The Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies

NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2017 Society Local History Town Plan Boundaries Wimbledon AELTC and the Society Notices Awayday p3 pages 4-5 pages 6-7 page 8 Park page 9 Museum 10-11 page 12

LSWR X2 express loco No.577 with Prince of Wales Hotel behind, circa 1890 Photo courtesyPhoto SWC archive Pasture to platform – a new exhibition

For three weeks from Friday 12 anecdotes, and some horrendous traffi c, it is hard to imagine the same January at the , accidents. Offering fascinating spot 180 years ago. In 1838 there was a must-see exhibition will tell the story insights into the changing landscape no Prince of Wales pub, there were of . Exhibition and impact of the railway on our no shops, in fact there were only curator MATTHEW HILLIER explains. town, there will also be previously two buildings within half a mile – a unpublished and undocumented small platform booking offi ce, and HOW DID WIMBLEDON station material, such as the rare image a stationmaster’s cottage. High on change from its bucolic beginnings on page 3, along with models of the hill to the north was the village in 1838 as a country halt, to the busy Wimbledon trains through the ages. of Wimbledon around its breezy suburban hub that we know today? Let me set the scene… Common, and to the far south the The new exhibition will tell the story Standing today on the pavement straggling village of . Between via a series of illustrated panels that outside the Prince of Wales pub, them stood nothing but pasture reveal the early buildings and the facing Wimbledon Bridge amidst and fi elds of crops, with woods people involved, along with amusing the crush of humanity and roar of and a smattering of (continued p3)

For the latest information, go to www.wimbledonsociety.org.uk, www.wimbledonmuseum.org.uk or the Facebook page. n EDITOR’S NOTE n

Wimbledon Society contacts President Norman Plastow Chairman’s Chairman John Mays report

Deputy Chairman Jeremy Hudson I WOULD LIKE TO highlight several issues featured in these pages which I feel are of particular importance. Hon Secretary Maureen Field First, the election for the Wimbledon & [email protected] Common Conservators, on 28th February 2018. We will host a “Hustings” on 7th February, in the Hon Treasurer Corinna Edge Lower Hall at the Sacred Heart Church, Edge Hill SW19 4LU, when the candidates will make short Planning & Environment presentations of their ideas and policies, followed by Committee Secretary Liz Newman a public Question & Answer session. [email protected] In the meantime the Returning Offi cer is anxious

Membership Secretary Simon Ingall to have a good selection of candidates and I hope that [email protected] members of the Society will step forward. We are all keen to increase the voting fi gures from the previous Museum Chairman Cassandra Taylor level of just over 16% of the levy-paying electorate, a tiny number considering the importance of the Local History Michael Norman Smith Common to everyone. See page 7. Second is the latest proposal from the Boundary Commission . It is gratifying that the Subscriptions Jennifer Newman Commission has accepted virtually all our recommendations for the Wimbledon constituency, Activities/Newsletter Distribution Linda Defriez leaving the boundaries more or less as they are now. However these are proposals and I hope that members Website Asif Malik will write to the Commission supporting them. [email protected] Third is the less welcome news that Wimbledon Police Station will close. We regard this as detrimental Wimbledon Society Newsletter to Wimbledon and have made our views clear. Editorial team Unfortunately the attractions of saving £400,000+ p.a. *3>>K;44A@E in costs and a windfall from the sale of the Station of around £10m has proved too attractive for the Mayor Nigel Davies of London to resist. Further protests may be possible Monica Ellison, Asif Malik, John Mays, Iain Simpson and we are looking into this. Letters to the editor Write to Sally Gibbons c/o The Museum of Wimbledon, I turn now to Jennifer Newman’s retirement as 22 Ridgway, SW19 4QN Membership Secretary. Jennifer has served the Society Printing: The Wimbledon Print Company, most ably in a number of capacities; she was an 257 Haydons Road, SW19 8TY Executive Committee member, then a Board member for a number of years, and a very effi cient secretary to Follow us on Facebook and Twitter the Planning Committee (as it then was) followed by www.facebook.com/TheWimbledonSociety @wimsoc a stint as Membership Secretary. We are very sorry to lose Jennifer whose energy and enthusiasm inspired The name of the Wimbledon Society or that of the Museum of us all and we hope that she will resume her work and Wimbledon must never be used to promote personal activities or written work without written permission from the Society. activities with us in the not too distant future. The articles and photos in this newsletter are copyright of those Finally, I would like to wish you all the credited or, where no credit exists, of The Wimbledon Society. No part compliments of the season. Have a wonderful festive of this newsletter can be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the copyright holder. break and a very happy and successful New Year. JOHN MAYS

