When Gunfire Was Regularly Heard on the Common

Home , Francis Burdett, John Horne Tooke, Wimbledon Common

The London Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies

NEWSLETTER December 2014 When gunfire was regularly heard on the Common Playing with Fire: The story of shooting on Wimbledon Common will open at the Norman Plastow Gallery on Saturday 17 January, writes LIZ COURTNEY. Running until Sunday, 12 April, it will be showing every Saturday and Sunday from 2.30–5pm and on Wednesdays from 11.30am–2.30pm. Duels were fought on the Common much earlier but in 1860, Earl Spencer, Lord of the Manor and a founder of the National Rifle Association, offered it for the NRA’s inaugural meeting. First opened by Queen Victoria, the event became Visitors endure the elements at one of the National Rifle popular in the social calendar. Association’s annual meets on Wimbledon Common. This Together with shooting watercolour is from the Museum’s collection. competitions, there were extra sporting events and musical Kirk triumphs entertainments. The illustration above right hints at the lively, as history less official, night life. The meetings grew in size awards finally and scope until, by the late 1870s, there were nearly 2500 revealed at entrants for the Queen’s Prize. The NRA flourished at Bookfest Wimbledon for nearly 30 years From the left, Society chairman Asif Malik, judge Richard Tait, before moving to Bisley in and Kirk Bannister, first winner of the Richard Milward Local 1890, the end of an era. History Prize. See Page 3 for details.

INSIDE: News3 LocalHistoryGroup4/5 OralHistory6 Environment 7 Museum8 Planning Committee 8/11 Around and About 12

For the latest information, go to www.wimbledonsociety.org.uk, wimbledonmuseum.org.uk or the Facebook page. EDITOR’S NOTE Wimbledon Society contacts Chairman’s President Norman Plastow Report Chairman/Website Asif Malik Autumn this year saw seemingly constant activity. Wimbledon Hon Secretary Sue Lang Bookfest 2014 presented an outstanding programme with two Hon Treasurer Corinna Edge events hosted by the Society in the opening week. Sunday's sell-out literary walk, led by Monica Ellison, Planning Chairman featured eight notable literary figures. On Monday John Mays our double-bill comprised a Wimbledon Now & Then book presentation from Cassandra Taylor and Museum Chairman Cassandra Taylor Simon Joseph, and then Professor Richard Tait giving a fascinating talk about the importance of Local History Chairman local history today before awarding the Richard Charles Toase Milward Local History Prizes. The winning essays and those shortlisted can now be read in the Museum. Membership/Planning Secretary Our lecture programme included a talk on Jennifer Newman Chester House by Tony Matthews, based on his latest publication. This was held in the house itself Activities/Newsletter Distribution by kind permission of the owner, Bill Bottriell, who Linda Defriez generously also gave a conducted tour of the historic house and its exceptional gardens. Museum Head of Operations Having the Norman Plastow Gallery allows us to Bill Hakes mount interesting exhibitions and show Museum material not normally seen by the public. During 2014 we mounted three exhibitions covering Now & Then, a celebration of our polymath President, Norman Plastow, and a comprehensive display marking the 900th anniversary of Merton Priory. Our next exhibition on the National Rifle Association on the Commons opens in January. See Page 1. We remain involved in community issues and participated in the recent Future Wimbledon initiative organised by Love Wimbledon. The Society acted in two roles - as an entrant in our own right in the open design competition for ideas, and as judge for the schools competition. The War Memorial in the Village holds great significance for Wimbledon. The Society has participated in maintaining the surroundings of the obelisk in good order by setting up a voluntary programme of grass-cutting, carried out by nearby residents. A further enhancement has now taken place too. The floodlighting has been renewed, funded Wimbledon Society Newsletter by Merton Council, local residents and the Society. Editor:TonyMatthews A ceremony that commemorated World War One was held on 11 November. The new lighting was Editorial team: Asif Malik, Iain Simpson switched on by the Mayor, following words of re- Printing: The Wimbledon Print Company, 257 Haydons Road, SW19 8TY [email protected] flection by the vicar of St Mary’s Church, the Rev Mary Bide. A KCS trumpeter sounded the Last Post to close the ceremony. ASIF MALIK

2 NEWS Successful entrants to the Richard Milward Memorial Prize for Local History

