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The Forum of Amenity and Civic Societies

NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2020

News Local History The Museum Planning and Obituaries p10 Safer Streets page 3 pages 4-6 refurbishment p7 Environment p8-9 The Common p11 page 12 Wimbledon town centre TONY MICHAEL comments welcome intentions, on Council’s picking up many of promoted Supplementary Planning the Society’s ideas. For office projects? Document, and on example, pedestrians are Developers have no interest or page 3 MATTHEW HILLIER to be given “the highest The Council’s earlier skills in town planning; they reports on a further delay priority”, together with proposal to somehow emulate get permission, they build, to Crossrail 2 cycles and buses, with a new Kingston and Croydon then sell and disappear. town square as a focal point, (strongly opposed by the Instead of promoting IN 2017 THE COUNCIL and Hartfield Road perhaps Society) has been dropped. offices, why not plan for new admirably set up a series of reverting to 2-way traffic to “Successful places are those housing which we all want public ‘workshops’ to discover free up the Broadway for with activity and culture” it to see? Residents are here what Wimbledon people pedestrians, cycles and buses. rightly says, and promises “a 24 hours a day, future office wanted to see in their town. Narrow-fronted shops in both step-change in quality” for the workers may be present a few The results were clear: mid- conservation areas are rightly enhancement of public spaces. hours a week. rise buildings (no higher than seen as ideal for the smaller Much of this is positive, Then there is the issue of the 22m of the 7 storey CIPD independents. One notes the welcome, and in line with our the height of new buildings. building), good pedestrian inclusion of phasing and the past responses, but the Society “Modest increase in building spaces via traffic intervention, use of ‘vision’. Future schemes has been unable to persuade heights” it says (5.3.50). In a good transport interchange, must deliver sustainability and the Council to rethink other the earlier drafts this meant arts and culture, shop space greening benefits, be resilient aspects. 18 storeys, but in the January for independent retailers, and to climate change, adaptable A major increase in “large draft it dropped to 14. more greening. and capable of re-use. floor-plate” office space is Now the map on page 52 The Council has now Additional railway crossings still being promoted, despite shows 12 storeys (48 metres) produced its Supplementary are proposed, linked to the reports by independent high. So much for the public’s Planning Document (SPD) Crossrail 2 scheme and there property analysts in 2018 views which were clear that for Wimbledon Town Centre, is to be substantial “greening” which poured cold water on 22 metres should be the limit. which will be used to brief of Wimbledon Hill Road, St proposals for such offices. The resulting ‘canyonisation’ developers. Mark’s Place, land beside the As the document admits, of our narrow streets is more So what does this new Theatre, the Barclays and with increased home working, suited to the very centre of Council document say, how Argos forecourts. St George’s and radical re-thinking of old London. does it respond to public Road and Queen’s Road are to established working patterns, Despite the phrases wishes or to the Society’s be boulevards. A new Station it is too early to determine the supporting pedestrians, traffic approach to the planning of Square will be the town’s impact of post-Covid home and the A219 still dominate our town centre, set out in focal point (today’s station working on workspace. the heart of the town. There Vision 2040? being described as “not fit for So how sensible is this is the tired phrase that There are some very purpose”). adherence to developer- “pedestrianisation (contd 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 Tony Michael [email protected] AGM Report Chairman Jeremy Hudson [email protected] THE SOCIETY held its 116th Annual General Meeting Vice Chairman John Mays on Saturday, 3rd October 2020 at [email protected] Hall, Arthur Road. However, due to Covid-19 it was held under very different circumstances, with Government Hon Secretary Maureen Field restrictions on numbers attending in person, and other [email protected] members being welcomed via Zoom. A minute’s silence was observed remembering those Hon Treasurer Corinna Edge Society members who have passed away this year, [email protected] especially Oliver Bennett, James Leek and Richard Flavell, and all in our community affected by the pandemic. Planning & Environment Chairman Jeremy Hudson focused on events so far this Committee Secretary Liz Newman year and outlined how the Society is determined to remain [email protected] pro-active in the challenges to come. The new website, incorporating both Society and Membership Secretary Simon Ingall Museum websites, was successfully launched in July. With [email protected] this launch comes our new membership system providing benefits of secure registration, payment options, sign-up Museum Director Jacqueline Laurence for Gift Aid, booking events and purchasing publications. [email protected] Our Newsletter is now delivered both digitally and by post. We have also attracted 1,363 followers to the Local History Michael Norman Smith Society’s Twitter feed. The Planning & Environment Committee had a busy Website Asif Malik [email protected] year, so far reviewing 164 planning applications and responding to half of them. We are also concerned with strategic and environment issues, including the Council’s Wimbledon Society Newsletter revised masterplan for the Town Centre, new Local Plan, Editorial team and Local Government Boundary Commission’s proposed Sally Gibbons [email protected] Ward changes. The Society is currently preparing Nigel Davies responses to the Government’s consultation on proposed Monica Ellison, Asif Malik, John Mays, Jeremy Hudson changes to the planning system. Letters to the editor Using the enforced closure of the Museum, Please email [email protected] refurbishment plans have been brought forward, or write to Sally Gibbons c/o The Museum of Wimbledon, 22 Ridgway, SW19 4QN and £89,000 is already allocated to the project. A refurbishment fundraising campaign will be launched in Printing: The Wimbledon Print Company, the New Year. The Museum will remain closed during 257 Haydons Road, SW19 8TY [email protected] 2021, with re-opening scheduled for Spring 2022. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter Unfortunately, two lockdown casualties have been www.facebook.com/TheWimbledonSociety @wimsoc our Activities & Events programme, and the Exhibition to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Wimbledon & The name of the Wimbledon Society or that of the Museum of Commons Act 1871. However, a Wimbledon Trail Wimbledon must never be used to promote personal activities or written work without written permission from the Society. around the Common is being prepared, allowing members The articles and photos in this newsletter are copyright of those credited to participate. or, where no credit exists, of The Wimbledon Society. No part of this The Chairman recorded his appreciation of the support newsletter can be copied or reproduced without the express written permission of the copyright holder. received from members during this difficult time. MAUREEN FIELD