2 n NEWS n

After refreshments Kirk Bannister Letters Society Away Day gave a talk on Early Wimbledon, which THE SOCIETY HELD an Away Day in was following by a brief discussion Memories of matinees Hall on 4th November about Crossrail 2. Stephen Hammond Reading the article on early cinemas in which over 60 members attended. MP was asked for his views. He said Wimbledon in the September issue of The varied programme was opened that the position was unclear but it the Newsletter, I was reminded of the by John Mays who drew attention to the was possible that the project would Odeon cinema in Worple Road which closure of Wimbledon Police Station, the go ahead, perhaps on a smaller scale I used to visit as a child in the early Boundary Commission’s proposals and than previously discussed. It was not 1950s. It faced what is now Sainsbury’s. the forthcoming Conservators’ election known when there would be further My cousin and I went there to see (see Chairman’s report, p2). a matinee performance of Pygmalion, defnitive news. with Leslie Howard. We were already David Morris introduced the ‘Draft A paper had been circulated to seated when an usherette found us Plan Elements 2018-2020’ which the meeting on the subject of the in the darkened cinema and told us had been circulated. He explained Wimbledon Town Plan, outlining some to leave as the flm had an ‘A’ UK flm the thinking behind the plan and of the possible ‘wish list’ that we might rating and we should, therefore, be Sheila Dunman and Chris Goodair raise with the Council. John Mays accompanied by an adult. elaborated on the proposals from asked for views and suggestions, and a I also attended flms shown every the Museum of Wimbledon and the lively discussion ensued. Among other Saturday morning at 11 o’clock Planning & Environment Committee. A issues raised were the necessity to be especially for children. I happily spent Q&A session followed with members ready with our suggestions and plans some of my pocket money on seeing raising several issues including the whether or not Crossrail 2 proceeded, the serial called Scorpion, which was Wimbledon Society’s designated area the problems of parking, the saving of quite scary and in my view deserved of interest, the potential destruction iconic local buildings and air pollution. an ‘A’ certifcate. of Merton Hall and ways of increasing The Meeting concluded with thanks With kind regards membership numbers. to all the participants. JOHN MAYS Ewa Cobham

Readers’ Letters Please write to The Newsletter Editor, c/o Wimbledon Museum, or use the As it all began: email address shown in the contacts newly discovered list. All contributions may be subject to and the earliest editing, and the Editor’s decision is fnal. known view of Wimbledon Station from 1838

Courtesy SWC archive

Exhibition (continued from p1) Edwardian octogenarians recalled gentlemen’s country villas standing that it was possible from the top of in well-tended grounds. the hill to hear the booming voice of Back on our pavement, then no the first Stationmaster, Mr Bradford, more than a dusty lane, we might announcing the arrival of a train at hear the lowing of cattle, or an Wimbledon’s new station. The age of occasional traveller passing on steam had arrived. horseback as birdsong punctured ‘From Pasture to Platform – The Story the silence. Across the landscape, of Wimbledon Station’ is at the Norman shimmering in the distance were Plastow Gallery, Museum of Wimbledon, the bright lines of the newly opened 22 Ridgway, SW19 4QN from Friday 12 January to Sunday 4 February London & Southampton Railway, and is open Fridays from 12.30 to 2pm, and approaching we would see a line Saturdays from 2.30 to 5pm and Sundays of steam through the fields. from 11am to 5pm. Admission is free.

3 n LOCAL HISTORY n

Newsagents no longer

NEWSAGENTS CAME into being with improved literacy and the resultant demand for newspapers. Miss Frost in the High Street was one of the earliest, and Edwin Jenkins opened his shop at 73 Ridgway in 1880. In 1904 his son Norman, his successor in the business, published picture postcards of Wimbledon from his own photographers. The Jenkins business

Photo © Nigel Davies Photo has just closed; it had been run by the same family for some sixty years and in spite of changing hands, continued trading The Ridgway Stables under that name to the end. In July, the newsagent on The A look back at the history of the Stables about 35 years ago. Now Pavement, Worple Road also closed. It had Ridgway Stables following its closure. that it has closed, we are left sold papers since 1925, trading as Barkers until 1952, when it was taken over by the with just one riding school in Trimmer family. The Trimmers had four ALTHOUGH ORIGINALLY just Wimbledon, the Village Stables. It shops, with father Joseph running the one a beer house, the Swan was an is interesting to reflect that before in Durham Road (still there), and his sons inn complete with stables in the World War II, no less than seven running one in Alexandra Road and one 1860s. By 1892, it apparently had existed. There is some suggestion in Epsom; Donald Trimmer was in charge stabling for four horses. However, that the current owner of the site at Worple Road, followed by his widow in a report to the magistrates dated intends to refurbish the building Sally, until she died in 1978. Recently it was 1900, the pub reported that it had and continue the riding stables. called Worple News. When the fascia was “no stabling”. This is somewhat CHARLES TOASE removed, the old sign for Trimmers was misleading, as in fact the stables Footnote briefy revealed, and we were able to get were operated separately at that More than 18 months ago, Wimbledon a photograph of it (see below). Now it is Pavement Barbers. time by Johnson & Co., as a “livery Society nominated both Ridgway A third newsagent closed in October – yard”. Alfred Johnson was a Stables and Wimbledon Village Stables the shop founded about 1922 by William jobmaster, who operated hiring as Assets of Community Value under Sutherland at 11 & 13 Church Road. Mrs out horses both at the Rose and the Localism Act 2011. If Merton Council Searle, manageress since 1947, took Crown and the Swan. had approved these applications it over in 1965 when she and her husband Later, the stables were run by would have delayed any proposed sale bought the business. They later moved Dormer’s Wimbledon Horse & of the properties to allow time for local it to 12 Church Road, which their children Carriage Co. In the early 1920s horses groups, such as stables users, to mount continued, providing another example of gave way to cars and the premises a bid to buy the stables themselves. a local family business that survived for were run by the Swan Garage. But the Council refused our nearly a hundred years. (Despite the shop Around 1938, horses returned to applications on the grounds that they closure, Sutherland’s are continuing their newspaper delivery service from their the Ridgway, when Major Walker did not meet the criteria set down in address in Gap Road.) opened the Wimbledon School of the Act. However, they did not specify CHARLES TOASE Equitation, using a field in in what ways the applications were near the Atkinson Morley for tuition. defcient. Two members of the Local History Merton has only accepted two Group, who were taught by Major nominations for registration as Assets Walker, described him as “harsh but of Community Value – Cricket fair”. He died in 1960 aged 70. Pavilion and Community The premises known in the Centre – whilst 24 nominations have 1970s as The Ridgway School of been refused. An opportunity missed!