Glenys Taylor Yasmine Jamil James Leek The award-winning entries in the Richard Milward Memorial Prize for Local History were announced at Wimbledon Bookfest on 6 October. The awards ceremony at Cannizaro House followed a talk on the relevance today of local history by competition judge Professor Richard Tait of Cardiff University. First prize went to Kirk Bannister for his essay New Wimbledon: the growth of a Victorian suburb 1851 - l891. He made the case for clean water, followed by the newly established freehold land societies, as instrumental in the growth of ‘New’ Wimbledon rather than the common assumption that the railway was the driving force. His essay also featured good use of maps and charts. The runner-up was Glenys Taylor for Keeping Up with the Joneses,ahistoryofStJohn'sCottage,CopseHill,andtheJones family. A member is believed to have inspired the character of Professor Henry Higgins in George Bernard Shaw's play Pygmalion. High commendations went to Yasmine Jamil and James Leek Margaret Skilton for their essays respectively on the empire builder and local resident, Sir Henry Bartle Frere, and Wimbledon War Memorial Help the image maker (see also Page 8 regarding James Leek). Commendations went Photographs curator Simon to Margaret Skilton for her oral history reminiscence of Somerset Joseph seeks help to update Stables, SW19, and to Lucy London for her piece on the Museum’s extensive image Rosaleen Graves, sister of World War One poet Robert Graves. collection. Digitised photos Praising the late Richard Milward for his outstanding work on need to be re-migrated on to local history, Richard Tait spoke of different academic approaches the website, analogue prints to history and the vital contribution that local historians can make to need digitising, and cataloguing that broad narrative through detailed knowledge of their locale is also required. and communities. Training will be provided. He also disclosed that Wimbledon’s original Elizabethan Manor Please email simon- House had had an external staircase copied directly from Villa [email protected] or Farnese in Rome. This had been revealed thanks to the saving call him on 07768 388 488 by French historians of original documents relating to Alexandro with details of your interest Farnese, a planner of the failed Spanish Armada of 1588 against and experience. England. Architectural influences were unaffected by such matters. 3 LOCAL HISTORY GROUP

Libel at Chester House two centuries ago The Museum recently bought the fellow radical Sir Francis Burdett The cartoon is pure libel. You caricature from 1808 shown are wearing while seated at the can read the full story in our above. Entitled Diversions of front, and a guillotine on the new booklet, Chester House: Purley, it purports to show table being used to behead a Atmosphere of a Past Age. one of John Horne Tooke’s bulldog representing Britain’s dinner parties at Chester House. John Bull. Horne Tooke extracts What’s in a name? Burdett’s purse discreetly while These were renowned for Agroupmemberhasbeen his friend reads his host’s the arguments, political and looking at the name origins of five book Diversions of Purley. otherwise, among the guests. sheltered housing complexes A highly successful work Horne Tooke was thought by run by the Anchor Housing on the English language (we many to be a traitor to his Association in Wimbledon. have a reference copy in the country because he had Louie Black House recalls Museum), it took its name supported both the American Sir Cyril Black’s mother, Annie from the home near Croydon War of Independence and the Louise, known as Louie, and of William Tooke, Horne French Revolution. Naomi Watts House another Tooke’s benefactor - the man References to the latter in Black family member. whose surname he adopted the picture include the bonnets The former Jimmy Saville after a land controversy. rouges that Horne Tooke and House was paid for by his charity. Holmhurst Court was Dylan’s Wimbledon watering hole built on the site of a house This year marked the centenary was Harry Joseph Hasslacher. called Holmhurst. Rathbone of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, Their favourite local pub House is named after Mrs born October 1914. He had was said to be ‘on the Winifred Rathbone, daughter alittle-knownconnectionwith railway bridge outside of Richardson Evans, and Wimbledon, sharing a house Wimbledon station’. This chairman of the Wimbledon at 9 Thornton Hill in the might have been the South Guild’s Old People’s Welfare 1930s with Oswell Blakeston, Western (now gone) or the Committee (1942-1954). another poet whose real name Prince of Wales. CHARLES TOASE 4 LOCAL HISTORY GROUP until six or seven years of age, When workhouse children receiving medical attention from a surgeon and apothecary, were nursed in Wimbledon almost certainly John Sanford, who lived at Ashford House in The hymn Jerusalem, sung the High Street. at many a Wimbledon school, There was an average of is actually only a section of 140 ‘nurse children’ from St alongpoembyWilliam James’s at Wimbledon at any Blake entitled Milton, writes given time and no fewer than CHARLES TOASE. 