59-714: The Secombe Theatre (originally the Secombe Centre ) was a theatre in Cheam Road, Sutton , Greater London. The theatre was opened in 1983 by the Welsh comedian Sir Harry Secombe , who lived in Sutton for over 30 years, and was named after him. The theatre went into administration and closed in August 2016. A petition to save Sutton's theatres was run in late 2016, gaining 1,350 signatures. In October 2022 Sutton Council announced its plans to sell off
118-531: A 2009 review of Souwest 09 , the Croydon Advertiser awarded the performance four stars, and described it as "visually vibrant". The world première of the Edward Bond play, Dea , was staged in 2016. Bond is said to have an "uneasy relationship with the theatre establishment", feeling that engaging people's intellect is no longer a priority for it. It was this that led to his decision to choose Sutton over
177-702: A bar and refreshment area, which is also open to the general public. Productions at the Secombe included both modern productions and old, established plays given new twists. Since June 2015, it has become both a producing house and a receiving house . It produced two to three in-house productions a year, include a pantomime, and co-produced with theatres nationally and internationally. It attracted headline comedians and provided space for local community groups. The theatre also hosted conference events. Past productions have included Steel Magnolias , The Tempest , Journey's End , and Accidental Death of an Anarchist . In
236-594: A legal advice committee, bible study and English literature classes, and what was claimed to be the finest public gymnasium in southern England. During World War II bombing was not as heavy as in central London – 434 bombs in total were dropped on Sutton and Cheam, and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission lists 187 civilian casualties. In 1950, in order to widen the High Street, the Cock Hotel
295-543: A local amenity group. A plaque commemorating Mr Alcock's life is situated at the junction of Christchurch Park with Brighton Road. Sutton came within the area of the Metropolitan Police District in 1840. The parish of Sutton adopted the Local Government Act 1858 in 1882 and a local board was formed to govern the area. The Local Government Act 1894 reformed it as Sutton Urban District . In 1928
354-474: A town, and it expanded further in the 20th century. It became a municipal borough with Cheam in 1934, and became part of Greater London in 1965. Sutton has the largest library in the borough, several works of public art and four conservation areas . It is home to several large international companies and the sixth most important shopping area in London, centred on Sutton High Street . Sutton railway station
413-504: A variety of tasks to help facilitate the Trust's central remit. The Trust is governed by fifteen trustees who are appointed by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport . These Trustees are appointed due to their expertise in a wide range of differing areas including theatre management, planning law and the performing arts (who include Penelope Keith and Dara Ó Briain ). The Chairman of
472-691: A very early date. The Sutton and Cheam Water Company began operations in 1864, and by 1900 had built 142 miles of mains. The company merged with the East Surrey Water Company in 1996 to form Sutton and East Surrey Water . Elevations in and around the town range from 115 metres (377 ft) AOD in Belmont to 23 metres (75 ft) in Sutton Common , at the start of the Pyl Brook stream. Sutton has formed part of Greater London since 1965. The town
531-475: A view to making them good servants, wives and mothers. Up to 1856, when large parts of it were destroyed by fire, the boys' and girls' sections were on the same site but after 1856 the girls' were moved into a new building on the other side of the railway in Banstead Road (now called Cotswold Road). Sutton Water Company was incorporated in 1863, and the provision of water mains allowed houses to be built outside
590-461: A village with coaching inns) in the horse and carriage era, most of the town's earliest architecture is Victorian. A few buildings date from before the Victorian era. The mid-18th century Georgian Sutton Lodge on Brighton Road is thought to be the oldest fully surviving building in the former parish of Sutton. The lodge was initially the farmhouse of the former Sutton Farm. Later, the farmland around
649-528: A wide range of buildings which include theatres, old and new, in current use, in other uses, or disused. Notably, it also includes ciné-variety buildings or structures that have been converted to theatre, circus buildings and performing art centres. The Theatres Trust is a statutory consultee , as defined by the legislation within the Theatres Trust Act 1976 and is accordingly consulted on any planning application or development involving land on which there
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#1732854631383708-562: Is Luke Taylor , of the Liberal Democrats , and has been since the 2024 General Election . On a local level, the London Borough of Sutton Council has been run by a Liberal Democrat majority since 1990. Most of Sutton, including the town centre, falls under the SM1 postcode area, though places south of Sutton railway station are part of SM2 instead, and the western part of Sutton Common