Equitation became the Ridgway CHRIS GOODAIR © Sheila Dunman Photo

4 n LOCAL HISTORY GROUP n Have you The Milward family noticed? No.2 THE DEATH OF JOHN MILWARD and Gerald Manley Hopkins. In IN NORTH VIEW, looking across Wimbledon on 23rd July, followed on 16th retirement his book Shakespeare Common, there are two houses, Westward August by the death in Japan the Papist showed him as a leading Ho! and Eastward Ho!. They were built in of the last remaining Milward proponent of the view that the 1880s by James Erskine Knox and his brother, Fr Peter Milward S.J., Shakespeare was a crypto-Catholic. brother-in-law Henry Croft. Croft was a brings to a close the story of a The sole scientist in the family, timber merchant on the corner of Camp notable Wimbledon family. Gervaise’s studies led to a long Road and West Place, and Knox was a wood carver who lived at 160 Coombe Lane. High In the 1920s Hannah and career at the National Chemical up on the houses there are carvings (or bas Richard Milward emigrated to Laboratory in . reliefs) of the rising sun and the setting sun Vancouver where their eldest son The youngest of the boys, John, (sunset views across the Common from Richard was born. Seemingly a classicist, never achieved the North View can be spectacular). The houses disappointed by their prospects, academic heights of Richard and were built from designs by JFR Bentley, the they returned to Wimbledon to Peter. As a young man he enrolled architect of Cathedral; Knox Devas Road, later moving their in a seminary in Dublin. After two had worked for Bentley on other churches. growing family of four boys and unhappy years he left, without Knox’s own house, Sunnydene at 160 a girl, to Coombe Lane, where rancour, but with little idea of Coombe Lane, has unfortunately been three of the Milward brothers what to do next. Fortunately demolished. It probably had similar were to live out their bachelor he was persuaded to apply for carvings, and there are houses at 140/142 and 144/146 with decorations that are lives. Singularly little is known likely to be his work. Just round the corner of daughter Jane, except that she “Let us turn to page 159, in Avenue Road you will fnd the Avenue went to the Ursuline Convent which may I remind you Hall, built in 1881 by Knox to house the School and became a solicitor was the number of runs Institute for “the mental practising in London. Jane and moral improvement of the developing predeceased Richard in 2006. Jack Hobbs scored in his population of the area”, which is now the All four boys went to Wimbledon match-winning innings at home of the West Wimbledon Society. College. Most members of the the Oval in 1928” This building displays another of his works, society will be aware of the legacy showing Father Time and the New Year. of historian Richard Milward (1924- a teaching post at St Philip’s CHARLES TOASE 2006), author of so many of our Preparatory School, Kensington. At local history titles. Richard gained John’s Requiem Mass, the story was a place at New College, Oxford told of that vital interview, which where he read Modern History. began and ended with Headmaster After graduation he returned to and job applicant engrossed in his old school to become their a televised Test Match. Like his inspirational History Master. brother Richard, also an ardent Next in line, Peter entered the cricket fan, John had found his Society of Jesus aged eighteen. niche as a teacher. He would often He read English and Classics cross-reference page numbers at Heythrop College and then of Latin crammers to cricketing Campion Hall, Oxford. In 1954 exploits: “Let us turn to page 159, he was sent to Japan to learn the which may I remind you was the language and was ordained a Jesuit number of runs Jack Hobbs scored priest. In 1962 he was appointed in his match-winning innings at a lecturer in English Literature at the Oval in 1928?” It was apparent

Photos © Nigel Davies Photos Sophia University in Tokyo and from the past pupils gathered for The carvings on Avenue Hall (above) and later became their prolific Professor his funeral that the last of the Westward Ho! (top), showing the spire of of English Renaissance Literature Milwards was not considered the Holy Trinity Church in , once (1974-2014). Peter is acclaimed for least. visible from the house his works on Shakespeare, Tolkien, MONICA ELLISON

5 n WIMBLEDON TOWN PLAN n Wimbledon Town Centre in 2040? TONY MICHAEL lays out the Society’s favoured approach to a creative planning and design strategy for the Town for discussion. (The accompanying drawing is deliberately presented loose for easy reference – see A3 folded insert.)