169 in 1756. In 1836, West- minster was still sending them A less quoted section talks of here, paying seven shillings ‘Wimbleton’s green & impurpled and sixpence a week for hills’. Why mention Wimbledon? each. At that time only three In the 1780s Blake was living died out of 130. in Westminster. His mother and William Blake was most brother lived next door with a impressed by this care for haberdashery business whose poor children. It fired his customers included St James’s imagination, particularly in the parish school for paupers. Songs of Innocence, which This school took children William Blake (1757-1827) included the Nurse’s Song. from the workhouse where or six in a single cottage - literally But he doesn’t seem to have many were sickly and half died in a cottage industry. St James’s had any particular link with infancy. However, the school paid an extra guinea if a baby Wimbledon himself. was exceptionally enterprising. or sick child survived for a There was a certain William It sent sick children to the year, and five shillings for one Blake living at Chester House fresh air of Wimbledon Common recovering from measles or in the 1780s before John where they were nursed to whooping cough. However, if Horne Tooke moved there in health by a number of ‘women two children died in a single 1792 but sadly we don’t know of character’. year with a particular nurse, she who he was. It is unlikely that These were paid five shillings would receive no more children. it was the poet. aweekforeachchild,withfive They remained at Wimbledon The local legacy of David Wynne College School, and had his studio there. Best known for Boy with a Dolphin at Chelsea, he had an exhibition of his work at Cannizaro House in 1980. Afavouriteworkisthe smallest item in our display, a 50p coin he designed to mark the UK’s accession to the European Economic Community One more thing... David Wynne (above in 1974), in 1973 (right). It shows nine sculptor, former Wimbledon hands clasped (representing John Horne Tooke’s 1786 resident and recent subject of a the nine original members). In book was originally called display at the Museum (see fact the hands are all of Wim- Epea Pteroenta, a quote Newsletter June 2014), died bledon people. According to from Homer meaning ‘winged on 4 September aged 88. Norman Plastow they belong words’. The Diversions of From 1964-92 he lived at to Wynne himself, his wife Purley proved a more popular Rushmere House, next to King’s and son, and Virginia Wade. title with readers. 5 ORAL HISTORY Bill Rowland is Senior Keeper lived there. There were just for the Wimbledon and Putney two bedrooms but a nice, Commons Conservators. For kitchen and bathroom. All the more than 32 years he has windows had net curtains. been part of the team that Slowly we built our furniture maintains the land for all up and were very happy to enjoy. But he also holds there. It was only because a the distinction of actually bigger cottage later became having lived inside the available that we moved out. Windmill, a reminder of the The Windmill’s sails went distant days when it provided round and we had to turn a home for several families. the brakes on and off. I was manning the Museum one I was born in Dorking in 1954. weekend when I remember, My father was a regular soldier we couldn’t get the brake to Bill Rowland who served for about 20 work. It was a windy day in years and, age 16, I too joined One of the rooms we winter. The sails were going the Household Cavalry, the painted and a red stain kept round like a propeller and the Blues and Royals. I served for coming through. We asked whole building started to eight years, four on the armoured around and rumour had it that shake. We couldn’t stop them side and then in London on the miller many years ago until the Monday morning. It the ceremonial side. I attained had cut his throat and hanged was very noisy and creaky. the rank of Lance-Corporal of himself and that these were We used the building as a Horse, equivalent to Lance- droplets of blood. We kept lookout for the car park. In the Sergeant. I left to start a new painting this wall but it kept early 1980s we used to get a life, joined Surrey Fire Service reappearing. The young couple lot of break-ins to vehicles for two years and then saw who moved in briefly after us and it was a good focal point this Ranger’s job advertised. had a priest in to carry out an to keep watch with binoculars. They took me on straight exorcism. All the keepers We caught many a thief red- away. I didn’t realise at the time crept round and watched handed. that there was accommodation through the window as the I’ve no idea how four families provided. I was living with my priest went around with sacred had fitted into the space, even girlfriend in Teddington. After water. Whether that did the with two downstairs and two three months’ probation and trick I don’t know. upstairs. I have heard there commuting, it was an exciting We lived in the Windmill were even more than four day when we moved into the for just under a year. No-one families at one time in there. Windmill. had done much work there The couple who lived there We didn’t have any furniture but I am a keen gardener and after us didn’t stay long. They as the Teddington flat had grew vegetables outside. were newly wedded but she been fully furnished but we One Sunday afternoon it ran off after six months. I think turned up with a double mattress was very warm and we were the ghost frightened her off. on our shoulders and put it in sitting in the garden. My wife The Windmill closed down the Windmill. We couldn’t decided to do