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The Urban District of Merton and Morden results from the
amalgamation of Merton with Morden in 1913. That year the
populations were recorded separately, Merton 15,567 and
Morden 1,200. The total area is given as 3,238 acres, to which
Merton had contributed 1,473 acres. There were 3,560 houses
in rate and 86 empty. Of these there were 1,030 houses
occupied with a rental up to £16 per annum and 2,076 with a
rental from £16 to £26. Attention is drawn in the annual report
for that year that there were only 86 houses unoccupied, the
smallest number since the district acquired urban powers. From
3,560 in 1913 to 20,750 houses in 1939 is rapid development, most of
which took place from 1921 to 1939. Side by side with this
growth of population and its consequent housing the development
of industry begins and it is to the credit of the local
authority that they so planned this industrial development that
it preserves all the amenities for the residential population.
Moreover, as development went on they acquired open spaces
and preserved playing space for the recreational activities of the
population.
The district is fortunate in the extent of its open spaces, in
all amounting to 368 acres, 70 odd acres belong to the National
Trust and the remainder, some 290 acres, belonging to the
Council, represent 14 different public parks which are under
the control of the Open Spaces Superintendent. Much of
this land is, of course, at the moment under allotment cultivation,
but when it is all released there will hardly be any resident in
the district without a park or playing space on his doorstep.
The fact that Merton and Morden, owing to its situation
close to London, commenced its development as a residential
dormitory area is probably responsible for this description continuing
to be applied to it long after it had ceased to be accurate
and this has tended to obscure its industrial achievement. It is,
in fact, one of the biggest industrial areas in the County of
Surrey. That this is not apparant to any but those quite
familiar with the area is due to the unobtrusive siting of the
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