2 | December 2020 n NEWS n The Dons return home Wimbledon BookFest JEREMY HUDSON celebrates Cup victors in 1988. return to Merton, with a new the return of Wimbledon’s The club was forced to stadium as close as possible to receives own football team to their leave its home its ‘spiritual home’ in Plough spiritual home in 1991 after publication Lane. This ambition gathered lifeline grant of the Taylor Report on momentum as AFC rapidly THE WIMBLEDON COMPETITIVE professional ground safety, following the ascended the football pyramid, BookFest is one of 1,385 football returned to Plough 1989 Hillsborough disaster. achieving promotion to the vastly differing organisations Lane on the evening of Wimbledon’s last first-team Football League in 2011. which has benefitted from the Tuesday 3 November 2020, fixture there was on 4 May In 2013 AFC entered into Government’s £1.57bn Culture after an interval of 29 years, 1991. For the next 12 years the discussions with Merton Recovery Fund, administered when AFC Wimbledon played club’s home was at Selhurst Council over a joint bid for by the Arts Council. The Fund Doncaster Rovers in a League Park in a ground-share with the Wimbledon Greyhound is intended to help cultural One match, in their new Crystal Palace. Then, in 2003 Stadium and surrounding organisations across the stadium. the club relocated to Milton land, in cooperation with country to face the challenges Founded in 1889, Keynes, being rebranded as developer Galliard Homes, to of the pandemic and ensure a Wimbledon FC (originally Milton Keynes Dons a year build a new football stadium, sustainable future. called ‘Wimbledon Old later. Meanwhile, the old 600 residential units as well Fiona Razvi, Festival Centrals’) played on the Plough Lane ground was as shops and community Director says: ‘This news Common and on various redeveloped. facilities. In 2015 planning couldn’t have come at a temporary grounds in the In 2002 a new club, AFC permission for the scheme was better time for Wimbledon Wimbledon area before Wimbledon, was formed obtained, and construction BookFest and is a fabulous acquiring a permanent home by a section of the club’s started in March 2018. endorsement of our work. in Plough Lane in 1912. The supporters. In August of that Now work on the We are beyond delighted club’s remarkable history year the club kicked off in the 9,300-capacity stadium is and grateful for this support. from then on bears repeating Combined Counties League, complete, and the Dons have Wimbledon BookFest is – FA Amateur Cup winners in using Kingstonian’s ground returned home. Alas, due to committed to being here 1963, elected to the Football Kingsmeadow, in Norbiton. Covid restrictions, no fans for the long term delivering League in 1977, promoted to This has been the club’s home could be admitted to witness top class arts, culture the First Division in 1986, for the past 18 years. However, this historical event. For the and education for our and (most famously of all) FA AFC’s ambition was always to record, the match ended 2-2. community”.

Continued from page 1 St George’s Road, Centre Court, The Piazza, Hartfield Crossrail 2 delayed can take the life out of a town Road car park, Council land centre” (5.4.29). This will be adjoining the Theatre, but SINCE PUBLICATION safeguarded “surface interest” news to the many hundreds where is the commitment to of the Supplementary land, stretching from Merton of towns worldwide that have bringing the public to these Planning Document, the Hall Road to Wimbledon successfully returned their discussions on day one, which Department for Transport Traincare Depot. centres to pedestrians since is (admirably) encouraged by publicly confirmed that Any development proposal the 1970s. central government in section the Crossrail 2 project has within or adjacent to this area Should not the Council 40 of the NPPF? Or support been delayed. It set out will be scrutinised by Crossrail resurrect the “Mini Holland” for the major music centre that Transport for London: 2, to ensure that it “does scheme it put forward in 2013, designed by Frank Gehry? “prioritises safeguarding not conflict with plans for to route two-way traffic along A new Borough plan is activity and brings an orderly Crossrail 2”. This includes the Hartfield Road and free the currently being prepared, end to consultancy work as power of direct refusal. Broadway of through traffic? so can we hope that, for the soon as possible.” Merton Council’s “Future This could give us a more town centre, it will prioritise While this decision only Wimbledon” masterplan, pedestrian-focussed centre, the climate emergency covers the period to March which envisioned Wimbledon’s with greater safety, cleaner air, programme, subjugate 2021, TfL itself had already transformation to a mid-rise less noise, and fitting in with through traffic in favour of conceded in September that office hub, was predicated on the post-Covid world of open major pedestrianisation, Crossrail 2 would not be the completion of Crossrail 2. air trading. embargo buildings over seven realistically affordable A significant question We learn that there are storeys, and, of course, ditch before 2030. mark therefore now hangs, (the usual secret) “informal the idea of developers’ offices, What does this mean once again, over the future landowner engagements” with and instead build the housing for Wimbledon? We have development of Wimbledon several large sites, Sainsburys, we need? one of the largest areas of Town Centre.

