Earlsfield
Encyclopedia
Earlsfield is an area within the London Borough of Wandsworth
, London
, England.
Earlsfield is a typical London suburb
and comprises mostly residential Victorian terraced houses with a high street
of shops, bars, and restaurants (very few chain stores) between Garratt Lane
, Allfarthing Lane, and Burntwood Lane. Although it has had a slow start and lags behind its neighbour Clapham, Earlsfield - with its schools and family facilities as well as its primary transport link (see Earlsfield railway station
) into central London - has a strong housing market, though recently prices have been affected in line with broader market trends. According to the 2001 Census the population of Earlsfield is recorded at 12,903.
Earlsfield is not as well known as its neighbouring areas such as Tooting
, Clapham
, Balham
, and Battersea
, which allows for a low key way of life while still being close to London. The local Earlsfield railway station
provides journeys to Central London
(3 stops to Waterloo [Clapham Junction, Vauxhall, Waterloo] in 12 minutes) and other areas in South London
(Victoria - changing at Clapham Junction, Wimbledon one stop). The station is currently under redevelopment.
The area was once a working class suburb of Wandsworth and as such much of the property is medium sized terraced housing, though several new developments have been or are being developed, notably the Olympian Homes development between the station and library. The area now houses young families attracted by the affordability of the area in comparison to its north, west and eastern neighbours Clapham, Wandsworth, Battersea
and Putney
leading to the area's nickname of Nappy Valley
.
The River Wandle
flows roughly parallel to Garratt Lane through the area, and has been the subject of a major, council funded clean-up operation, though it has been subjected to several pollution incidents in the past few years. There is some light industry located between the high street and the river.
There is not a considerable history to the area as it is based around a mainline (i.e. above ground) rail station that was built at the end in April 1884 in the place of a large Victorian residence called Earlsfield. When the site was sold by the Davis family to the rail company one of the conditions of sale was that the station would be named after their house. Thus the name of that house provided the name of the station, and thence to the suburb.
Earlsfield Library has on display a range of historic photographs of the area.
Recently however, the stretch of Earlsfield just to the south of the station has seen the first few examples of 'chain' stores arriving. The area now features a Caffe Nero
, Hair Republic, Foodways and as of November 2008, the first neighbourhood version of the Carluccios chain, which appears to have been successful. A Sainsburys Local opened in 2009 next to the Library in Magdalen Road. In addition, several local pubs and bars have improved significantly - The Leather Bottle, Halfway House, Wandle (formerly The Puzzle), and Mel's Cafe Bar (the former Open Page).
There are two churches in the centre - Earlsfield Baptist church on Magdalen Road and St Andrews (Church of England) on the corner of Garratt Lane and Waynflete Street, with St Gregory's (Catholic) and St John the Divine (CoE) further down Garratt Lane towards Wandsworth.
In June 2011, it was announced that a comprehensive £8 million refurbishment of Earlsfield station would begin in Autumn 2011.
lived in Earlsfield while writing Captain Corelli's Mandolin
. His book and play Sunday Morning At the Centre of the World "is a homage to the diverse community of Earlsfield."
London Borough of Wandsworth
The London Borough of Wandsworth is a London borough in southwest London, England, and forms part of Inner London.-History:The borough was formed in 1965 from the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea and much of the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth, but...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England.
Earlsfield is a typical London suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
and comprises mostly residential Victorian terraced houses with a high street
High Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
of shops, bars, and restaurants (very few chain stores) between Garratt Lane
Garratt Lane
Garratt Lane is a road in the borough of Wandsworth, London. It connects Wandsworth High Street to Tooting Broadway and is approximately four kilometres long. It passes through both Earlsfield and Summerstown.- Description :...
, Allfarthing Lane, and Burntwood Lane. Although it has had a slow start and lags behind its neighbour Clapham, Earlsfield - with its schools and family facilities as well as its primary transport link (see Earlsfield railway station
Earlsfield railway station
Earlsfield railway station is in the London Borough of Wandsworth in south London. The station, which is in Travelcard Zone 3, is operated by South West Trains, as are all the trains serving it....
