Victorian terraces have a certain charm, don't they? The high ceilings, the narrow stairs, the original floorboards and the carpets that seem to hold on to every bit of London life.

If you live near Mitcham Common, you already know the mix of everyday life that carpets have to survive: muddy shoes after a wet walk, pet paws from the park, football grass, the odd tea spill, and all the bits that seem to appear from nowhere.