OUR TOWN CENTRE is the heart and focus of the local community; it needs to have its own distinct identity, to be memorable and useful – not just another clone town. The area should be a place of pleasure, pride and culture rather than, as at present, a utilitarian area in which to “shop and leave”, or merely to pass through. Wimbledon’s current standing seems to depend mostly on the station and its “world famous name”. We know that town centres will have different roles in the future, as on-line purchasing, autonomous vehicles, and different ways of living and working all affect our lives. There is need for a better quality of life, a clear local identity, a place that is memorable and that acts as a focus for the community. Good towns need to accommodate essential local and civic services, as well as cultural and social facilities, but many of these are either missing or have been allowed to decline or leave Wimbledon. Merton Council has a plan and policies for the town centre, but

these are essentially “re-active” and Michael Tony © and illustration Photo merely set out how the Council will The current view of the Hartfeld Road slope (above) and how it could look, pedestrianised respond to an ad-hoc proposal for and narrowed (top). The Conservation Area and the pub are retained on the right (site 22 on development. It does not actually map), the new Crossrail 2 station development with pedestrian arcades (site 24) on the left show what the future of the town will look like. Local people have plan for the town centre. We should What we need is a new never been involved in the plan. start with the wishes of local approach, a new longer Perhaps unfairly, it is seen as being people, because as someone once term plan for the town produced by “them” not “us”. The said “Whose town is it anyway?” centre. We should start planning system needs to do better The Society has for some time with the wishes of local than give local people just three been working with other local people, because as weeks to “object” to development groups, notably WEHRA, and has someone once said applications. drawn on the “wishlists” from “Whose town is it anyway?” What we need, therefore, is a groups in and around the town new approach, a new longer term centre.

6 n WIMBLEDON TOWN PLAN n

From this mass of material we R The scale and character of are beginning to see what needs to the whole centre needs to be Vote for the be done: paramount. High buildings R The Plan itself should be drawn should not be countenanced, Commons up by local people and the new building needs to reflect the Council working together. It local character with materials like Conservators should not be top-down, and brick rather than anonymous, delivered by “them” to “us”. A ubiquitous cladding. Buildings IN WIMBLEDON we all appreciate local community shop could and spaces of character need to the importance of the Common, guide and encourage local be cherished. Planting should not only to the quality of the involvement, much as was be given priority. Neighbouring environment but to the quality of done by the local groups who housing must be protected. life and leisure in the area. produced their own plan in 1984. R The range of activities and The Commons were created R As a plan it needs to be pro- services – the “offer” – needs by Act of Parliament in 1871, active and not re-active as now. to be widened. The Council with a Board of Conservators, It should deliberately spell out should use its land holdings to commonly known as Trustees, who what needs to be done, and promote and guide development are responsible for the protection encourage collaboration between that adds to the town’s and preservation of Wimbledon the public and private sectors. attractiveness, via leasehold Common, Putney Heath and Putney Secret discussions about future disposal rather than selling Lower Common. developments should have no off freeholds for short term Of the eight Board members, place in planning. It needs to profit. Supporting cultural three are appointed by central be illustrated in 3D, not just and educational bodies and government and fve are elected written, so that everyone can returning lost civic and public triennially. If you live within three- understand it. services would broaden the quarters of a mile of Wimbledon R The present heart of the town is attractiveness of the town. As the Common, or the Old Parish of Putney dominated by traffic. Pedestrians biggest economic driver in the and are registered to vote on the have to make do with the Borough, Wimbledon provides Council’s electoral register then you unattractive space left over after employment, and a substantial are eligible to vote, or if you are really traffic planning, with its air financial benefit to the Council interested stand as a Conservator. pollution, noise and danger. So in Business Rates. The next election will be held in the heart of the town has to be R The proposals for the Crossrail February 2018, and the Conservators built around a pedestrianised 2 station need to be integrated encourage suitable people to stand zone. For any town to prosper, into the fabric of the town, for election. pedestrians have to use it, and both during the lengthy This election is extremely stay longer in it. construction phase, and when important and it is vital that you vote R The pedestrianised zone, some the dramatic enhancement for the candidates of your choice. 400m long, will need to be of transport connectivity has There will be a chance to hear and creatively designed and planted begun to generate significant see all candidates at a local “hustings” if it is to be the memorable local development pressures and before the election. Ballot papers place that acts as a focus for the opportunities. will go out to all eligible voters community. early in February and voting will The Council is currently embarking be either through postal ballot or Pedestrians have to make on a revision of its plan for the electronic voting. The closing date for do with the unattractive town centre. We illustrate in the the election is 5.00pm on the 28th space left over after trafc accompanying two-page drawing a February 2018. planning, with its air proactive plan, spelling out some of Further details can be found in the pollution, noise and danger. the longer term aims which local attached fyer from the Wimbledon So the heart of the town people want to see. & Putney Conservators. We do urge has to be built around a Is this the kind of approach that you to read it and, if you are eligible, pedestrianised zone. the Society and local groups should take part in this election which will be advocating? have direct results for our local area.

