Having viewed and photographed the possible locations, consulted local historian and author, David Rymill, approached library staff at Sutton (who were very helpful) and library staff at Ewell (who regrettably were rather less helpful), one location stands out as the likely location for J. M. Ducker's painting: Sparrow Farm Road, KT17 2LW. Today, the area viewed is the edge of suburban Stoneleigh, a housing development which began in the early 1930s.
As the artist correctly noted on the rear of the painting, Sparrow Farm Road (then no more than an access track to farm buildings), is on the Epsom Road and on the edge of Worcester Park and modern day Stoneleigh. In 1926, the date of the painting, it was still a farm (note the cattle in the background), but the land was soon to be sold for housing (which possibly accounts for the track in a state of disrepair).
[This painting and the above photos are featured in this September's Worcester Park Life magazine (pages7-8), within local historian and author David Rymill's history article. David has also just published his new 300-page book, 'Worcester Park, Old Malden and North Cheam: history at our feet'].
[This painting and the above photos are featured in this September's Worcester Park Life magazine (pages7-8), within local historian and author David Rymill's history article. David has also just published his new 300-page book, 'Worcester Park, Old Malden and North Cheam: history at our feet'].
