Morden Park
Encyclopedia
Morden Park is an area within the district of Morden
in the London Borough of Merton
, and includes the Park itself, an area of green space in an otherwise dense cluster of 1930s suburban housing.
The present park and sports fields between Hillcross Avenue, London Road/Epsom Road and Lower Morden Lane are owned and managed by the London Borough of Merton
parks department and cover land that previously formed the grounds of Morden Park House, a small 18th century country estate (not to be confused with Morden Hall Park
, the National Trust
property close to Morden town centre).
The estate comprised enclosed parkland, a small Georgian
country house built at the top of the hill in the 1770s for merchant and distiller John Ewart with attached landscaped gardens and a farm called Morden Park Farm. By the mid 1780s the estate was in the possession of the Polhill Family. One member of the family, Edward Polhill, bequeathed £1,000 in 1826 to the parish church
for the benefit of the Sunday school
.
Between the 1880s and the 1910s the estate was occupied by banker John Wormald.
At the bottom of the hill in the direction of Lower Morden
runs the Beverley Brook
a minor tributary of the Thames.
In the park, surrounded by trees, is a large circular mound. This has been identified as a possible burial mound from the Iron Age
, Roman
or Saxon
periods. Archaeological investigations were carried out in the 1950s although no conclusive proof as to its date or purpose were found.English Heritage believes that the earthwork was remodelled at some time into a belvedere, or viewing platform, with a spiral path to ascend it. Between 1960 and the mid-1990s a cycle speedway track sat alongside the mound, which was home to Morden Cycle Speedway Club. The track has since been demolished but it's still possible to find signs of the track's existence. A local Aero Modelling Club used the area South of the Mound on Sunday Mornings for flying practice.
Morden Park House remains and, after many years of neglect and semi-dereliction, has recently been restored and is now the local register office
and a venue for wedding ceremonies.
The entrance to the Park, from London Road is now dominated by Merton Technical College. This was built on the site of a Pig Farm which was destroyed by fire at some point in the late 40's or early 50's. The derelict sty's remained in place for some years until the early 60's when clearing began for the College. During this period many bones of, presumably pigs killed by the fire, could be found amongst the rubble. Children from the Council Estate opposite the entrance,(Hatfeild Mead) used this area as a adventure playground for many years. At this period a Gatehouse (occupied until its demolition in the 60's) was prominent att he entry.
Facilities in Morden Park include a pitch and putt golf course and Morden Park Swimming Pool which was opened in the late 1967 on the site of the old house's gardens.
Merton College is adjacent to the park and occupies the former site of the farm.
Morden Park also hosts the annual Morden Park Holiday Club event for Children to attend for a week during their Summer Holidays from School. This event is organised by the Churches in the surrounding area.
”, to build 10 five-a-side football
pitches, 4 seven-a-side football pitches, 1 full-size football pitch
, 2 multi-sport areas, and 2 full-size grass football pitches, a car park (with a capacity for up to 99 cars) and a clubhouse with a licensed bar on part of the park. Apart from the 2 full-size grass pitches, all the pitches would have artificial surfaces
and floodlighting
and be available only for a fee. When full there would be more than 300 people playing at any one time and at hand-over times between games there may be as many as 600 people on the playing fields, and more in the licensed bar.
250 people campaigned for a "protest picnic" at Morden Park on Sunday 26 November 2008, to show their support for a campaign to save the park from being sold off for commercial development to Goals. Local residents joined with members of the Baitul Futuh
mosque
to discuss how they could work together to save the field. There were large football and cricket games organised and some colourful arts and crafts activities.
"...Agrees to revoke the Cabinet decision of 21 January 2008 to dispose of Site A
Morden Park Playing Fields to Goals Soccer Centres Plc on a lease agreement"
In essence, this decision means it is back to the drawing board for Merton Council in terms of developing and proposing a new plan that will meet the majority of residents needs and approval.
Related news article in "Your Local Guardian":
Morden
Morden is a district in the London Borough of Merton. It is located approximately South-southwest of central London between Merton Park , Mitcham , Sutton and Worcester Park .- Origin of name :...
in the London Borough of Merton
London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...
, and includes the Park itself, an area of green space in an otherwise dense cluster of 1930s suburban housing.
The present park and sports fields between Hillcross Avenue, London Road/Epsom Road and Lower Morden Lane are owned and managed by the London Borough of Merton
London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...
parks department and cover land that previously formed the grounds of Morden Park House, a small 18th century country estate (not to be confused with Morden Hall Park
Morden Hall Park
Morden Hall Park is a National Trust park located on the banks of the River Wandle in Morden, south London. It covers over 50ha of parkland with the River Wandle meandering through it spanned by numerous foot bridges. The estate contains Morden Hall itself, Morden Cottage, an old Snuff Mill, and...
, the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
property close to Morden town centre).
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
country house built at the top of the hill in the 1770s for merchant and distiller John Ewart with attached landscaped gardens and a farm called Morden Park Farm. By the mid 1780s the estate was in the possession of the Polhill Family. One member of the family, Edward Polhill, bequeathed £1,000 in 1826 to the parish church
St Lawrence Church, Morden
St Lawrence Church is the Church of England parish church for Morden in London Borough of Merton. The building is located on London Road, at the highest point of Morden, overlooking Morden Park.-Services:...
for the benefit of the Sunday school
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
.