7 n PLANNING AND THE ENVIRONMENT n

Recent planning Parliamentary boundary decisions changes NO TELEPHONE CONNECTION THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION new Wimbledon constituency THE SOCIETY’S Planning & for England (BCE) has recently comprises the following Wards: Environment Committee recently published its revised proposals for Abbey, Cannon Hill, Colliers Wood, considered nine applications the re-drawing of parliamentary Dundonald, Hillside, , for the installation of telephone constituency boundaries. The BCE , Trinity, Village, West kiosks at various locations in the wishes to reduce the number of Barnes, and Wimbledon Park. Broadway, Wimbledon Bridge, south London MPs from 28 to 26. In addition, the BCE are Wimbledon Hill Road and the High Borough boundaries are not affected suggesting that the Roehampton St. We considered that these were and will remain as now. The Society and Putney Ward, now in the LB unnecessary in the age of almost and many others were not in favour , should be added to universal mobile phone ownership of the BCE’s earlier proposals for the the Wimbledon constituency. This and that they would be visually wider Wimbledon area, when they extends from the Merton Borough intrusive and impede pedestrian were published last year. boundary northwards up to the f ow. Love Wimbledon and We suggested an alternative South Circular. Wimbledon East Hillside Residents’ approach which would meet the The Society has generally Association also expressed Commission’s own criteria (which welcomed the proposals, and reservations to Merton Council. their draft scheme did not), and suggested that, if the BCE wished All the applications were refused. maintain the local cohesiveness to explore an alternative to this The Council’s reasons for the refusals around the Wimbledon name. addition, part of the Earlsfi eld were very similar to the views To its credit the Commission and Summerstown Ward could be expressed by the Wimbledon Society. has completely re-thought its added instead. The decision on the approach, largely following the fi nal boundaries is expected in the SIGNS OF THE TIMES Society’s suggestions. The proposed coming year. The Society also objected to two unrelated applications for The existing advertising consent. constituencies One related to an application of Wimbledon Putney for a double-sided, internally (shaded green), Putney (violet) illuminated advertising panel to and Mitcham and be placed on the pavement in the (orange); Broadway. This was refused on the the red dotted lines grounds that it would be “unduly show the proposed prominent and would result in boundaries of undue proliferation of signage and Wimbledon (1) Wimbledon and Park (2) Wandsworth & visual clutter”. Putney The other concerned a Grade II listed shop in the Village applying for permission to erect fascia and Wimbledon Colliers Wood hanging signage. In the original South application the signs would have Wimbledon been illuminated with a halo ef ect Raynes around the lettering. We reminded the Council of the long-standing policy against illuminated signs in the Village. Following this a revised application omitted the halo ef ect and this was duly approved by the Council.

8 n ENVIRONMENT n Will our Lancelot Brown heritage survive?

DAVE DAWSON appeals for a masterplan to revive and restore Wimbledon Park’s lake and landscape

IN THE MID 1760s workers with barrows and horse carts took about a year to create the dam which forms the lake in Wimbledon Park. That lake is still there today, the central feature in the remnant

open space recognised by Historic Dawson © Dave England as a Grade II* landscape. The classic Capability Brown view across However, a year ago Historic the lake towards St Mary’s Church (above); England placed it on their “at risk” the lake on Thomas Richardson’s 1768 register because of: map of the park (left) “…uncertainty around the future, the impacts of divided ownership on provides angling and water sports, landscape management, obscured set in a landscape of grassland designed views and the deteriorating with woodland clumps. The area condition of the lake”. is used for sports and festivals. The While the results of Merton Wandle Vistas Project celebrates Council’s overdue “Masterplan” local views. Many veteran oaks date are awaited, Historic England back to Lancelot Brown’s time, or will not meet with the Friends of dark skies are compromised by earlier. The lake is the best freely Wimbledon Park. Those who most floodlighting and streetlamps which accessible place in most of south- enjoy the landscape remain in the harm habitats for birds and bats. west London to see waterbirds and dark about what underlies the risk The lake has suffered numerous bats, and other species thrive in assessment. Rumours are rife. pollution incidents in recent years, the surrounding woodlands and The All England Lawn Tennis killing large numbers of fish and grasslands. The water quality has Club, which owns Wimbledon Park birds. Eels have disappeared and improved in recent years; although Golf Course, has tried to buy back the white waterlilies have been lost. phosphate levels remain high, water its lease, but as their masterplan Large numbers of feral geese foul the sampling by schoolchildren for their does not include this part of area, and import water pollution. Duke of Edinburgh Awards found no their land, we don’t know what The water of the lake is eutrophic. evidence of nitrogen pollution. The is planned here. Merton Council 70cm of silt has accumulated over Friends of Wimbledon Park want a has not revealed their decisions the last 250 years, and the water masterplan for the whole landscape, for the park or the lake. In their level is now held so high that a aiming not only to get it off the “at consultation last year they proposed rainstorm can overtop the dam and risk” register, but to reinforce its use. to de-silt the lake, move the café, flood parts of the park. So much Waterlilies can be returned, fish reduce children’s playspace, water is held behind the dam that numbers increased, and veteran and offered options to move the it requires regular inspection under trees protected. Light “spillage”and athletics facilities. The third owner, the Flood and Water Management pollution can be minimised. The Wimbledon Club, is keen on Act 2010: failure of the dam could Tributary brooks can be brought the heritage, but has not helped threaten life. above ground; swallows, martins, the vistas with their huge green Despite all this, the area remains terns and kingfishers can be tennis shed by the lakeside and the an important landscape. The lake attracted to breed and intrusive inflatable dome that dominates is essentially the same shape as buildings moved. Water depths can winter views. Old trees have been mapped by John Richardson for be managed, sports will thrive and removed on the golf course and Earl Spencer, in 1768, and still the dam can be protected.