some ironing then. This was a chance to really believe it, it was such with just her underwear on. I develop a bigger Museum as a unique place to live. looked up at the window and it was pretty basic at the time We moved in on a Thursday saw four faces looking down - just pictures, posters and a and had a party on Saturday at us. I jumped to my feet and few exhibits. It lacked all of night. We lit the Windmill up all you could hear was this today’s models, built over the and invited everyone to this bang, bang, bang bang as years by Norman Plastow. huge building in the middle of the guys ran down the stair- Wimbledon Common. We lived case to escape. To both read and hear Bill’s on the ground floor with the It was certainly an interesting full story just go to the Oral Museum upstairs. That was open place to live. I was amazed to History Library at to the public at weekends. hear that four families had once www.wimbledonmuseum.org.uk 6 ENVIRONMENT Between 1806 and 1826, the 2nd Earl Spencer (pictured below centre) measured the girth of some 44 trees near his Wimbledon manor house. DAVE DAWSON explains the significance of that today.

We don’t know why he did this but his results show an average growth of 1.3in per annum, slightly better than the rule of thumb devised by the modern dendrologist, Alan Mitchell, of an inch a year for a tree with a full crown. This rate can be accounted for by the unusually fast growth of one species, the Cedar of How many of today’s trees would Lebanon. A quarter of the Earl’s trees were cedars. Indeed the Capability Brown remember? average rate for the cedars Within the historic park, the alone was 1.7in per annum. oldest is the oak shown above, Many trees measured in near the 8th green of Wimbledon 1823 or 1826 were then small Park Golf Course. Over five metres specimens. Modern dendro- in girth, it is about 300 years old - chronology means we can now around 50 in Brown’s own time. estimate which were large Trees with girths of between 4.4 enough to date back to the and 4.8 metres have estimated landscaping of Capability Brown ages of 230 to 255 years and 45 to 60 years earlier. may date from his landscaping. Acedar‘southofthepavilion’ These comprise four further and an elm ‘south of the terrace’ oaks, two of which are on the golf were already about 150 years not introduced from the US course, one in the pavement of old, dating them back to west coast until the 1850s. Home Park Road beside the around 1675, not long after The other 41 trees were younger. course, and one in Lake Road the Cedar of Lebanon was The trees measured by the near the junction with Church Hill. introduced to England in the Earl were a tiny proportion of Many more local trees, both th mid 17 century. Three other those indicated on the 1787 within and outside the historic park, cedars and a Scots pine were map of John Corris. The have a girth of around 4 metres, around 70 years old, so probably 1200-acre park then extended indicating an age of around 200 planted before Brown’s time, from today’s Tibbet’s Corner years. More historic trees doubt- as was a beech of around in the north to Wimbledon Hill less remain to be discovered. 100 years. Road at Woodside in the As well as spanning Wimbledon’s The trees that could have south, from Parkside in the history they are invaluable wildlife been planted by Brown had west to the Woodman public habitats. The Lake Road oak estimated ages from 65 to 40 house in the east. supports the edible fungus, years. There were four cedars, Outside the historic Wimble- Chicken of the Woods. This and aTulip-tree,aWeymouth don Park, there are a few oaks other veterans provide nesting pine, a hybrid poplar, a larch and beeches on the Common holes for breeding nuthatches and a Copper beech. There over 300 years old and several and stock doves, and it is likely was also a mysterious ‘Red others of around that age, that some of the five species of Cedar’, certainly not the including a London plane bat reported from Wimbledon Western Red Cedar, as it was near the top of Putney Hill. Park roost in such holes. 7 MUSEUM OF WIMBLEDON ROSEMARY EVANS residential homes, church explains how the Museum Travelling groups and Women’s Institutes, is no longer restricted to and libraries. Each September, one location. talks bring Age UK also asks us to put on Some four years ago at a special events for Celebrating meeting of the Visitors Group Museum into Age month. under the chairmanship of Visits to residential care homes Cassandra Taylor, the subject the wider can be particularly enlightening. was discussed of taking the While some residents appear to Museum to people unable community be taking no notice, others will physically, for whatever suddenly surprise you reason, to come to the with little gems of building in person. local facts. Some Michael Norman- memories will have Smith produced a half been stirred and hour script entitled interesting conver- Wimbledon - 3,000 years sations may well in 30 minutes which take place to enliven ran with a slide show the day. illustrating local history The talks group from Caesar's Camp to hopes to expand its the present day. range