3 | December 2020 n LOCAL HISTORY n Views from the bridge

A new find byMATTHEW HILLIER allows him to give us a glimpse of a time when Wimbledon was surrounded by open countryside.

RECENTLY, TWO vintage private photos dated 1899 have come to light, taken from what is now Durnsford Road Bridge. The photographer was obviously a train enthusiast, but the broader landscape details are now of historical interest, showing a corner of Wimbledon in transition from countryside to suburban and industrial.

The south western view In 1838 when the double line opened, this was the Merton Road level crossing, a notorious spot for road The views to the south- congestion, fog and accidents, west (above) and towards so with the quadrupling of (right) the line in 1883 came the new “Woodman Bridge”, named that the train is the express after the nearby inn. from Bournemouth due at To the side of the tracks Waterloo at 11.57. is Merton Road signal box, and behind this a triangle The north eastern view of land, in the process of This photo is a 180 being cleared. On the OS degree turn, showing the map of 1893 this land was Bournemouth express out of agricultural and woodland; Waterloo. The tracks rise into by late 1899 it was filled the distance, where they cross with new carriage sidings and the Wandle near Earlsfield the new “Durnsford Road” Station. The open fields to signal box. the south are now the Weir The line of trees beyond Road industrial estate. is now the line of Strathearn The industrial building Road, and beyond that is the to the north was the (then) still largely open building brand-new oil gas works land of Dora Road and which fed the train carriage © Matthew Hillier Kenilworth Avenue. The lamps. This had a relatively electrification plans. This is that you can see either house roof showing above is short life as by 1905, mainly finally closed in 1958 when the driver or the fireman probably at the upper end of for safety reasons, most the National Grid took over. “walking around” the Vineyard Hill Road. carriages were being built Today the former gas running plate of the Back along the main line, with electric lighting. works site is occupied by locomotive, most likely the 4 brick arches of Gap In 1913 work started, in Gresham Way industrial engaged in topping up Road bridge are visible; to- the field in front of the estate, and the former lubricating oil feeders. This day’s steel girder bridge was gas works, on an electrical power station site in front is was extremely dangerous completed in 1900. power station as part of Wimbledon Traincare Depot. and strictly against the The photographer notes the railway’s suburban A small human detail company’s rules.

4 | December 2020 n LOCAL HISTORY n

In 1899, the year Arthur From Wimbledon to WT Stead on Stead died, they built extensions Wombledon is fourteen miles to the west end of Cottenham And from Wombledon to THE LOCAL HISTORY although he was attacked in House for Miss Adela Wimbledon is fourteen miles Group revisited the Hayling Island, where he had Schuster, who had just From Wimbledon life of WT Stead, the a seaside house, he did not moved there from Cannizaro. to Wombledon campaigning newspaper suffer in Wimbledon, at least In the 1920s Dashwood’s And from Wombledon editor who lived at until the relief of Mafeking sons branched out into to Wimbledon House in Church when some local people were shopfitting, including the And Wimbledon to Road, and went down with celebrating the event. “On Dorothy Perkins branch in Wombledon is fourteen miles the Titanic. As a result of the that night” he says, “I was Barnet; the company was In 1973 a letter was unearthing of a copy of the suddenly aroused by noises wound up in 1927. published in the Sunday Wimbledon & Merton Annual under the bedroom window... Two other factories arrived Telegraph quoting the saying. from 1903 we were able to We listened to the shouting in the 1930s, the Arrow The writer said that his read in his own words about of the men, who trampled Works, taking its name father used to quote this, and his life in Wimbledon. over our flower beds, pulled from the firm of Bowman, as a boy he took his school He tells us that “I hardly up our plants, and flung and Crownall Works, which atlas, found Wimbledon, and deserve to be called a stones into our green-house, survived until this year; it drew a circle with a 14 mile Wimbledonian. It is true that yelling and groaning the while is being replaced by a large radius – but failed to find I have lived in Wimbledon to manifest their patriotic new office block. The various Wombledon. However, as a for twenty-three years, disapproval of us... buildings on the site have result of his letter, the Sunday and I hope I shall live in “Before they went, been used for a variety of Telegraph had more letters, Wimbledon until I die [he someone flung a stone at productions, particularly and printed six of them. The left in 1905]. But although I my dining room window. plastics but including neon general consensus was that live in Wimbledon, I am, I It made a small hole in the signs and electroplating. the distance between the two fear, a bad citizen. I dine and plate-glass, cracking it in Robert Dashwood, one of places was 14 miles, but there sleep in Cambridge House, all directions. I have never the sons of the founder of was no explanation of any and go to the Congregational had that window repaired. the first firm on the site, was meaning or history behind Through that small hole my particularly enterprising. the rhyme. There is also an “We listened to the guests from far and wide After World War I he American version ‘From catch a little vivid glimpse made money buying and Widdleton to Waddleton’. shouting of the men, of an exciting passage in selling armaments, and Perhaps it arose because who trampled over English history, which in 1929 he developed the ‘Wimbledon’ is a funny our flower beds, one at least of the actors Oakfield estate in Bathgate sounding word, especially pulled up our plants, remembers with gratitude Road with the John Innes to a child, and that may be and flung stones into and pride.” architect, John Brocklesby. the simple answer. The verse our green-house, The window is no longer In something of a coup, he appears in the Oxford Nursery yelling and groaning there. Cambridge House was bought The Keir in Westside Rhyme Book, although in the pulled down in 1969 to make in 1932, and then promptly version ‘From Wibbleton to the while to manifest way for the Welford Place sold it to Kenneth Wilson, Wobbleton’. their patriotic development. who added most of its The way that old sayings, disapproval of us” grounds to Cannizaro. rhymes and stories used to This year the Elm Grove spread is intriguing. Nowadays Church twice on Sundays, Wimbledon estate buildings nearest to it is easy for things to get but that is about all my the railway were demolished, around, but in earlier times, connection with the place. industrial and a large office block built with no mass communication Yet I never return to it after there. It is on three floors and a mostly illiterate visiting other suburbs of estates – with 11,800 square feet of population everything spread London without a feeling of office space, and six new by word of mouth. Children devout gratitude that I live in Elm Grove houses are also part of the largely did not go to school, Wimbledon. I have about an THE SECOND OF development. so sayings and songs did not acre of garden, with a lawn Wimbledon’s small factory spread through the playground. tennis ground, gymnasium, estates [see September Nursery rhymes spread through and a swimming bath, newsletter for the article on Where is oral tradition, via mothers, under the shade of and the first] is in Elm Grove by grannies, etc. However, elms, within eight miles of the railway. It started around Wombledon? newspaper reports of social London.” 1883 with the Sycamore gatherings indicate that it was a During the 2nd Boer War he Works of Arthur Dashwood THERE IS an old rhyme very popular comic song in the was unpopular for supporting & Sons, making ‘horticultural about Wimbledon which is a 19th and early 20th centuries. the Boers. He tells us that, buildings’ – greenhouses. little puzzling: CHARLES TOASE

