The more things change the more they stay the same

6:25pm Thursday 28th August 2008

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Memory Lane is the place to enjoy a walk through the borough’s history with a critical eye that only the passing of time allows.

And looking back through the paper this week in 1958 it is interesting to see Wandsborough Borough News reporters were doing just the same Memory Lane-style features in their day.

On September 5, 1958, the paper looks back at events in Wandsworth 50 years prior - 1908.

The reporter - who isn’t named - informs the reader that civic events in 1908 were recorded by The Chiel (which in the dictionary means a young man or fellow), and muses The Chiel’s writing “contains accurate and colourful accounts”.

It seems keeping a grip on the council tax, or the equivalent of, was as politically expedient then as now.

The Chiel, who is clearly on the council payroll, joyfully relates that there was a reduction of 6d for borough ratepayers.

“What other Metropolitan borough or provincial town can boast of a similar happy condition? As far as I am aware not one,” the Chiel notes.

Also a dab hand at prose, the Chiel eloquently extols on the need for repairs to a Wandmill (in Windmill Road), at the expense of a new planned “infirmary”.

“Windmill Road is up in arms, because there are no arms on its mill,” The Chiel says, “Proud Wimbledon can boast a sight which Wandsworth Common ought to see, the windmill there works with delight and swings its arms about with glee.

“But Wandsworth is very slow, and that accounts for many things . . . the railway passengers ride by and view with scorn the armless stump, and the old mill itself must sigh, to think it has given us the hump . . . ‘don’t build a new infirmary,’ the poor old mill is heard to say, ‘but spend a pound or two on me and I will swing my arms all day’.”

Other records relate how the suffragette movement is gathering momentum and that the river Wandle “which in truth is not a thing of beauty” needs cleaning and preserving.

The Chiel also writes cycling on footpaths in Wimbledon Common is now strictly prohibited - and warns those breaking the rule a second time will be taken to court.

The Chiel signs off by championing an idea to employ those out of work in constructing a pond at Wandsworth Common - and possibly at Clapham Common and Tooting Common - “suitable for sailing toy yachts etc”.

The reporter adds the Chiel’s writing “contains many opinions which are applicable even today” - we have just replaced the mills with tall buildings, and replaced the word infirmary with hospital.

• Have things changed that much in 50 or even 100 years? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.