767-405: Is a theatre or which will affect theatre use. Consequently, local authorities are legally required to notify the Trust when planning applications are submitted that fall within the remit of the trust. Additionally, the Trust is consulted on all Local Development Frameworks , Planning Briefs, Area Action Plans and Cultural Quarters consultations that relate to cultural and leisure facilities. While
826-454: Is approximately 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Charing Cross, London and 11 miles (18 km) south of the City of London , placing it within easy reach of Central London . Sutton is also approximately 4.2 miles (6.8 km) west of Croydon, London , 3.8 miles (6.1 km) north-east of Epsom, Surrey , and 5.8 miles (9.3 km) south-east of Kingston upon Thames, London . In addition to
885-531: Is far larger than the original Edwardian listed building to which it is attached, is used by Sutton CID, the criminal justice unit and the borough intelligence unit. Theatres Trust The Theatres Trust is the National Advisory Public Body for Theatres in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1976 by an Act of Parliament to "promote the better protection of theatres for the benefit of
944-548: Is in SM3. The population of the town was counted as 58,880 including the Sutton Central, Sutton South, Sutton North, Sutton West and Belmont Wards in the 2021 United Kingdom census, while the borough overall counted 209,639. A majority of the town's population is in the middle class ABC1 social group . Sutton is mainly the product of the railways, which arrived in the town in the mid-19th century. So, although it already existed (as
1003-463: Is often referred to as "Sutton", "Sutton, London", or "Sutton, Surrey" for mailing addresses. Surrey was the former Postal County and remains the historic or traditional county in which Sutton lies. This is because Greater London was formally created in 1965, and county boundaries were changed in 1974. However, the General Post Office had already established an independent system for defining
1062-464: Is on the northern slopes. Local Nature Reserves Sutton contains two Local Nature Reserves . The placename Sutton is recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as Sudtone . It is formed from Old English 'sūth' and 'tūn', meaning 'south farm'. Archaeological finds in the region date back thousands of years, including the excavation of a Roman villa in Beddington . An implement from the neolithic age
1121-539: Is the largest station in the borough, offering frequent services by Southern and Govia Thameslink to Central London and other destinations, including Wimbledon and St Albans . It is home to the Royal Marsden Hospital and the Institute of Cancer Research . Future plans for Sutton as of 2024 include creating the world's second largest cancer research campus and improving connectivity to central London and
1180-613: Is the nearest station. The Gibson Road car park is adjacent, and buses serve the town. [REDACTED] Media related to Secombe Theatre at Wikimedia Commons Sutton, London Sutton is a town in the London Borough of Sutton in South London , England. It is the administrative headquarters of the Outer London borough, on the lower slopes of the North Downs . It is 10 miles (16 km) south-southwest of Charing Cross , one of
1239-630: The Charles Cryer Theatre in Carshalton , identified by the Theatre Trust as one of 33 theatres in the country for inclusion on its "At Risk" register. The risk of closure spurred celebrity intervention in favour of the two theatres: writer, actor, comedian and BBC presenter Tim Vine , called on Sutton Council to reconsider its proposals. On 10 November 2014 the local council announced that four organisations submitting outline bids to take over
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#17328546313831298-587: The London Underground through the Sutton Link tram project (currently awaiting funding). Sutton is one of several towns located on a narrow bed of Thanet Sands which extends from Croydon in the east, to Epsom in the west. To the south of this belt is chalk of the North Downs, and to the north is clay . The belt of Thanet sands allowed wells to provide clean water, and this attracted settlements from
1357-580: The Thanet Sands area. The Lord of the Manor, Mr Thomas Alcock, sold land for housing, and Sutton's population more than doubled again between 1861 and 1871, spurred by the development of upmarket Benhilton in north Sutton. The High Street near the top was known as Cock Hill until the 1880s – the shops on the east side were built in 1880, ten years after those on the west side. The grand and decorative London and Provincial Bank building (now home to Barclays Bank)
1416-552: The Thomas Wall Centre , named after the area's benefactor of Wall's sausage and ice cream fame. Thomas Wall's lack of education led to a desire to encourage learning in others, resulting in the establishment of a trust and the construction of the institute. The adult school is said to have had the best premises in the UK: by 1915 there were social clubs, a library, clubs for maternity and horticulture, debating and temperance societies ,