5 | December 2020 n LOCAL HISTORY n The Jesuits in Wimbledon © Jeremy Hudson © Jeremy

A postcard of the Church of the Sacred Heart on Edge Hill (left) circa 1905; the Jesuits’ motto above the front door to their building on Darlaston Road (above)

JEREMY HUDSON reviews the in Road. During their mission in administration of the Sacred 142 years of local ministry by During the next ten years, Wimbledon the Jesuits Heart Parish would be handed the Catholic Church’s largest Jesuit priests would walk founded two other schools over to the Diocese at the end Order for men. across the Common every which continue to flourish of 2013. The reason given was Sunday to say Mass and hear today. In September 1930 that the dwindling number ON SUNDAY 22 DECEMBER Confessions. In 1882, when the Sacred Heart School of Jesuit priests was causing 2019 the Sacred Heart the congregation outgrew the opened in Burlington Road, the Order to “re-position” Church’s weekly newsletter house, the Jesuits opened a and in 1934 Donhead School its ministries in Britain. The announced that “The Jesuit school in Russell Road with opened as a preparatory formal handover took place in community in Edge Hill will a small iron chapel attached, school to Wimbledon College, January 2014. formally close today… It is dedicated to Our Lady Help in premises on Edge Hill The Jesuits retained their with much sadness that the of Christians. donated by the Smail family. palatial building in Darlaston community is closing. There In 1887, with the Bishop of Meanwhile, the Sacred Road for six more years, have been Jesuits here for Southwark’s agreement, the Heart Parish went from during which time it was a very long time, but now Jesuits set up a permanent strength to strength. Its high occupied by priests studying it is time to go, leaving the mission in Wimbledon, based point was in the mid-1970s and teaching at Heythrop parish and the schools in on the new church of the when an estimated 4,200 College and engaged in other very capable hands.” Perhaps Sacred Heart, being built at would attend Mass every ministries in London. it is time to review the Mrs Arendrup’s expense on weekend. Two satellite Now the Jesuits’ only Jesuits’ legacy and impact on Edge Hill. They agreed to churches were opened before link with Wimbledon is Wimbledon. take on this responsibility the First World War; first St Jesuit Missions at 11 Edge Founded almost 500 years on condition that they might Winefride’s in 1905 to meet Hill, the international ago by St Ignatius of Loyola, open a local day school and the needs of the Catholics in development arm of the the Society of Jesus is a Wimbledon College was , who had Jesuits in Britain. For over missionary order of priests and opened in January 1892. been attending Mass at St 60 years Jesuit Missions brothers (a.k.a. “the Jesuits”) It remained in the Jesuits’ Mary’s School. The Jesuits has educated and supported and the largest Catholic Order control until 2011 when its staffed the Parish until 1961. vulnerable communities in of men in the world. first lay Headmaster was The second was St Austin’s Africa, Latin America and In 1877 the Jesuits came appointed. Church (later Christ the the Caribbean, promoting to Wimbledon at the King) in Wimbledon Park, social justice, building bridges request of Edith Arendrup, opened in 1913. The Jesuits between communities and of the Courtauld family, “Its high point was in handed over its control to accompanying those working from where the mid 1970s when the Diocese of Southwark on the missions. Through they had their novitiate, an estimated 4,200 in 1959. their work “Wimbledon” Manresa House. The first would attend Mass In November 2012 the continues to be known Mass was celebrated on 2 every weekend.” Jesuits’ British Provincial throughout the world, and December 1877, at her house announced that the not merely for its tennis.

