Morden Park Roman Morden The Roman road between London and Chichester passed through Morden Park. It was known as Stane Street and can be traced from the Lord Nelson at the bottom of Stonecot Hill, through Morden Park to the Civic Centre and beyond. Located about 350m northwest of the course of Stane Street lies what is now known as the Morden Park Mound. This has not been extensively excavated but its size and shape is characteristic of a Roman barrow, or burial site. Morden Park House: Georgian Beginnings Morden Park was formerly a deer park within the Morden Hall estate, originally owned by Westminster Abbey. In 1768, Richard Garth, in partnership with the London merchant and distiller John Ewart, procured a private act of Parliament permitting the creation of the Morden Park estate. The double-fronted brown-brick house was built in 1770 as a retreat for the Ewart family, who remained here until 1788. Morden Park House: Continued Morden Park passed through many different owners. From the late 1780s the estate was in the hands of the Polhill family and between the 1880s and the 1910s, the house was occupied by the banker John Wormald. The entire estate was eventually purchased by Gilliat Hatfeild, owner of Morden Hall Park, thus reuniting the two estates. In 1936, Morden Park was purchased from the Hatfeild family by Merton and Morden Urban District Council. Morden Park House: Registry Office During the its later history Morden Park House suffered years of neglect and from 1985 stood vacant for lengthy periods. The Grade II* listed house was eventually restored , thanks to a £1.8 million Heritage Lottery Fund grant. The building now serves as the local Registry Office. Morden Park: The Woodlands Capital Woodlands is a London Biodiversity Partnership project managed by Trees for Cities. The Morden Park Woodlands is a branch of this organization. For a full brochure see: https://www.merton.gov.uk/assets/ Documents/www2/morden_park_map_leaflet_final-2.pdf In the woodlands, there is a cycle path, a woodland walk, a community trail, and mown paths. Morden Park: Amenities and Events Morden Park is the location for one of Merton’s most popular annual events —the Bonfire Night Musical Fireworks, which attracts over 30,000 visitors each year. Morden Leisure Centre is operated by Better UK. It offers a pool, a gym, and exercise classes. Morden Park has also hosted the Eastern Electrics music festival in August. Credits Photos: •Welcome gates and mound photo by: Bethany Davis •Morden Park House photos from: https://houseandheritage.org/2019/02/04/morden-park-house/ •Gazebo photo from: https://www.facebook.com/mertonregisteroffice/photos/morden-park-house-gazebo-is-also-available-for-more- intimate-weddings-of-up-to-4/1826781957383297/ •1964 house photo by WJ Rudd, from: http://mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/morden/18th-and-19th-century-morden/ •Engraving Engraving of Morden Lodge, ‘The Seat of Abraham Goldsmid Esqr, Morden, Surrey’, published 1806, from: http://mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/morden/18th-and-19th-century-morden/ •Wedding gazebo photo and inside venue photo from: https://www.merton.gov.uk/births-marriages-and-deaths/register-office •Woodlands brochure: https://www.merton.gov.uk/assets/Documents/www2/morden_park_map_leaflet_final-2.pdf •Leisure centre photo: https://news.merton.gov.uk/2016/06/17/merton-gives-green-light-to-new-leisure-centre/ Information: •http://mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/morden/roman-morden/ •https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1002011#:~:text=Morden%20Park%20was%20originally%20a,in%20the%20mid% 2020th%20century. .