A small road with a history.

[computedshorty]

A small road with a history.

MILO ROAD, S.E.22 Possibly the shortest road in E. Dulwich.

Connects Beauval Road with Lordship Lane. So named in 1894, possibly after Milo (or Milon), the 6th century Greek athlete who however, is not thought to have had any connection with Dulwich!

Entering Milo Road from Lordship Lane on the left would have been a triangular piece of land, from Lordship Lane measuring zero to twelve foot this was parallel with the rear gardens of Lordship Lane. This fenced area was used by the Camberwell Borough Council Road Sweeping Gang of about ten Sweepers, who Clocked on at seven in the morning, most assembled beforehand

and waited in a Wooden hut on cast iron wheels, where they kept their rain coasts when not needed.

At seven o?clock they each pushed a Sweepers Handcart that was made of steel that had two steel Dust bins with lids on them, also several wide brooms. They took different directions to their allotted streets to clean. There was a lot to pick up and put in the bin, Horse Dung, Ash from spilt Dust bins empted by Refuse collectors into the horse drawn carts, and Steam Lorries, Coal dust from spilt coal deliveries, Paper Tram Tickets, builders sand ballast & pebbles and broken bricks, all collected and swept clean.

These were taken to an arranged place in a road and collected by the larger Dust Carts.

Further along Milo Road was the Milo Garage, where you could buy Petrol, from a hand operated Pump, this was just inside the garage entrance so vehicles had to drive in or reverse in to get petrol, many who wanted petrol came with a steel two gallon screw top can, then used a wide funnel to put it into the cars Petrol tank. There were a few motoring items to be bought there. The owner did car repairs and servicing, there were two brick buildings one each side of the gates, there must have been about thirty lock up garages that were on each side. I had one of these for about ten bob a week, when the Council bought them out I had to go to their offices next to the Dulwich Baths to pay the rent. This Garage is now redundant and has been closed for years not even allowing those who wanted to rent them.

There is three terraced houses facing No 1 No 2. No3. but there is another two houses No 1a and No 2a, down the narrow alley beside the houses.

There was also a Scout Hut, and Tennis Court further down, the alley also served as a back entrance to houses in Lordship Lane and Beauval Road.

Milo Road was a useful short cut from the roads leading from Beauval Road Woodward Road and Dovercourt Road, Druce Road, Desenfans Road and Dekker Roads to get to Lordship Lane Tram Stops.

When the Two World Wars finished the Local residents held the Victory Parties in Milo Road one ( VE Day) for Victory over Europe, and later ( VJ Day ) Victory Over Japan.

Milo Road is now gated to Through Traffic with fixed closed gates.

Such a short road of about two hundred yards is now forgotten, only remembered as a memory.

[maxxi]

Milo may be no more use as a through road CS, but suely not as pointless as Cyrena Rd.

Walking along it the other week from Silvester Rd, cutting through Pellat, Rodwell and ending at Heber Rd, I was struck by one thing. The lack of any adresses on the entire rd.

There are doorways onto Cyrena but only from the sides of houses whose addresses are Silvester/Pellat/Rodwell or Heber, but no houses of its own (even though I'm sure some of the residents/subletters put directions in their address such as "entrance in Cyrena Rd.").

As such it can't really have a purpose except as a 'cut-through'. It can't be anyone's official destination.

Wonder what would happen if you posted a letter to it?

[computedshorty]

It could be that Cyrena Road was needed for patrons of the Heber Arms to get there and home again as quick as possible, those who lived in Jennings Road came in through the back Garden of the Pub.

As a kid I did not use the Heber, only Dons Sweet shop.

The only thing of interest is the Cargo Ship SS Cyrena.

[mikeb]

Computedshorty

Thanks for the memories.

For Milo Road, some maps show the alleyway continuing past 1a and 2a, e.g. here

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=533683&Y=174277&A=Y&Z=115

Do you know if the passage goes all the way to the houses on Townley Road at the end?

Also, re Milo Road, I think Tillings used the garage area as stables for the route to the Plough.

Mike

[computedshorty]

Thre longest Back Alyway in E.D. ran from Plough Lane down to Goodrich Road came out next to the Coblers Shop.

Youi can see it on your map.