1475-616: The West End for the staging of the play. He said: “I would like to create something here which you couldn’t do in the West End, you couldn’t do at the Royal Court , you couldn't do at the RSC – and I know because I worked at these places. They are all part of the entertainment industry." The Secombe Theatre was operated together with the nearby Charles Cryer Studio Theatre , named after the campaigner for
1534-566: The Abbot of Chertsey held the manor. In 1538 it was sold to King Henry VIII and granted to Sir Nicholas Carew of Beddington. When Sir Nicholas was sentenced to death, the King seized the manor. Queen Mary restored it to Francis, son of Sir Nicholas. It later became a Crown possession again until King Charles II granted it to the Duke of Portland , who sold it in 1669. It changed hands regularly thereafter. From
1593-406: The Cock Hotel was the 9am stop for coaches leaving the city. Regular contact beyond the town brought expansion and sophistication. Small businesses opened up, at first related to travelers and later to provide goods for neighbouring areas. The toll bars moved away from the junction as Sutton expanded, remaining in use until 1882. Sutton railway station was opened in 1847. Following the arrival of
1652-607: The Nightingale, also after the singer, who was known as the Swedish Nightingale. In about 1852 a residential school was built alongside the Sutton to Epsom Downs railway near Brighton Road. The building was designed by Edwin Nash and contained administrative, dining, dormitory and teaching areas. Boys were taught manual skills like shoemaking and metal working. Girls were taught such skills as needle work, laundry work, and ironing with
1711-486: The Secombe Theatre. (The Charles Cryer Theatre is in a former hall in Carshalton , which was converted to theatre in 1991.) Financial difficulties in 2002 had put the theatre in jeopardy, but its future was believed secure the following year when it was taken over by the London Borough of Sutton and run directly by the council. In 2014, because of local council budget cuts, the venue was, along with its sister theatre,
1770-506: The Seycombe Theatre “the disused Secombe Theatre - will be sold and could be used for new homes, including affordable housing.” The theatre was created in 1983 out of a red-brick former Christian Science church on a large plot on Cheam Road at its junction with Gibson Road. The plot once formed part of an estate, and the original church building dates from 1937. The Theatre Trust describes the current building as commanding "a presence in
1829-800: The South Metropolitan Industrial school was bought by the Metropolitan Asylums Board. The site later became the Downs Schools and then the Downs Hospital. It is now shared between the Royal Marsden and Sutton Hospitals, the Institute of Cancer Research , and the site of a new school to be opened in 2019. The Sutton Adult School and Institute opened in 1910 in a large Edwardian building in Benhill Avenue. It later became
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1888-464: The St Nicholas church grounds, there are two areas of green space within the town centre, Sutton Green and Manor Park. Sutton Green is at the northern end of Sutton High Street, near All Saints Church . It is bordered by a row of detached Victorian villas to the west, the High Street to the east and Bushey Road to the south. The green dates from 1810, when it was awarded to the residents of Sutton under
1947-500: The Sutton Common Enclosure Award. Victoria Gardens, a smaller area of green space which once included a pond, lies across the road from Sutton Green. To the north of Sutton Green are Rose Hill Park East and Rose Hill Park West, to the east and west respectively of the main thoroughfare Angel Hill/Rosehill. Rose Hill Park East contains Greenshaw Woods, for which Greenshaw High School is named. Manor Park lies opposite
2006-473: The Sutton Theatre Trust went into administration and the theatre (along with its sister theatre in the borough) closed. The administrator sought a buyer for the Trust. Audience numbers had doubled under the new management, but this was still not enough for the Trust to be financially viable without additional support. A petition to save Sutton's theatres was run in late 2016, gaining 1,350 signatures. It
2065-504: The Theatres Trust Act 1976 (and with it the trust) originally applied only to England and Wales, it was extended to Scotland by the Theatres Trust (Scotland) Act 1978. The Theatres Trust currently offers a number of resources that contribute towards the promotion of the better protection of theatres: The Theatres Trust publishes Theatres Magazine (TM) quarterly. The Theatres Trust currently employs eight members of staff who perform
2124-611: The Trust is currently Dave Moutrey OBE. Paragraph 1A of the Schedule to the Theatres Trust Act 1976 requires that "one of the trustees shall be a person who appears to the Secretary of State to have special knowledge of Scotland". The Secretary of State is required to consult the Scottish Ministers before appointing such a trustee. The Theatres Trust owns the freeholds of The Garrick , Lyceum and Lyric Theatres in London and this