9 n AELTC n

On the night of Friday 11 October, Wimbledon 1940, five 500-pound bombs straddled the Club grounds, hitting tennis – a new the Club’s tool house, the roof of home to the Centre Court, Church Road at the Club’s north-east entrance and the open era golf course, producing two bunkers. The damage to the Centre Court JOHNNY PERKINS continues his history resulted in the loss of approximately of the AELTC, from the opening of 1,200 seats. It was several years before the Church Road site to the end of sufficient building supplies could be

amateurism. acquired to fully repair the grounds Museum Tennis Lawn Wimbledon © Photo King George V and Queen Mary arrive for and Centre Court. WIMBLEDON’S NEW HOME in the ofcial opening at the All England Nevertheless, as early as June Church Road was opened by King Lawn Tennis Club in 1922 1945 the Club still managed to host George V on Monday 26 June 1922, various Armed Services matches. The the first day of The Championships. Duke of Kent), became President Championships resumed in 1946 and Surrounded by twelve other courts of the Club and so began the long continued to be as popular as ever. was the freshly completed Centre association of the Kent family with 1961 marked the 75th Court, designed by Capt. Stanley the Club. The current Duke has been Championships’ Meeting, celebrated Peach, with a capacity of 13,500. President for 48 years. with a lunch attended by 38 past The first match on Centre Court The pre-war years saw some and present Champions including was an all-British affair between significant British success, with Charlotte Sterry, who won her first Algy Kingscote and Leslie Godfree. Dorothy Round triumphing in singles title in 1895. For the first Having won the first point, Godfree 1934 and 1936 and Fred Perry time since 1914, two British players ran to the net and pocketed the ball winning three consecutive titles competed in the Ladies’ Singles final as a memento. The first champions in 1934, 1935 and 1936. The real with Angela Mortimer defeating at the new ground were Gerald star of the era though was the Christine Truman. Patterson of Australia and Suzanne American Helen Wills, who won The 1967 tournament, won by Lenglen of France. However, the Ladies’ Singles eight times John Newcombe of Australia and persistent rain meant that the final between 1927 and 1938. the USA’s Billie Jean King, was to shots of the tournament were not Although no championship be the last of the amateur era. hit until the third Wednesday. tennis was played during WWII, The All England Club invited eight Over the coming years, the courts were maintained professional players to compete improvements and alterations were and the premises were used for in a one-off tournament for a continually made to the grounds a variety of civil defence and £12,500 prize at Wimbledon, won starting with No.2 Court in 1923 military functions such as fire and by Australia’s Rod Laver. It was followed by No.1 Court in 1924. ambulance services, the Home consequently declared that all In 1927, a record 22,000 spectators Guard and a decontamination unit. sanctioned tennis tournaments were present on the first Saturday. The car parks were ploughed up to in Great Britain would be open Queues started at 5am and over grow crops and there was even a to all players regardless of status, 2,000 spectators were turned away. small farmyard consisting of pigs, professional or amateur. The open In 1929, Prince George (later the chickens, rabbits and geese. era was born.

1924 1927 1937 1939 1947 1963 Ballot introduced First BBC radio TV coverage Bobby Riggs and Alice Marble A record 30,000 White dress code for Centre Court broadcast from starts at won all three titles (Singles, people attend on the for competitors tickets Centre Court Wimbledon Doubles & Mixed Doubles) frst Saturday introduced

1926 1934 1938 1946 1957 1967 The Duke of York Fred Perry wins American Helen The Championships resume Queen Elizabeth II attends David Attenborough, (later King George VI) frst of three Wills wins her eighth after WWII, with on-leave for the frst time and controller of BBC2, makes competes in the consecutive Ladies’ Singles title members of the armed presents Ladies’ Singles and Wimbledon the frst colour Gentlemen’s Doubles titles in 12 years forces as stewards Gentlemen’s Doubles trophies TV broadcast in Europe

10 n MUSEUM OF WIMBLEDON n Behind the scenes in the Museum

PAMELA GREENWOOD gives a glimpse into the hard work and expertise involved in preserving the Museum’s collections for the future

IN 2014 THE MUSEUM successfully applied for an AIM Preventive Conservation Grant supported by The Pilgrim Trust. The £1,235 bought conservation-grade packaging badly

needed for ‘preventive conservation’ Wimbledon © Museum of Photos by some of the Museum’s most vulnerable collections. We Yuko Hirata carefully selected for ‘fi rst aid’ those removing masking items which had utterly tape (top left); Sheila inadequate packaging or Mercieca packing none at all to make these archives (top right); collections cleaner, better the frail John Evelyn protected and organized. Society Minute Book On the way we showing the very rediscovered all sorts of f rst committee delightful, interesting and minutes in 1903, even unexpected items taken by Richardson among the Society’s and Evans (above) Museum’s archives, early ledgers and negatives, art and based collections, Sheila Mercieca binders, old manilla envelopes books: for example the beautifully (Books), an archivist, and later, and polythene bags. Some fragile illustrated nature diary of Museum Studies Master’s student, old books and registers and the Wimbledon Common compiled in Jacqueline Laurence (Photographs). Herbarium were also boxed. 1922 by 14-year-old Mildred Ashford Interleaving and condition- Early lantern slides and glass for her Girl Guide badge, or letters by checking more than 600 prints, plate negatives are now housed in early members of the Museum and water colours and drawings took special four-fl ap enclosures and even doodles by a bored committee Yuko Hirata much longer than negative boxes made of photo-safe member, who remains anonymous. expected, over two years, because materials, protected from light, dust While signifi cantly improving she also needed to remove dirty and dirt. This summer’s project to standards in collections care, the hand marks, unsuitable mounts and provide conservation-grade storage team of staff and new volunteers sticky tape ‘remedial conservation’. for 35mm strip-negatives and colour exchanged knowledge and The Museum’s and John Evelyn slides received a £346 grant funded experience and had some fun Society’s/Wimbledon Society’s by Arts Council England through too. Some new volunteers became early archives span more than a the London Museum Development curators: Yuko Hirata (Prints, hundred eventful years. Ledgers, programme. Grants are hugely Water colours, Drawings, and Oil minute books and papers are now important for supplementing the Paintings), with extensive experience housed in conservation-grade boxes Society’s contribution to the care in the conservation, documentation and cabinets, no longer loose in and conservation of the Museum’s and management of art and paper- fi ling cabinet drawers, or in ring Collections.