6 | December 2020 n MUSEUM n The Museum re-born

JACQUELINE LAURENCE House project in Cheam and successful candidates will be young people. The museum outlines the plans for the Honeywood Museum in approved by the Board, and in will become an exciting and refurbishment of the Carshalton. As a recent post, early in the New Year. vibrant place, emulating the Museum. retiree, she volunteered to Meanwhile, Pamela, and her Reading Room at the take on the job. curatorial and conservation Wellcome Centre, with PLANS FOR refurbishment of A Design Group (Jane, Asif team, are preparing the huge fascinating exhibits in a the Museum started in 2016, Malik, Pamela Greenwood, task of clearing out all the welcoming, accessible and its centenary year. The Jacqueline Laurence) has objects from the museum inspiring environment. present displays date from begun the recruitment of a safely into storage, hopefully The estimated cost is about the 1990s, and won prizes in professional project manager by the end of December. £150,000. The Wimbledon their day, but now need a and a designer. We hope the In January planning will Society has provided £89,000, makeover. The plan was to begin for the new displays. and we have had a donation close down in March 2021 for The refurbished Museum from the Wimbledon this purpose, but when The refurbished will take inspiration from Foundation. A fundraising lockdown ended we decided Museum will take its wonderful collections, campaign will be launched in to stay closed and make an inspiration from approaching them in new 2021. To find out more go to immediate start. its wonderful ways, finding new stories to the special page on the The recruitment of our collections, tell, as we aim to present the website, or follow us on Project Lead was a stroke of history of Wimbledon and Instagram. There will be luck; Jane Allen had been in approaching them its residents. regular updates in the charge of heritage at Sutton in new ways, finding Alongside fresh exhibits, we Newsletter and we hope that Council, with responsibility new stories to tell. intend to create an activities when we reopen in 2022 it will for the Historic space, to attract families and be to a post-pandemic world. A brooch and a school badge

Two small but eye-catching a more ‘feminine’ lozenge- items lead PAMELA shape. As the Second World GREENWOOD into school War intervened, the new history. badges were not made until afterwards. Joyce Heath (1928 TWO RECENT acquisitions – 2013) wore our badge. She by the Museum relate to the worked all her life for Esso, former Wimbledon County eventually based at their office School for Girls, subsequently on Wimbledon Hill. replaced by Ricards Lodge We are grateful to Ann School in 1969. Harrison for gift of the brooch

The brooch was worn by © Museum of Wimbledon and other related items, and to Miss Agnes Mary Batho Miss Agnes Batho’s brooch (left) and the early pupil’s school badge, her and Pam Vincent, the (1866 – 1927), the first head about 4 cm long (right) School’s archivist, for mistress. Originally formed in information. The badge and its 1905 as the Girls’ Pupil the two-headed eagle of retirement in 1919 Miss Batho story were kindly given by Teacher Centre in the Wimbledon and in the school gave the brooch to Miss Susan Clark, a relative of Joyce Wimbledon Technical colours, was made of Thornhill as a keepsake, who Heath. You can find out more Institute in Gladstone Road, £2-worth of gold, quite a sum then wore it once a year on in Pam Vincent’s book A Jewel Wimbledon County was only then. It was presented to Miss the School’s birthday for in Surrey’s Crown, and in her formally recognised as a Batho by Miss Amy Thornhill, many years. Miss Thornhill filmA Pictorial History of Secondary School by the the Art and Maths teacher lived in Rayleigh Road for a Wimbledon County School for council in 1907. Lady Roney, (1905 – 1935). It is thought long time. Girls (https://www. Wimbledon’s first woman that the unsigned brooch was Our pupil’s badge is made of londonsscreenarchives.org.uk/ mayor, later became Chairman made in the studio shared by enamelled brass. The shield title/3511/). The Museum has of its Governors in 1945. Miss Thornhill and the Art design, however, was deemed more information, while the The enamelled Arts & Master, perhaps designed by too ‘masculine’. By 1939 School’s archive is held at the Crafts brooch, decorated with Miss Thornhill. On her another had been designed in Surrey History Centre.