Between the 1880s and the 1910s the estate was occupied by banker John Wormald.
At the bottom of the hill in the direction of Lower Morden
Lower Morden
Lower Morden is an area within the district of Morden in south west corner of the London Borough of Merton, to the west of Morden Park and south of Raynes Park.-History:...
runs the Beverley Brook
Beverley Brook
Beverley Brook is a minor English urban river about 14.3 km long located in south-west London. It rises at Cuddington Recreation Park in Worcester Park, flows through Motspur Park, New Malden, Wimbledon Common, Richmond Park and Barnes...
a minor tributary of the Thames.
In the park, surrounded by trees, is a large circular mound. This has been identified as a possible burial mound from the Iron Age
Iron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
, Roman
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
or Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
periods. Archaeological investigations were carried out in the 1950s although no conclusive proof as to its date or purpose were found.English Heritage believes that the earthwork was remodelled at some time into a belvedere, or viewing platform, with a spiral path to ascend it. Between 1960 and the mid-1990s a cycle speedway track sat alongside the mound, which was home to Morden Cycle Speedway Club. The track has since been demolished but it's still possible to find signs of the track's existence. A local Aero Modelling Club used the area South of the Mound on Sunday Mornings for flying practice.
Morden Park House remains and, after many years of neglect and semi-dereliction, has recently been restored and is now the local register office
Register office
A register office is a British term for a civil registry, a government office and depository where births, deaths and marriages are officially recorded and where you can get officially married, without a religious ceremony...
and a venue for wedding ceremonies.
The entrance to the Park, from London Road is now dominated by Merton Technical College. This was built on the site of a Pig Farm which was destroyed by fire at some point in the late 40's or early 50's. The derelict sty's remained in place for some years until the early 60's when clearing began for the College. During this period many bones of, presumably pigs killed by the fire, could be found amongst the rubble. Children from the Council Estate opposite the entrance,(Hatfeild Mead) used this area as a adventure playground for many years. At this period a Gatehouse (occupied until its demolition in the 60's) was prominent att he entry.
Facilities in Morden Park include a pitch and putt golf course and Morden Park Swimming Pool which was opened in the late 1967 on the site of the old house's gardens.
Merton College is adjacent to the park and occupies the former site of the farm.
Morden Park also hosts the annual Morden Park Holiday Club event for Children to attend for a week during their Summer Holidays from School. This event is organised by the Churches in the surrounding area.
Maps
 |
Proposed sale/conversion
Merton Council has proposed to allow “Goals Soccer CentresGoals Soccer Centres
Goals Soccer Centres is a large operator of 5-a-side football centres throughout the United Kingdom and partnership with Umbro and FourFourTwo.-Centres:...
”, to build 10 five-a-side football
Five-a-side football
thumb|240px|alt=Men playing football on artificial grass pitch.|Five-a-side game on astroturf pitch.Five-a-side football is a variation of association football in which each team fields five players , rather than the usual eleven on each team. Other differences from football include a smaller...
pitches, 4 seven-a-side football pitches, 1 full-size football pitch
Association football pitch
An association football pitch is the playing surface for the game of association football made of turf. Its dimensions and markings are defined by Law 1 of the Laws of the Game, "The Field of Play".All line markings on the pitch form part of the area which they define...
, 2 multi-sport areas, and 2 full-size grass football pitches, a car park (with a capacity for up to 99 cars) and a clubhouse with a licensed bar on part of the park. Apart from the 2 full-size grass pitches, all the pitches would have artificial surfaces
Artificial turf
Artificial turf is a surface manufactured from synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. It is most often used in arenas for sports that were originally or are normally played on grass. However, it is now being used on residential lawns and commercial applications as well...
and floodlighting
Floodlights (sport)
Floodlights are broad-beamed, high-intensity artificial lights often used to illuminate outdoor playing fields while an outdoor sports event is being held during low-light conditions....
and be available only for a fee. When full there would be more than 300 people playing at any one time and at hand-over times between games there may be as many as 600 people on the playing fields, and more in the licensed bar.
250 people campaigned for a "protest picnic" at Morden Park on Sunday 26 November 2008, to show their support for a campaign to save the park from being sold off for commercial development to Goals. Local residents joined with members of the Baitul Futuh
Baitul Futuh
The Baitul Futuh Mosque in London has been deemed the second largest mosque complex in Western Europe, behind the Mosque of Rome. Completed in 2003 at a cost of approximately £5.5 million, entirely from donations of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the mosque covers an area of and the full complex...
mosque
Mosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
to discuss how they could work together to save the field. There were large football and cricket games organised and some colourful arts and crafts activities.
 |
 |
 |
Merton Council's decision revoked
Text from 9 November 2009's Cabinet Meeting:"...Agrees to revoke the Cabinet decision of 21 January 2008 to dispose of Site A
Morden Park Playing Fields to Goals Soccer Centres Plc on a lease agreement"
In essence, this decision means it is back to the drawing board for Merton Council in terms of developing and proposing a new plan that will meet the majority of residents needs and approval.
Related news article in "Your Local Guardian":
External links
- Morden Park Pool
- Merton College
- Morden Park Wood on the VisitWoods website
- Save Morden Park A Campaign by local residents to "Save Morden Park", as Merton Council is about to lease the land off to a private company for a financial benefit! This Campaign has been running since May 2008 and has a wide support , including many local Councillors.