2183-650: The UK's Postcode Areas to ensure efficient mail sorting. Royal Mail 's Flexible Addressing policy allows for these variations. If Sutton were to join the London postal district , it would fall under the SW postcode area and be one of the following: SW21, SW22, or SW23. There is another, much smaller Sutton in Surrey , near Dorking . Sutton mainline railway station is known as "Sutton (London)" by Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway) . Its location
2242-694: The United Kingdom, which is made available online as part of a "Theatres Database". The Trust is administered by The Theatres Trust Charitable Fund , a registered charity under English law. The Theatres Trust was established by the Theatres Trust Act 1976 which had a central focus of ensuring "that current and future generations have access to good quality theatres that reflect our cultural life and offer inspiring places to enjoy theatre". The Trust offers guidance and advice relating to planning, heritage , regeneration and development, architecture and design which concern theatres. The trust's remit covers
2301-615: The area of the urban district was expanded to include the parish of Cheam , and renamed Sutton and Cheam. The town became a municipal borough in 1934, and the civil parishes were merged in 1949. The municipal borough was abolished in 1965 and its former area became part of the London Borough of Sutton in Greater London . For Westminster elections, Sutton is part of the Sutton and Cheam constituency, formed in 1945. The Member of Parliament
2360-465: The building a potential lifespan of over 200 years. It was designed by Amazonails Architectura, and constructed by a mixed team of builders. It was London's first energy-efficient building to use this construction method. In the south of Sutton starts Banstead Downs, which extends for around a mile south towards neighbouring Banstead . Banstead Downs is a large Site of Special Scientific Interest , covering 430 acres (170 ha). Banstead Golf Course
2419-528: The fourteen metropolitan centres in the London Plan . An ancient parish originally in the county of Surrey , Sutton is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as having two churches and about 30 houses. Its location on the London to Brighton turnpike from 1755 led to the opening of coaching inns , spurring its growth as a village. When it was connected to central London by rail in 1847, it began to grow into
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2478-632: The future running of the theatres, a spokesperson for STT said: "...They really want to keep the theatres alive, have them work hard, supporting the community. The vision is to focus on community projects as well as classical and contemporary theatre, and big scale commercial dance and comedy events..." In June 2015 the theatres were official handed over to the STT. Cllr Jill Whitehead said: "Now we can look forward to an exciting programme of activity to be unveiled by Sutton Theatres Trust this summer and their contribution to cultural life in Sutton." In August 2016,
2537-410: The landscape". The auditorium can accommodate 396 patrons, or 343 when the orchestra pit is being used, and it is tiered facing the end-on stage. The stage is a flat floor proscenium arch, and there is adequate wing space. Backstage there are four dressing rooms (with capacities ranging from ten to twenty cast members each). Under the previous managements, there was a multi-purpose room at the back of
2596-429: The lodge was sold off for house building. The lodge itself survived and was bought by Sutton Council, for use as a day centre. During its early history it may have served as a hideaway for the future King George IV and his mistresses. The building is Grade II listed. The High Street and the central area housing has a majority of Victorian architecture ; Edwardian architecture is also represented, especially among
2655-547: The nation". The Trust has played a leading role in protecting theatre buildings for the duration of its history. It provides specialist advice to a variety of stakeholders throughout Britain to assist with the promotion and preservation of theatre buildings. The Trust's central aim is to "ensure that current and future generations have access to good quality theatres that reflect our cultural life and offer inspiring places to enjoy theatre". The Trust also holds historical and architectural records of many theatre buildings throughout
2714-512: The new police station extension. Aspects was created out of a former office building; it was reclad in a terracotta colour and three additional floors were added at the top for penthouses. With a total of eighteen floors, it can be seen from across Sutton. By contrast, the Lamborne was newly built. In 2003 the extension to Sutton Police Station was completed and officially opened the following year by Commissioner Sir John Stevens . The extension, which
2773-547: The new, fast link to central London, Sutton's population more than doubled between 1851 and 1861, and the village became a town. New housing was built in the Lind Road area, and called "New Town". A pub built in 1854 on the corner of Lind Road was named the Jenny Lind , after the famous Swedish opera singer Johanna Maria Lind, who was visiting friends in the area in 1847 and enchanted locals with her singing. It has recently been renamed