7 | December 2020 n PLANNING AND THE ENVIRONMENT n

should exceed its height of show their “Toby Ale” 22 metres. signs on the corner of the New wards for 2) The carbon footprint of building. The pub closed in the building does not seem 2006, and since 2010 has Merton Council to have been adequately been a tile shop. addressed bearing in mind Now an application has the Climate Emergency been made to demolish the THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT The final Report confirms declared by the Council. building and replace it with Boundary Commission for virtually all the earlier 3) Biodiversity is touched a two-storey restaurant/ has now produced proposals, including the upon in the Ecology takeaway. It should have its final Report into the re- creation of the three two- Report filed with the plenty of customers from warding arrangements for members wards that we had application, but only as an the Wimbledon Stadium our Borough. Subject to the opposed. aspiration. We think that development going up just formality of ratification by It makes some minor firm proposals should have across the road. Parliament, their proposals changes between Village and been made now. are now final, and will take Hillside wards. An area at the 4) Future requirements for effect at the local elections in top of the Downs and Edge offices – Covid-19 has had a New local May 2022. Hill will move from Hillside dramatic effect on working Their earlier reports to Village, while the whole of from home and therefore plan for proposed reducing the the St John’s area will remain we question whether more number of councillors from in Hillside. town Centre offices are Merton 60 to 57 but keeping the The other change is to the needed. number of wards at 20 by name of the ward which will The current Local Plan reducing three wards to only comprise the bulk of Trinity documents were produced by two councillors rather than and Dundonald, stretching End of the the Council in 2011 and 2014. three. A new two-member along the railway line from A new Local Plan, including Queens Road in the east to Plough new planning policies, has the corner of Lower Downs now been prepared and the The final Report Road in the west. Instead of PLOUGH LANE is a familiar draft was published in mid- confirms virtually retaining the name “Trinity”, thoroughfare which, beyond November. Comments can all the earlier the Commissioners have its name, retains none of be made until 1 February and proposals, including renamed it “Wimbledon its agricultural past. In fact, we will be considering the Town and Dundonald”. the road is named after the Society’s response over the the creation of the Plough Inn which was at the next few weeks. three two-members very end of the road hard by If Society members wards that we had ‘Fridge on the boundary. would like to send us any opposed. There are records of the inn comments on the draft the Bridge’ back to the 17th century. (https://www.merton.gov. The current building uk/planning-and-buildings/ ward called Wandle would to grow? dates to the late 19th planning/local-plan/ be created from parts of century and was latterly newlocalplan), please forward Wimbledon Park, Trinity and PLANS HAVE BEEN operated by Charrington’s these to chairmanpc@ Abbey wards. Dundonald submitted to add an extra Brewery. Old photographs wimbledonsociety.org.uk ward was to be abolished with three storeys to Wimbledon most of its area being merged Bridge House, a.k.a. the with the remains of Trinity. “Fridge on the Bridge”, Hillside and increasing it to ten storeys. wards would lose territory We consider that these and be reduced to two plans are inappropriate for councillors. four reasons: 1) The height is excessive. It would dominate the view from Hartfield Road and contribute to the “canyonisation” of that road. We consider that the height of the CIPD Building in the Broadway should be

the benchmark for the town Courtesy of National Brewery Heritage Trust centre and that no building The Plough public house

8 | December 2020 n PLANNING AND THE ENVIRONMENT n A wildflower meadow in

SOME TIME AGO, Councillor wildflower that can hold back David Dean (Dundonald some of the grass, allowing Ward) observed that there other wildflowers to flourish. was plenty of open space in Thames Water paid for the Bushey Road/Wimbledon the seed and brought along Chase area, but a sad lack of hand sowing machines. The plants and trees. Clearly, the sowing was arranged for 9th area needed to be made more October and appeals went beautiful, thus improving the out for volunteers. About 30 environment and encouraging people turned up and once birds, bees, butterflies and the Thames Water team had other insects. This would also explained how to sow the have the effect of reducing seed, the whole meadow was local traffic pollution. In his sown in less than two hours. own words he “wanted people The grass will grow to enjoy walking around the back over the winter, and area, to feel a bit of fresh air hopefully, by the Spring, and share natural colour”. wildflowers should start to There were many local appear. Nature will, of course, landowners and other make its own decisions, so people to approach to get Thames Water is ready to permission for such a project. revisit The Chase next year Consideration also had to be and decide whether to sow given to the most suitable more seeds if necessary. type of planting, how to fund A group of volunteers has it, and how to get help with also planted about 30,000 the work involved. daffodils in the area, a large The Chase is a strip of land number of which were funded adjacent to Wimbledon Chase by local people. In addition, school, that connects Lower at the time of writing, about Downs Road and Merton 100 trees have been planted Hall Road. It is owned by along Kingston Road and Thames Water and when Bushey Road, with another contacted they were happy 400 due for planting at the to discuss beautifying and end of November, plus an Chris Goodair improving the area. Last year additional 400 bushes. After their ecology team visited to all, it is called Bushey Road! consider what was best for Almost all this planting has The Chase. There are water been funded by the generosity pipes underground, so there of residents and private is limited space for trees and companies. Thames Water favoured the Because of the level of local idea of a wildflower meadow support for this project, a stretching from the railway further expansion is being bridge to Lower Downs Road. planned for next year – more To sow the meadow wildflowers, more daffodils, required scarifying the more bushes and more trees. grass, back to the soil, as Anyone prepared to help wildflowers can’t compete fund this, or to work on the with grass whilst germinating. © Adobe Stock planting, should contact The second stage was to The Chase after scarifying and the initial sowing (top); Yellow Rattle Councillor David Dean, c/o sow yellow rattle seeds, a (above) holds back the grass to allow other wildflowers to flourish Merton Council.