of showcases With a projector and further with other screen then newly available in Above left: The story of Cannizaro is just interesting subjects. the Museum, the presentation one of several talks now given to local Two additional was shown to a group of older groups by the travelling team. Above right: speakers are now people during Merton Council’s Rosemary Evans addresses an audience. needed to join the officially designated month for team. If you know Celebrating Age. Bookfest talks based on the of a particular organisation This was a great success books Cannizaro Beyond the that would be happy for us to and the Travelling Talks Gates and Heritage Tales. visit and bring the Museum Show subsequently hit the Asmallteamofvolunteers into their circle or if you are road. Since then the repertoire now goes out and presents interested in being a speaker has expanded to include other these talks to a wide variety of yourself, please do contact slide shows covering the local people including the Wimbledon Cassandra Taylor. Her details Suffragettes and the two Guild, residents associations, are on Page 2.

PLANNING COMMITTEE New lighting for Village War Memorial In conjunction with James Leek of One Man event and Rev Mary Bide, Vicar of St Mary’s, Went to Mow, the Society has been keeping reflected on the occasion before prayers. the site of the Village War Memorial in good Merton’s Mayor, Councillor Agatha Akyigyina, order for over two years and decided to assist officially switched on the lights. him in installing new lighting. She congratulated the Society and James Leek The old installation was no longer fit for on the lighting initiative, stressing the Council’s purpose and new technology as well as a appreciation of such private efforts in helping more artistic input had long been required. We to improve the local environment and landscape. decided to have a lighting up ceremony on The event ended with a recitation by actor Armistice Day itself and this took place at the Benjamin Whitrow of Laurence Binyon’s For The War Memorial on11 November. Fallen and the sounding of the Last Post by Society chairman Asif Malik introduced the Jonathan Bell, a pupil at King’s College School.

8 PLANNING COMMITTEE: APPLICATIONS A major function of our would affect both residents viability of the Village as a Planning Committee is to and visitors. Our main concerns whole. We have written to Merton review the quality of all included the proposed height Council requesting that the planning applications made (a good two storeys higher matter be investigated and to Merton Council. Here are than the surrounding buildings); designation of an Article 4 some recent cases where the design character’s failure Direction limiting use of the letters have been written to to complement the existing prior approval procedure in Merton requesting a rethink. building; overlooking of residents; the Village be considered. EAGLE HOUSE: There was a and possible noise pollution. proposal to convert this 1613 For such a prominent building, DENMARK ROAD: Atalltimber Grade 2 listed building into Merton could reasonably widen fence had been introduced into flats, extending it significantly its consultation area beyond that part of the garden area to the rear and side. Returning those most directly affected. formed by a group of listed the building to use was welcome cottages designed by S. Teulon but the extensions were THE ALL ENGLAND LAWN in around 1860. This change considered too bulky, obtrusive TENNIS CLUB: The club’s was referred to Merton’s and out of character, leaving proposed installation of a new enforcement team. little of the rear garden space. retractable roof on No 1 court Neighbouring properties would with around 12,000 seats 17 HILLSIDE / 40 THORNTON also be overlooked and some would allow play to continue ROAD: Currently containing of the internal changes would until 11pm. This will increase several offices, it is proposed compromise the original room significantly the numbers of to use the Government’s new shapes. The plan also meant people leaving the grounds at a prior approval procedure to too much accommodation being late hour. We have suggested convert this building to flats. crammed on to the site. that the club should consider Grounds for objection to the improving the formal pedestrian procedure are far more limited ROSE COTTAGE: Located in route between the ground and than for a normal planning Hamilton Road, this was the Wimbledon Station (known as application but the Society only surviving example of pre- the Wimbledon Way) as well as raised concerns about the Victorian development in providing a transport plan to loss of local employment uses South Wimbledon and had take account of the late exodus. which provide more economical associations with Lord Nelson’s The increased height of the new working space and reduce estate. English Heritage said roof structure could also over- commuting to central London. the building, although in a shadow nearby Metropolitan We also raised the absence poor state, had local merit. Open Land so landscape en- of parking on site in an area Instead of demolition, the