The 20th century
The 20th century saw the transformation of the district. Morden Underground Station (actually in Merton parish!) was built in 1926 among farm fields. Although neighbouring Merton Park had been developed by John Innes from the 1870s, Morden remained a village.
The St Helier Estate was the largest development in Morden. It occupies some 825 acres, of which 322 acres are in Morden, acquired by the London County Council between 1926 and 1929. By 1939 over 9000 dwellings had been built on this land, 3,500 in Morden.
Land surplus to LCC requirements, around Central Road and Green Lane, was acquired by the Trustees of the Haig Homes for disabled ex-servicemen.
During the 1930s Morden was transformed from a village to a suburb. In the Hillcross Avenue area Messrs W H Selley built their so-called Merton Park Estate, while G T Crouch Ltd laid out their Morden Park Tudor Estate around Tudor Drive, and Wates built in the Garth Road area.
As well as the big estates, smaller companies built single roads, such as Mr Warren's houses in and around Arundel Avenue.
Building was halted in 1939, but after the War, council houses were built in Tudor Drive, and flats at Edinburgh Court and Thornton Court in Grand Drive.