9 | December 2020 n OBITUARIES n

AUDREY DONNITHORNE GWYNETH ANN MILES 1922 – June 2020 28 April 1938 – 26 October 2020

AUDREY WAS A distinguished political ANN MILES economist and authority on China was a staunch who played a strong role in rebuilding supporter of the Catholic Church there after the the Wimbledon Cultural Revolution. Born to evangelical Society, working missionary parents in Sichuan province, for many years her mother, Gladys Ingram Donnithorne Scholarly Publishing Australian as part of the was the youngest of the Ingram family Audrey’s recipe for governing a large Activities Team. who lived at The Priory, a large house on country: “Like cooking fish – it should Joining a meeting Southside, next to Kings College School not be overdone” for volunteers, of which it is now a part. she introduced Ann Miles Audrey lived a long and extraordinary of the Far East. Her seminal work herself with life, intertwined as it was with upheavals China’s Economic System appeared in words that were music to ears: “I have in China. When Audrey was two 1968. She also taught for many more just retired, so what can I do to help?” years old, the family were captured years at the National University of Annie quickly became a welcome addition by bandits in Sichuan and held for Australia before returning to China to the team, taking on the unglamorous ransom. Undaunted, little Audrey after the Cultural Revolution. job of ticketing for events. She was scolded the “naughty men” until some When the political climate reversed, ever ready with her support, on coach ‘accommodation’ was eventually found Audrey was expelled from mainland excursions and town visits, as well as for the family’s release. Curiously this China. Always a ‘China-watcher’, she handling book events and literary walks. childhood experience was to set the lived out her days in Hong Kong and it Calm in a crisis and with an easy direction of her life. was from there that she sent us pictures laugh, she was a rock and wonderful Mainly educated in England, in the of her grandmother Victoria Ingram friend to many, including those who 1940s while still in her teens, Audrey (nee Skinner) and her aunt Maud, this knew her from her days teaching with was recruited as a Junior Civil Assistant country’s first certified woman solicitor. ILEA. Her slight figure and love of in Military Intelligence. After the war (Newsletter Sep. 2018). Inevitably we exotic beads belied a steely strength and she gained a place at Oxford reading received a correction: “The Ingram determination; traits which colleagues Philosophy, Politics and Economics. family were not intellectual – any young maintained were part of her brilliance as It was there she became a friend of man could go to Oxbridge if the family a teacher in tough times and tough areas, Margaret Thatcher (then Roberts), with had the means…” Nor could Maud or her including her position as head teacher whom she remained in touch. After sister Mabel (a doctor) be considered of the Lambeth Language Centre, which graduation Audrey joined University academic simply because of success as taught English as a second language to College London, first as a research pioneering professional women. immigrant and refugee children from assistant, then lecturer and was a reader The academic of the family was of all over the world. Beyond her role in there for twenty years. Along the way course Audrey herself. Her biography Lambeth, she was a leading figure in Audrey converted to Catholicism and China In Life’s Foreground was published the ILEA’s Unified Language Service, wrote several treatises on the economies in 2019. advising ESL teachers in other London boroughs, helped by her academic qualifications and practical experience. SIR JOHN RAYMOND Her working days also took her PERRING overseas to Canada and Sweden and in 1932 – 21 June 2020 the 1990s, to the new republic of Slovakia, promoting bilingual education for the SIR JOHN first joined the family British Council. business, Perring Furnishings Group, Annie was born near Pontypool in in 1951 and was Chairman from 1981- Wales into a farming family and she 1988, and of Perrings Finance Ltd could talk ‘grass keep’ and Welsh Blacks until 2009. A charming and genial with the best. As a child she suffered man, he had a long and distinguished Company Makers’ The Furniture from rheumatic fever and it is likely that involvement with The City of London, Sir John Perring her love of literature began when she including: Master, Furniture Makers was unable to attend school. Unhappily Company 1978, Master, Merchant many years they opened their Somerset she suffered a series of strokes and Taylors Company 1988 and 1994, and Road garden as part of the National needed care in recent years. Throughout Sheriff of The City of London 1991. Garden Scheme, before moving to live in a highly productive urban life, she He and his beloved wife Ella, who Hillside. retained her distinctive Welsh identity. predeceased him in February 2019, were Our sincere condolences go to the She was ‘our Gwyneth’ too. well known in Wimbledon circles. For Perring family in their double loss. MONICA ELLISON

10 | December 2020 n n Important year for the Commons

As 2021 will bring both a 150th Anniversary and an election, STEPHEN BOUND anticipates the coming year for the Commons.

