MERTON COUNCIL The Common has been a centre for military Wimbledon Park comprises the park itself, activity over the centuries. During the 16th but also the adjacent roads and the All England century archery was practised here. Successive Lawn Tennis Club. Wimbledon Park is a Grade monarchs, from George lll to Edward VII have Wimbledon ll* Historic Park. The English Heritage listing also visited the area to inspect large gatherings states that “Brown’s lake, and the lawned and of troops. Sir William Congreve tested military wooded scene round from the south-east to rockets over the Common during the early heritage map north-west is a remarkable landscape survival 1800’s and Queen Victoria attended the first within 20th century London.” Horse Close meeting of the National Rifle Association in Wood and Ashen Grove Wood are remnants 1860. Military activity continued during the two of much earlier woodlands within the park. world wars, when the area was used for training During the 16th century this area was a deer and civic defence purposes. park of nearly 400 acres. In 1765, Earl Spencer commissioned Capability Brown to landscape At the heart of the Common lies Wimbledon his estate and many of the improvements are Windmill, a hollow post mill built in 1817 by local still visible. The park can be approached from carpenter Charles March. It ceased working Arthur Road, passing the Artesian Well, into as a mill in 1864 and was later converted into Home Park Road which offers extensive views cottages. In the adjoining Mill House Robert of the lake and park. On the far side of the park Baden Powell wrote “Scouting for Boys” (1907), is the All England Lawn Tennis Club, site of the book which led to the creation of the Boy the famous annual tennis championships. The Scout Movement. The Windmill now houses the Club was originally based in Worple Road, and Museum. moved to its current premises in 1922. The Ridgway runs from the Village along the top of Wimbledon Hill, ultimately joining Copse Hill to form part of an historic route to Kingston. During the nineteenth century it formed a small community in its own right, with varied shops, catering for everyday needs. There are three churches, one of the north side, two on the southern slopes. Until recently, the area also held two public houses. The roads to the south of the Ridgway contain numerous buildings of note. These include model cottages on Denmark Road designed by an eminent Victorian www.merton.gov.uk architect, Samuel Teulon; early nineteenth century cottages at 5–17 Ridgway; plus Linden and Brickfield Cottages on Oldfield Road. By contrast, many of the properties built to the north of the Ridgway are grander houses, built during the late Victorian period. 70 Cannizaro House Hotel Wimbledon Village is situated on a plateau, Wimbledon Town Centre developed Wimbledon’s earliest evidence of habitation with the arrival of the railway. The original is the Iron Age fort on the adjacent Common. railway line linked Vauxhall with Woking, Wimbledon is mentioned in the Domesday Book however by 1869 additional branch lines made as part of the Manor of Mortlake. Wimbledon Wimbledon an important railway junction. This, Village has always been popular due to its together with further modernisation including closeness to London. The idyllic position a piped water supply via Raynes Park and the attracted the gentry and wealthy businessmen construction of sewage works near the Wandle who built their splendid homes close to the (1875) spurred development to the south of Common. Many of these homes can be seen Wimbledon Hill. This area came to be known today, although some have been subdivided, as the Broadway. Residential development here and one, Cannizaro House is now an hotel. was chiefly aimed at craftsmen and working people employed in the service industries, Wimbledon Common lies north of construction and the retail sector. Wimbledon Village. It is bordered by Parkside to the east and Putney Heath to the north, Merton Park lies to the south of Wimbledon spreading west down to the Kingston by-pass. centre. Although there is evidence of late The Common comprises areas of woodland, Saxon occupation, houses date from early scrubland, heathland, natural ponds and mown 1700s along Kingston Road and around the sections in addition to playing fields, golf Church. The area became well connected courses and horse rides. It is an area of scientific when the railway station opened in 1868. John interest due to the varied and unusual species of Innes bought land known as Lower Merton in flora and fauna. 