@LondonMusDev

11 n SOCIETY NOTICES n http://www.bigyellow.co.uk/Get some space in your life.

Access for all – Inner Windmill Road LECTURE DATES EVERYONE WHO USES Wimbledon Common, whether exercising the dog, exercising themselves, amusing the Dates have now been conf rmed for two Society lectures children or simply enjoying the local f ora and fauna, will at early in 2018, as follows: some point make use of Inner Windmill Road. This important Wednesday 31 January at 2pm route through the Common is in serious need of restoration, Norman Plastow on “ Bicentenary and the Commons Conservators launched an appeal to raise – a Celebration” the funds needed for the essential works. The Conservators Thursday 22 March at 8pm have been much heartened by the level of support for the Asif Malik on “Wimbledon – an Architectural Miscellany” Both lectures will be held at the Emmanuel Church. restoration, and the funds raised have very nearly reached the target sum. The work will be carried out in the spring of 2018. YOUR SOCIETY NEEDS YOU! Membership Promotion Manager/Organiser The Wimbledon Society is looking for someone to promote and develop new membership. Candidates should be outgoing local volunteers with a keen interest in Wimbledon and the part people can play in moving its interests forward in terms of maintaining and developing the area’s very special character. The role involves organising and taking part in local events where likely members will be present, identifying outlets for promoting the Society (including corporate membership) and developing links with like minded groups operating in the area. The Robert Graves Those interested should contact the Chairman, John Mays at Prize for Poetry [email protected] with a brief cv and statement of how THIS AUTUMN’S excellent Wimbledon they think they could fulf l the role’s requirements. Bookfest drew to a close on Sunday 15th October with the inaugural Robert Graves Prize for Poetry, which was awarded following the Robert Graves Society Lecture given by Professor Paul O’Prey, Vice Chancellor of Roehampton University. The Society gives a warm welcome to the competition sponsored by Marcus Beale Architects and judged by Professor Fiona Sampson also of Roehampton along with literary agent Peter Strauss. There were an amazing six hundred entrants with Surveyors, Valuers & Estate Agents three shortlisted f nalists: The overall winner was Octavia Lamb for Ivor Gurney Goes to War. Second prize was awarded to Vishvantara for her poem After Schubert. Third place went to Audrey Ardern-Jones for her poem In the Fifties. MONICA ELLISON

Data Protection THE SOCIETY has recently registered with the Information Commissioner’s Of ce for Data Protection Purposes. We are registered as a data controller under the Data Protection Act 1998, and our Data Protection Register number At the heart of the community is: ZA244625 We are pleased to support the Wimbledon Society All personal information supplied to the Society by members will be used solely for communication with them concerning the Society’s Membership, Governance, Events, and only matters concerning the Society. Sales 020 8947 9833 I Lettings 020 8879 9669 It will not be shared with any other organisation, except www.robertholmes.co.uk where there is a Statutory obligation to do so.

The Wimbledon Society was founded in 1903. It is a Registered Charity (No 1164261), and a company limited by guarantee (No 9818707). Annual subscription rates: Individual £15; Couple/family £20; Af liated: £25. Membership application forms can be downloaded from the Society website or collected from the Museum. The Museum and Bookshop (020 8296 9914), 22 Ridgway, near Lingf eld Road, are open from 2.30 to 5.00pm Saturday and Sunday. Admission free.

12 ‘Fridge’ building demolished to allow re-building and realignment of the Bridge; replaced by new development (site 24) above the rebuilt station, matching height of buildings opposite Carillon/clock as signpost; Prince of Wales pub (site 22) local feature in the Broadway and conservation area pedestrian zone buildings retained

Tree planting

Curved elevation to match conservation area opposite

Street lighting mounted on building facades, not on posts, to lessen clutter

Arcades give pedestrians protection, The sloped sections of Hartfeld Road leading to the Broadway pedestrian pedestrianised and narrowed; zone; small shops, restaurants utilise leads up to the pedestrianised outdoor paved spaces Broadway and old Town Hall Square

The current view of the Hartfeld Road slope (below) and how it could look, pedestrianised and narrowed (above)

