Beech Tree Place is a housing estate for older people over the age of 55. It was built in the mid-1950s and is located next to St Nicholas Church. The site is currently being redeveloped and will include four new blocks.
The plans for the redevelopment began in 2018 because the old estate was no longer considered to be fit for purpose. A planning application was submitted in 2021 and was approved in 2022.
In 2023, the council asked The Friends of St Nicholas Churchyard for suggestions for names for the new blocks. The Friends suggested a variety of names, including:
- Nicholas de Heddeshore was the first named priest of St Nicholas in 1291.
- William Morland, Vicar and Master of Rolls during the Wars of the Roses.
- William Benet, Vicar and Ambassador to the Pope for Henry VIII.
- Edmund Marvyn, Vicar and Archdeacon of Surrey during the reign of Bloody Mary.
- Jos Glover, Puritan and Vicar of Sutton.
- Henry Wyche, Ministered to Sutton all through the Civil War period.
- John Sango was the first named African to be baptised in Sutton.
- Dendy Napper, Churchwarden of St Nicholas and owner of a Steam Mill in the High Street.
- Dr George Rice.
The council decided to name the new blocks:
- Heddeshore House, after Nicholas de Heddeshore.
- Dendy House, after Dendy Napper.
- More House, after Isabella More Douglas.
- Sango House, after John Sango.
The Friends of St Nicholas Churchyard are pleased with the names chosen and are glad that they were able to help with the development of Beech Tree Place.