) into central London - has a strong housing market, though recently prices have been affected in line with broader market trends. According to the 2001 Census the population of Earlsfield is recorded at 12,903.
Earlsfield is not as well known as its neighbouring areas such as Tooting
Tooting
Tooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, Clapham
Clapham
Clapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...
, Balham
Balham
Balham is a district of London, EnglandBalham can also refer to:*Balham, Ardennes, a commune in France*Balham station, railway and tube station in Balham, London*Balaam, a Biblical figure...
, and Battersea
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
, which allows for a low key way of life while still being close to London. The local Earlsfield railway station
Earlsfield railway station
Earlsfield railway station is in the London Borough of Wandsworth in south London. The station, which is in Travelcard Zone 3, is operated by South West Trains, as are all the trains serving it....
provides journeys to Central London
Central London
Central London is the innermost part of London, England. There is no official or commonly accepted definition of its area, but its characteristics are understood to include a high density built environment, high land values, an elevated daytime population and a concentration of regionally,...
(3 stops to Waterloo [Clapham Junction, Vauxhall, Waterloo] in 12 minutes) and other areas in South London
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
(Victoria - changing at Clapham Junction, Wimbledon one stop). The station is currently under redevelopment.
The area was once a working class suburb of Wandsworth and as such much of the property is medium sized terraced housing, though several new developments have been or are being developed, notably the Olympian Homes development between the station and library. The area now houses young families attracted by the affordability of the area in comparison to its north, west and eastern neighbours Clapham, Wandsworth, Battersea
Battersea
Battersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
and Putney
Putney
Putney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
leading to the area's nickname of Nappy Valley
Nappy Valley
Nappy Valley is a term or epithet applied to various places to denote a particularly high local reproductive demographic profile. It references "Happy Valley" in Kenya, an area noted for its wealthy white population before independence and where much of the film "White Mischief" is set.-Battersea,...
.
The River Wandle
River Wandle
The River Wandle is a river in south-east England. The names of the river and of Wandsworth are thought to have derived from the Old English "Wendlesworth" meaning "Wendle's Settlement". The river runs through southwest London and is about long...
flows roughly parallel to Garratt Lane through the area, and has been the subject of a major, council funded clean-up operation, though it has been subjected to several pollution incidents in the past few years. There is some light industry located between the high street and the river.
There is not a considerable history to the area as it is based around a mainline (i.e. above ground) rail station that was built at the end in April 1884 in the place of a large Victorian residence called Earlsfield. When the site was sold by the Davis family to the rail company one of the conditions of sale was that the station would be named after their house. Thus the name of that house provided the name of the station, and thence to the suburb.
Earlsfield Library has on display a range of historic photographs of the area.
High Street
Although vibrant, the high street - Garratt Lane - is also a little disappointing due to the high rent demanded by its landlords - the only shops, bars and restaurants that seem to survive are those that have been there for a long time - suggesting they might already have long leases that avoid the greed of the modern landlord in the area (it has been suggested that most of the high street is actually owned by two men that have owned properties in the area for decades now). Willie Gunns (founded in 1993) is about the only survivor in the area, the rest of the bars and restaurants come and go within 12 months or so. A Barclays Bank, William Hill, Wine Rack and Prime Time video store have been around for a few years, though even the latter two have closed recently. The high street tends to be dominated by estate agents, restaurants, wine bars and, more recently, hairdressers.Recently however, the stretch of Earlsfield just to the south of the station has seen the first few examples of 'chain' stores arriving. The area now features a Caffe Nero
Caffè Nero
Caffè Nero or Caffè Nero Group Ltd is an Italian-style coffee shop chain primarily based in the UK. It was founded in 1997 in London as the Caffe Nero Group by Gerry Ford...
, Hair Republic, Foodways and as of November 2008, the first neighbourhood version of the Carluccios chain, which appears to have been successful. A Sainsburys Local opened in 2009 next to the Library in Magdalen Road. In addition, several local pubs and bars have improved significantly - The Leather Bottle, Halfway House, Wandle (formerly The Puzzle), and Mel's Cafe Bar (the former Open Page).
