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Collection of London Transport Museum
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Ceremony to mark the start of construction work by the London United Tramways (LUT) in Kingston Road, Malden. James Clifton Robinson, Managing Director of the LUT, joins hands with Alderman H C Minnitt, Mayor of Kingston (left) and Mr A Streeter of the Malden and Coombe Council. Crowds of people stand on each side of the road looking towards camera, including a young man with bicycle in left foreground.

Unknown photographer, 3 Apr 1905

Location: Kingston Road, Merton SW20

Image no: Ukn

Inventory no: 1998/84999

20th Century London caption: This photo, dated 3 April 1905, shows crowds of people watching a ceremony to mark the start of construction work by London United Trams (L.U.T.) in Kingston Road, Malden. James Clifton Robinson, managing director of L.U.T, joins hands with Alderman H C Minnitt, mayor of Kingston (left) and Mr A Streeter of the Malden and Coombe council. This was the end of years of controversy as to whether the Kingston Corporation or the L.U.T. was to build the tramway. Within ten months, navvies had put down 32 miles of track serving Kingston, Surbiton, Long Ditton and New Malden. It was the largest project of its kind at the time. It cost around £1 million and many houses had to be demolished for streets to be widened.

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