WIMBLEDON AND PUTNEY Commons are overseen by a Board of eight Conservators who ensure that Wimbledon Common, Putney Heath and are managed in accordance with the Wimbledon and Putney Wimbledon and Putney Commons Commons Act 1871. a say in how the Commons Conservator you must be on 2021. Votes can be cast either Three Conservators are are run and managed. There the current local government online or by post; you can appointed by government are two ways you can do this: Electoral Register and be vote as soon as you receive departments – the stand as a Conservator and proposed and seconded by your forms and up to 5pm on Department of Environment, vote in the election. two other electors. You will 10 March 2021. Voting online Food and Rural Affairs need a genuine interest in all saves the charity money – (DEFRA), the 1. Standing as a aspects of the Commons and the money saved by every and the Ministry of Defence. Conservator be available for regular board 100 electronic voters will be The other five are elected Wimbledon and Putney meetings. As a trustee, you will enough to feed one of our triennially by local residents Commons Conservators is be required to act in the best patrol horses for one week. living within three quarters a statutory body corporate interests of the charity, and its and a registered charity, so charitable objects, at all times. 150th Anniversary of the Conservators are also charity If you would like more Wimbledon and Putney Being a Conservator trustees. Being a Conservator information about standing Commons Act 1871 is a great way to be is a great way to be involved in as a Conservator, please visit 2021 will be the 150th involved in the local the local community, helping our website, or contact the anniversary of the 1871 community to manage one of SW London’s Ranger’s Office. Act which established the most important public open commons. To celebrate spaces. Conservators come 2. Vote! this special anniversary, the of a mile of Wimbledon from all walks of life, often Standing as a Conservator Conservators are planning Common, or in the old Parish bringing skills to enhance the requires a three-year a series of events and of Putney. These residents charity, and help to conserve commitment, so this may not activities throughout the fund the management of the this ecologically important be for everyone. However, the year. These will depend on Commons through a levy on site and to meet statutory next best thing you can do for the Coronavirus, but we hope their council tax. requirements. Each elected the Commons is to vote for the events will go ahead as The next election will be in Conservator serves a three- your preferred candidates. planned. During 2021 further March 2021. year term and can stand for Ballot papers will details will appear on the If you are a levy-payer, this re-election. automatically be sent to all WPCC website and notices on is your opportunity to have To be eligible to stand as a eligible voters during February the Commons. The Museum of Wimbledon Commons Trail

THE MUSEUM had planned a a special Museum Trail around up points. Individuals and with objects and artworks special exhibition to celebrate the Commons, which will be families can follow the trail at in the museum’s collection. the 150th Anniversary of available from the website their own pace, or choose to Beautifully illustrated, and the Wimbledon & Putney next year. join a special walk led by one packed with fascinating Commons Act, 1871. Printed copies of the Trail of our volunteers. information, it will be full of Unfortunately, the pandemic will also be available to The trail will highlight interest even for those who restrictions have prevented collect from the Wimbledon important landmarks, and prefer not actually to walk it! this, so instead we are creating Village Club, and other pick link places on the Commons JACQUELINE LAURENCE

11 | December 2020 n AUTUMN INITIATIVES n http://www.bigyellow.co.uk/Get some space in your life. Greenwatch SUSANNA RIVIERE highlights new initiatives to improve the ambience of our streets.

pollution is inevitable. get deliveries etc but Healthier, Active travel to schools it is harder to drive Zéro shop safer and more is therefore being straight through.** relocates to attractive encouraged by central Both these Centre Court government and LBM. initiatives are being streets Cleaner air, safer roads introduced on a Zéro, the zero waste shop WIMBLEDON IS A wonderful and healthier families trial basis with formerly in Merton Abbey place to live, but our streets, are the rewards.* consultations to take Mills, has relocated to like those in many London place during the trials. new premises in Centre suburbs, are not as healthy The 20mph limit Court shopping centre. or safe for pedestrians and has now been rolled * See https://www. The shop was able to cyclists as they could be. out over the entire merton.gov.uk/streets- remain open during the This is in the process of Borough. Evidence shows parking-transport/traffic- second lockdown, allowing changing. A combination that as well as considerably management/school-streets- customers to shop in-store, of changes already planned reducing the rate of death and programme Click & Collect and order by the London Borough of injuries among pedestrians online deliveries. Products Merton (LBM), the funding (particularly children) and ** See https://news.merton. are sold without packaging provided for Councils by the cyclists, a 20mph limit can gov.uk/2020/09/16/trial-for- and delivered in reusable Covid emergency fund and also greatly improve the five-low-traffic-schemes- containers. For more work done by local residents’ character of a residential to-create-safer-healthier- information see www. groups have produced a area and quality of life of the neighbourhoods/ thezeroshop.com number of improvements residents. which are being implemented throughout the Borough. Low Traffic These will have many benefits Neighbourhoods (LTNs) for residents including During the lockdown period making roads safer, reducing residents enjoyed the benefits air pollution and providing a of lower traffic volumes on more pleasant environment residential streets. LBM is for pedestrians and cyclists. trialing five LTNs, which Surveyors, Valuers & Estate Agents are groups of residential School Streets Streets streets bordered by main closed to parents dropping or distributor roads where off or picking up by car have ‘through’ vehicle traffic is been extended to over 20 discouraged or removed. The Merton schools. This was principle is that all residents an emergency active travel can drive onto their street or measure due to COVID-19. Social distancing has reduced public transport At the heart of the community capacity but We are pleased to support the Wimbledon Society if everyone travels by car instead unprecedented Sales 020 8947 9833 I Lettings 020 8879 9669 gridlock and www.robertholmes.co.uk increased air

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; Affiliated: £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 Lingfield Road, are open from 2.30 to 5.00pm Saturday and Sunday. Admission free. Data Protection. The Wimbledon Society is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office for Data Protection Purposes as a data controller under the Data Protection Act 1998, reg no: ZA244625. 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. It will not be shared with any other organisation, except where there is a Statutory obligation to do so. Full details of our Privacy Policy are published on our website. 12 | December 2020