1867 with the intention of laying out a ‘garden suburb’ of picturesque and varied dwellings It is evident from the discovery of Neolithic among tress, shrubs and grass. RB Marsh hunting tools and Bonze Age round barrows, was the first architect to work with John Innes that Wimbledon Common has been used since although much was designed by Quartermain ancient times. By the Medieval era, common and later Brocklesby. The ‘garden suburb’ land was set aside by the Lord of the Manor for character of the area created by John Innes the use of his tenants or ‘commoners’ who were and his architects survives today. entitled to graze their cattle and collect firewood. This Leaflet has been written and produced by In 1864 Earl Spencer, Lord of the Manor, sought the LB Merton Conservation Team: Civic Centre, Parliamentary backing for the enclosure of 700 London Road Morden SM4 5DX acres to be used as private parkland and sites Get the most out of your visit to Wimbledon and the for development. Fortunately after 4 years of surrounding area with this handy online video litigation, Royal assent was given to a new www.merton.gov.uk/attractions Bill, the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act The Wimbledon Society financed the printing of this 1871. This led to the formation of a Board of leaflet as a contribution to marking Civic Day on Conservators with responsibility for maintaining 25 June 2011. Visit us at and protecting the Common. www.wimbledonsociety.org.uk 32 Buddhapadipa Temple www.wimbledonmuseum.org.uk 59 56 60 1 2 3 4 58 57 55 A 54 Wimbledon Park 33 53 31 30 34 32 61 35 23 22 52 21 51 29 36 20 19 37 OS Map Crown Copyright 2011 All rights reserved: LB Merton 100019259 Copyright 2011 All rights reserved: OS Map Crown 17 18 26 28 65 16 27 BWimbledon Common 66 39 15 13 24 Golf Club 63 38 44 14 25 45 11 64 67 4041 10 43 4647 9 62 68 42 48 12 7 8 6 5 86 70 71 85 49 72 4 50 87 73 84 88 69 93 91 89 95 + 90 3 121 74 92 2 97 115 Wimbledon 75 94 114 116 106 96 119 102 1 77 83 105 101 117 120 78 76 82 104 103 99 81 100 130 118 80 122 79 107 123 98 128 127 111 124 108 Dundonald 110 109 Road 129 C 126 112 113 125 131 132 Merton 133 South Park Wimbledon 135 136 134 171 137 172 170 138 The Wimbledon Bowling Club 139 173 Q 141 174 169 R u i i c n h ti 140 mo n 142 176 n 178 d 168 175 177 164 167 143 158 165 163 144 157 159160 161 151 150 162 166 D 145 149 146 147 148 Morden Wimbledon 153 152 156 Chase Road 154 Raynes 155 Park Parks / Green Areas Water Theatres Underground Station Tram stop Wimbledon way Church Post office ATM Cycle stand Train station Police station 165 Old School House, Church Lane 21 St Mary’s Church clock 11 Fire Station Bell Tower Historic Places of Interest see map overpage 28 12 and 14 Alan Road, 1903, massive chimneys, Art 62 Caesar’s Camp, Scheduled Ancient Monument, Nouveau leaded glass B3 late Bronze Age or Iron Age Fort c800BC, circular 1 Wimbledon Station, Portland stone faced Wimbledon 29 121 Church Rd. 1901, Arts and Crafts influencedB3 earthwork, defensive ditch and bank, 43 ha. B1 Station, built in the 1920s when Southern Railway was 30 Dairy Walk, right of way since 16C, linked St Mary’s 63 Study School, Grade ll was know as the Round extended to Sutton C3 and Manor Farm A3 School original built 1758-61 and extended in 2 Wimbledon Library, Elizabethan influenced classical 1800s, continually used as a school B1 31 28-32 Calonne Road, Grade ll, 1814, possibly James design built 1887 in red brick with stone detailing B3 64 Ransom, Vernacular Revival A2 Kier Cottage, interesting built into the boundary wall 3 Bank Building, 1886-87, Jacobean classical design, red of Cannizaro Park B1 32 brick, terracotta, extravagant classical detail around Buddhapadipa Temple, a spectacular and highly decorated temple A2 65 West Side Place, early cottages, Blue Plaques at 8 windows, doors eaves, corner turrets, gables B3 North View for Josephine Butler and Sir Ernst Chain 4 The White House, 100 Wimbledon Hill Road, Grade ll, 33 21 Calonne Road, Grade ll, 1909, R Baille Scott, Arts at number 9 B1 and Crafts manner A2 1850, stucco, Ionic columns and Greek key pattern 66 Fox and Grapes Public House, 18C. Camp Rd. B1 frieze B3 34 Locally listed houses along Parkside, number 44, Vernacular Tudor; number 43, 1925, Neo Classical; 67 Kier, Westside, Grade ll, built 1789, substantial 5 Drinking fountain, Grade ll, Gothic style in Portland detached house in stucco, slate roof with porch Stone with bronze foliated water spouts, erected in the number 42, 1900 with Dutch gable and Palladian window; number 38, 1900, Neo Vernacular; number with Doric columns B1 memory of Joseph Toynbee B3 37, 1901 with green slate, brick detail; number 34/a 68 Stamford, Westside, Grade ll, 1720, rendered brick 6 Horse trough in granite, situated at the top of the hill for 1910, Neo Vernacular Tudor; numbers 33/30, 1904; with tiled double pitched roof behind parapet, weary horses and cattle in 19C B3 number 29, 1904 Jacobean detail, numbers