Wimbledon Town Centre in 2040? Wimbledon Society’s favoured approach to a creative planning and design strategy for the Town for discussion, by TONY MICHAEL OVERVIEW KEY Our town is trafc dominated, unmemorable, likely to lose out as all town 1 good building kept centres face up to major changes. And it is dull. But now we have Crossrail 2 with 2 good terrace pub/shops/business kept its major impact on the ground, and on the Town’s accessibility. 3 library, pub and good terrace retained 4 pedestrianised space for market stalls, pub/café sitting We now need a plan up to 2040 that will both facilitate the CR2 works, and out, big trees, sculpture, outdoor performance integrate them into the town of the future. And one that is a proactive plan, 5 additional entrance to public facilities/Library not merely reactive as now, and made with and by the public, not just the 6 quiet pedestrian route crossing to a new station entrance Council and developers. 7 new block with colonnade, small shops with commercial A suggested approach is set out in detail in the Newsletter (pages 6-7), and and housing above: concealed service area for whole the main aims are: block, via arch, quiet garden next Church 8 public transport hub for station, bus/taxi/drop and pick up Create a “pedestrian frst” town centre, where it is safe, and people will 9 rebuilt station for CR2, rail services, underground, tram, want to stay, with pedestrianisation extending between Alexandra Road and and possible eventual underground link to Northern line the Theatre: unless people use a Town as pedestrians they don’t need to 10 new major development above tracks and beside use it at all. Alexandra Road, with retail/business/housing: Take trafc around the vulnerable centre, not through it. present station/shops demolished 11 new malls serve shops, linked in to Centre Court malls Build 2 new bridges over the rail tracks, and then rebuild/realign the old 12 “fridge on bridge” 2 storey shops demolished; rebuilt on existing bridge (which is actually three old bridge structures side by side). opposite side as part of sites 10/24: provides space for new Create a proper bus/taxi transport hub at the station, in place of the present bridge to be built whilst existing bridge still in use muddle: accept the demolition of the present station building and its 13 new bridge aligns trafc directly into Hartfeld road and associated shops. facilitates pedestrianisation of Town Hall square 14 ofces and car park retained, unless CR2 requires sites Encourage a major development over the rail tracks, as an integral part of 15 station entrances on all four sides, and from Centre Court the CR2 project, adding signifcantly to the town’s retail, business and housing 16 realigned cycle/footpath next railway avoids existing steps foorspace. 17 new service road bridge for pedestrians and cycles and Create a glazed Galleria along the Broadway, making a space that is minor local trafc, linking St George’s road to Dundonald memorable and unlike other towns; weather protected, capable of staging road, beside the tram tracks 18 rail depot lands and employment remain, with addition of events, a special venue. facilities now beside Magistrates Court: site used for CR2 Redesign the large new trafc-free space outside the old Town Hall – a new support, and construction materials handled by rail not road square that is not polluted by vehicle fumes. 19 arch under new road gives secure connection between Redevelop old property and create a new square of character by the Theatre, the two rail depot sites which improves its setting, and also helps through trafc move more directly. 20 listed “seaplane hanger” option for public sports use 21 new housing shields rear house gardens in Caroline road Pedestrianise St Mark’s Place, and redevelop nearby sites to form a better 22 conservation area terrace and pub retained setting both to the Church and the Library, and create better pedestrian 23 canopies added for weather protection routes and spaces. 24 this building “stops” the present windy views out 25 Town Hall square pedestrianised, views out blocked Allocate sites for new arts/cultural facilities, and bring back some of the lost 26 listed old Town Hall building retained civic functions, without which no town is complete. 27 existing centre court and shopping malls The many more detailed points include protecting small shops, ensuring 28 Queen’s Road pedestrianised that new buildings can adapt in the future to changing needs, removing 29 direct access route for police vehicles to new bridge barriers to pedestrian and cycle movement, LiFi, repairing damaged 30 conservation area terrace retained, canopies added, buildings, setting up a CHP energy company, providing servicing in the damaged elevations repaired, shop fascias regularized pedestrianized zones, high buildings embargo, mews upgrades. 31 pedestrianised zone from Town Hall through to theatre enclosed in a high glazed “Galleria”, giving weather protection plus an iconic character and focus for the town 32 Piazza also glazed over as domed extension to Galleria 33 glazed Galleria extended along Victoria Crescent 34 eastern end of the new glazed Broadway Galleria 35 existing buildings demolished, Sir Cryil Black way taken through arch in new building to meet Broadway 36 eastern entrance to Galleria seen ahead, but then the road veers away to the left, emphasizing to the visitor “where the heart of the town is” 37 new theatre square at end of Galleria: space for night- time vans serving shops on north side of Galleria: square dominated by the theatre entrance and “angel”: ramp access to theatre entrance 38 new development set back to enhance square, with colonnades for weather protection, culture zone use: servicing to the interior of street blocks via Kings road 39 new retail development with colonnades, commercial and cultural use above, linked by arch over road to … 40 … new retail/cultural use with housing over, sited to shield from view the dull side of the theatre 41 arch taken over new road to defne square and make the contrast between pedestrian and vehicular spaces 42 service access to site 40 and theatre via Russell road 43 Russell road stopped to enhance theatre square, Future opportunities and linked through P4 site to Palmerston road 44 new development on P4 site with colonnade: cultural for the Town Centre and café uses predominating, linked to theatre facilities 45 Ashbourne terrace housing enclave protected and major trafc routed to south: garden on part of site 47 46 YMCA social housing/leisure/community uses 47 P3 Hartfeld road development from 2019: cultural uses, performance space, public and civic facilities

D other probable development sites P public vehicle/cycle parking: club/rental/charging zones H potential combined heat and power projects S small units only, via shopfront frontage width limits G green space or living walls