Society hancements would be desirable. of low accessibility and high felt it should be retained and use of kerbside parking. There converted, and the rest of the 24A HIGH STREET: Aprior are known issues too with the site used for housing. approval application for the water table and the on site three upper floors of this presence of a Cedar of Lebanon BANK BUILDINGS: Plans were office building to be changed which both require care. submitted to redevelop and to flats has been approved by extend these locally listed Merton Council. This raises buildings at the foot of Wim- significant issues for the future New Secretary bledon Hill Road. The case of the Village High Street. It still needed officer's report mentioned both currently has more than 150 the Society's representations businesses on upper floors, The Committee still needs a and those of East Hillside many of which provide local new secretary to book meetings, Residents' Association. Planning services and most of which write agendas, take minutes permission was refused. contribute to the viability of and prepare reports for the The Planning Committee shops or restaurants. There- Executive Committee. If you discussed the application at fore, substantial replacement are interested please contact length as the site is in the of these businesses by flats John Mays, Chairman. Details town centre and work there could significantly impact the on Page 2. 9 PLANNING COMMITTEE How should Wimbledon town centre look 20 years from now? TONY MICHAEL considers what could be done to improve the town centre to benefit the local residential and business community rather than just outside developers and Merton Council. Merton Council and the Love So Merton’s call for a proper with its requirements for major Wimbledon business group long-term plan for Wimbledon engineering works, gives us held an ideas competition town centre is welcomed, and an opportunity to adapt the recently posing the question: what are our own main ideas? basic nature and structure of what might Wimbledon town The town centre is currently the town centre. centre be like in 2030 and dominated by traffic, with Our proposals include: how could it respond to pedestrians making do with * Pedestrianising much of the changing times? the unpleasant and dangerous Broadway between the station There were over 100 entries spaces left over. But unless and New Wimbledon Theatre, and competitors were re- pedestrians can walk entirely and creating a pedestrianised stricted to just one map and comfortably through a town zone some 400 metres long. four pages of text. Many were centre and linger there, the Through traffic would be taken ideas rather than complete town cannot prosper. along Hartfield Road. plan solutions. Merton aims Wimbledon should have a *Coveringoverpartofthis eventually to produce a town wide range of facilities – civic, pedestrianised Broadway with centre master plan. cultural, educational as well glazing to create a special The proposed Crossrail 2 as shopping and business. It ‘indoor’ space modelled on project promises to bring a also needs a unique character, the Milan Galleria in Italy or great deal of change with a something special and memo- Leadenhall Market in London - major new station and greater rable that local people can be iconic places. accessibility to both central proud of and that visitors will *Enhancingsixsquaresfor London and the wider region. want to return to. Crossrail 2, pedestrians along the Broadway The Society decided to produce a master plan for the whole area in order to stimulate public discussion. Our uncompromising view is that the town belongs to local people and businesses, not the developers and not the Council. Thirty years after the first Residents’ Plan (Our Town, Our Plan)wasproduced,we are still waiting for an official three-dimensional master plan from the authorities. Individual developments are still proceeding ad hoc, designed (after secret discussion with the planning office) and financed by outsiders with no real understanding of local issues, and no discernible planning vision. Artist’s impression of a covered pedestrianised Broadway. 10 PLANNING COMMITTEE music centre, retaining the freehold for long term gain. Public land should not be sold for short term profit as has happened before. We should set up zones that exclude wide shop frontages to protect and encourage small units. We could also ensure that all new developments have small scale pedestrian-friendly frontages. There should be no more cases like Victoria Crescent, with its blank walls of a super- market on one side and a cinema on the other. What about character? Our proposals require strict height limits. We do not need high buildings with their wind and shading problems and complete loss of local character. Surely experience has taught us that much! They simply feed the egos of developers and councils without any benefit to the community. Proof of the failure of the present system in which each developer negotiates secretly with Merton’s planning office must be the utter banality of the four buildings around the intersection beside the station. Instead of this, we