There are two churches in the centre - Earlsfield Baptist church on Magdalen Road and St Andrews (Church of England) on the corner of Garratt Lane and Waynflete Street, with St Gregory's (Catholic) and St John the Divine (CoE) further down Garratt Lane towards Wandsworth.
In June 2011, it was announced that a comprehensive £8 million refurbishment of Earlsfield station would begin in Autumn 2011.
Famous people
Louis de BernièresLouis de Bernières
Louis de Bernières is a British novelist most famous for his fourth novel, Captain Corelli's Mandolin. In 1993 de Bernières was selected as one of the "20 Best of Young British Novelists", part of a promotion in Granta magazine...
lived in Earlsfield while writing Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Captain Corelli's Mandolin
Captain Corelli's Mandolin, released simultaneously as Corelli's Mandolin. in the United States, is a 1994 novel written by Louis de Bernières which takes place on the island of Cephallonia during the Italian and German occupation of World War II. The main characters are Antonio Corelli, an...
. His book and play Sunday Morning At the Centre of the World "is a homage to the diverse community of Earlsfield."
Neighbours
- Wandsworth CommonWandsworth CommonWandsworth common is a public common in Wandsworth, south London. It is close to Clapham Common and Wandsworth Common railway station. It is wholly in the London borough of Wandsworth...
SW17SW postcode areaThe SW postcode area, also known as the London SW postcode area, is a group of postcode districts covering part of southwest London, England. The area originates from the South Western and Battersea districts of the London post town.-Postal administration:The postcode area originated in 1857 as... - ClaphamClaphamClapham is a district in south London, England, within the London Borough of Lambeth.Clapham covers the postcodes of SW4 and parts of SW9, SW8 and SW12. Clapham Common is shared with the London Borough of Wandsworth, although Lambeth has responsibility for running the common as a whole. According...
SW12SW postcode areaThe SW postcode area, also known as the London SW postcode area, is a group of postcode districts covering part of southwest London, England. The area originates from the South Western and Battersea districts of the London post town.-Postal administration:The postcode area originated in 1857 as... - BatterseaBatterseaBattersea is an area of the London Borough of Wandsworth, England. It is an inner-city district of South London, situated on the south side of the River Thames, 2.9 miles south-west of Charing Cross. Battersea spans from Fairfield in the west to Queenstown in the east...
SW11SW postcode areaThe SW postcode area, also known as the London SW postcode area, is a group of postcode districts covering part of southwest London, England. The area originates from the South Western and Battersea districts of the London post town.-Postal administration:The postcode area originated in 1857 as... - WandsworthWandsworthWandsworth is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-Toponymy:...
SW18SW postcode areaThe SW postcode area, also known as the London SW postcode area, is a group of postcode districts covering part of southwest London, England. The area originates from the South Western and Battersea districts of the London post town.-Postal administration:The postcode area originated in 1857 as... - TootingTootingTooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
SW17SW postcode areaThe SW postcode area, also known as the London SW postcode area, is a group of postcode districts covering part of southwest London, England. The area originates from the South Western and Battersea districts of the London post town.-Postal administration:The postcode area originated in 1857 as... - SouthfieldsSouthfieldsSouthfields is a suburban district in the London Borough of Wandsworth, England, situated 5.6 miles south-west of Charing Cross where Serena Frazer lives. Southfields is located partly in the SW18 postcode area and partly in SW19....
SW19SW postcode areaThe SW postcode area, also known as the London SW postcode area, is a group of postcode districts covering part of southwest London, England. The area originates from the South Western and Battersea districts of the London post town.-Postal administration:The postcode area originated in 1857 as... - PutneyPutneyPutney is a district in south-west London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London....
SW15SW postcode areaThe SW postcode area, also known as the London SW postcode area, is a group of postcode districts covering part of southwest London, England. The area originates from the South Western and Battersea districts of the London post town.-Postal administration:The postcode area originated in 1857 as...
Next stop neighbouring travel connections
- inbound: Clapham Junction
- outbound: Wimbledon stationWimbledon stationWimbledon station is a National Rail, London Underground, and Tramlink station located in Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton, and is the only London station that provides an interchange between rail, Underground, and Tramlink services...