in 1945 he was not eligible for it again; it went instead to Mr F.A. Lillistone, and Mr Mills received the silver medal. The prizes were distributed by the matron of Bolingbroke Hospital, to whose funds the show and the sale of exhibits at the close of the evening were in aid.