2832-475: The police station. It was opened by the chairman of the then Sutton Urban District Council in 1914, and its fountain was added in 1924–1925. A plaque on the pool surround states: "This fountain was presented to the town by Councillor Chas Yates Chairman of Sutton U.D.C.1924–25" The park is the site of the Sutton War Memorial, which was unveiled in 1921 by Sir Ralph Forster, a resident whose son had died in
2891-449: The theatre. Since taking over the theatres in June 2015, the new Sutton Theatres Trust has created a new 120-seat venue (180 standing capacity) in the room complete with its own sound and lighting rig as well as a self-contained bar. It was renamed "Back Door @ The Secombe". Daytime it provides an affordable rehearsal space. A large glass extension to the east side of the original building provides
2950-509: The time of Domesday until the 19th century, Sutton formed a parish in the Wallington hundred of Surrey in the feudal system . Jose Glover , who was Rector of Sutton from 1628 to 1636, became a pioneer of printing in the English colonies of North America and one of the people instrumental in establishing Harvard College in the 1630s. The road from London to Banstead Downs , through Sutton,
3009-494: The town's housing stock. Of architectural interest because of its particularly varied style is the Victorian residential quarter east of the high street known as Newtown, where no single developer was in overall charge. The town features more recent architectural styles from the 1930s (including some art deco and moderne). The most prominent examples of 21st century architecture include the Aspects and Lamborne apartment buildings and
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#17328546313833068-483: The two theatres had been invited to submit full business cases by 12 December. The council worked with the Theatres Trust and Sutton Centre for Voluntary Services to help bidders through the bidding process. On 15 January 2015 the bid by the new "Sutton Theatres Trust" (STT) was given approval by the council's environment and neighbourhood committee to take over the theatres, thus saving them from closure. Speaking about
3127-519: The war. The memorial, in portland stone , consists of a large ornamental cross on a plinth. 524 men who died in the First World War are commemorated on the memorial. There are four depictions of angels on the plinth overlooking the park. The current Manor Park Café opened in October 2010. It is eco-friendly and has a range of environmental features, including its straw-bale construction , giving
3186-464: Was a haven for highwaymen in the 18th century. In 1755, two turnpike roads, which met at Sutton, were built: one from London to Brighton (Brighton Road), the other from Carshalton to Ewell (Cheam Road). The toll bars for the roads were originally located by the Cock Hotel, a coaching inn at the junction. The inn's sign straddled the Brighton road. The London to Brighton stagecoach began in 1760, and
3245-455: Was built in Grove Road. Freemasons have met there since its foundation, apart during World War II when the military requisitioned it and it served as a shelter for displaced people. In 1898 a new, larger Cock Hotel replaced the original one. By 1901, the town's population had reached 17,223 as further housing was built and the High Street was developed. In 1902 the Banstead Road site of
3304-541: Was built overlooking the historic crossroads in 1894. Designed in the French Renaissance architectural style, it is four storeys tall and forms a prominent local landmark. There is a series of arches at ground level, and an ornate entrance where the roads meet. In 1884 Sutton High School for Girls was founded by the then Girls' Public Day School Trust. In 1899 Sutton County Grammar School (now Sutton Grammar School for Boys ) opened. In 1897 Sutton Masonic Hall
3363-407: Was demolished. However, the inn sign and its fingerposts survive, overlooking the historic crossroads. The sign and fingerposts were given Grade II listed status by English Heritage on 18 April 2018. In 1959 a local resident, George Edgar Alcock, started a campaign to preserve a unique avenue of copper beech trees. This campaign led the same year to the formation of the Sutton and Cheam Society,
3422-690: Was discussed by the Council at a meeting in January 2017, but as of 2024 remains closed. In October 2022 Sutton Council announced its plans to sell off the Seycombe Theatre: “The existing Civic Centre site - which includes the council’s offices, Sutton Library, and Sutton College, as well as the Gibson Road Car Park and the disused Secombe Theatre - will be sold and could be used for new homes, including affordable housing.” Sutton mainline railway station
3481-494: Was found in Sutton town centre. The Roman road of Stane Street formed part of the northern boundary of the parish. Sutton was recorded as Sudtone in a charter of Chertsey Abbey believed to date from the late 7th century, when the Manor was granted to the Abbot of Chertsey by Frithwald, Governor of Surrey. Some sources state the name as Suthtone or Sudtana. The 1086 Domesday Book records Sutton as spanning about 800 acres, and having about 30 houses and 200 people. It states that
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