need the planning office to be able to specify the future form of a route. These would be St widths, as additional capacity development based on its own Mark’s Place, the station fore- simply attracts more traffic. master plan. Every developer court, a new Town Hall Sophisticated controls of traffic would then know what was square, the Piazza, a new behaviour should accommodate acceptable for a site from day square beside the theatre, future traffic needs. one. and another on the YMCA site. Having established a better The public should also *Buildinganewbridgeoverthe structure and a strong pedes- have involvement in basic railway tracks between Queen’s trianised heart to the town, designs from the start. Once Road and Alexandra Road. what facilities and activities again the question should *Rebuildingthepresentstation should we plan for? always be posed: ‘Whose with an integral bus station We need to get back more town is it anyway?’ beside Alexandra Road. of the civic and cultural func- More details of the Society’s * Developing above the tracks tions that Wimbledon has lost submission, including a detailed and expanding the town’s over the past few decades. map showing the proposals, business/retail and housing The Council-owned site in can be seen on the website at floorspace. Hartfield Road should be www.wimbledonsociety.org.uk. *Acceptingthepresentroad used for a major new cultural/ 11 AROUND AND ABOUT Free lectures Now & Then - ahead in 2015 a team triumph Simon Joseph, Museum Curator of Photo- Photographer, writer and lecturer graphs, and Cassandra Taylor, Committee Steffie Shields is one of the Chairman, (shown left) told the Bookfest country’s leading experts on audience at Cannizaro House of the team landscape gardener Capability determination that produced the book Brown whose tercentenary Wimbledon - Now & Then earlier this year. will be marked in 2016. Alearningcurveforsome,afund-raising Specialising in historic marathon for others, it was also a challenge landscapes and plant portrai- that saw Simon clambering to the top of ture, Steffie will give the first Wimbledon Theatre beside the Angel to lecture of the New Year on take the ultimate photo of the town as it Capability Brown: the Gift of appears today compared to 100 years Landscape at 2pm on Satur- ago. The talk preceded the Richard Milward day, 24 January at Christ Memorial Prize for Local History awards Church Hall, Copse Hill. presentation (see Page 3). Steffie has been researching the great man since 1987 and has visited more than 190 of Never forgotten after 100 years his 200 sites nationwide. Brown On 13 September, Raynes Park was commissioned twice in Library was the venue for Forget Wimbledon, for Earl Spencer’s Me Nots, a special tribute to 1200-acre Wimbledon Park (see World War One heroes by local Page 7) and a now vanished site actors and musicians. Designed in Church Road (see Elspeth by Michael Norman-Smith, it Veale’s The Belvedere Estate). marked this year’s centenary Last summer’s successful of the outbreak of the war. exhibition on Merton Priory at Significantly starting at the Norman Plastow Gallery 11am, it was a literary event showed the level of interest as with poets, dramatists and the building’s 900th anniversary writers of novels and letters has been commemorated. all represented. The historical It will also be the subject of context, why the war began Michael with the library’s the second lecture in the pro- and its tragic outcomes, inter- World War One exhibition. gramme when John Hawks of spersed pieces performed by Merton Historical Society the talented cast and directed Pack up your Troubles in a shares the story at 8pm on by Val Foskett. respectful and almost tearful Thursday, 19 March at the The roles of both those on atmosphere. Emmanuel Church, Ridgway. the home front and warriors Helping to set the scene The Augustinian Priory was on the battlefields were high- for this event was an exhibi- founded near the Wandle under lighted. Giving a reminder of tion showing photographs and King Henry I, visited by other the period, musical interludes memorabilia from the war. monarchs, and dissolved after added to the ambience. Local residents contributed 400 years. The remains can The audience was invited their own family records in be seen beside Sainsbury’s at to join in the closing songs It’s memory of their relatives who Colliers Wood. aLongWaytoTipperaryand had taken part in the war.

The Wimbledon Society was founded in 1903 and has had its present name since 1982. (Originally the John Evelyn Club, it was known as the John Evelyn Society from 1949-82.) A Registered Charity (No 269478), its main objectives are to preserve Wimbledon’s amenities and natural beauty, study its history, and ascertain that urban development is sympathetic and orderly. Annual subscriptions are at the following rates: Individuals £10.00; Families £15.00; Organisations: Non-commercial £25, commercial £50. Please send membership applications to the Membership Secretary. The Museum and Bookshop (020 8296 9914), 22 Ridgway, near Lingfield Road, are open from 2.30 to 5.00pm Saturday and Sunday. Admission free. 12