Putney Vale is a small community at the foot of Roehampton Vale, just off the A3

A3 road

The A3, known as the Portsmouth Road for much of its length, is a dual carriageway, or expressway, which follows the historic route between London and Portsmouth passing close to Kingston upon Thames, Guildford, Haslemere and Petersfield. For much of its length, it is classified as a trunk road...

. It is part of the Roehampton Ward of the London Borough of Wandsworth

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...

.

The area is bordered by:

• Roehampton
  Roehampton
  Roehampton is a district in south-west London, forming the western end of the London Borough of Wandsworth. It lies between the town of Barnes to the north, Putney to the east and Wimbledon Common to the south. The Richmond Park golf courses are west of the neighbourhood, and just south of these is...
  
  
• 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....
  
  
• Putney Heath
• Kingston
  Kingston upon Thames
  Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...
  
  
• Richmond Park
  Richmond Park
  Richmond Park is a 2,360 acre park within London. It is the largest of the Royal Parks in London and Britain's second largest urban walled park after Sutton Park, Birmingham. It is close to Richmond, Ham, Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon, Roehampton and East Sheen...
  
  
• Wimbledon Common

Geographically, Putney Vale is effectively surrounded by Richmond Park

Richmond Park

Richmond Park is a 2,360 acre park within London. It is the largest of the Royal Parks in London and Britain's second largest urban walled park after Sutton Park, Birmingham. It is close to Richmond, Ham, Kingston upon Thames, Wimbledon, Roehampton and East Sheen...

 and Wimbledon Common, with the A3 separating the two.

The primary local "landmarks" are non-denominational Putney Vale Cemetery & Crematorium

Putney Vale Cemetery

Putney Vale Cemetery and Crematorium in London is surrounded by Wimbledon Common and Richmond Park, and is located within forty-seven acres of parkland. The cemetery was opened in 1891 and the crematorium in 1938...

 (where the former Prime Minister of the Russian Provisional Government

Provisional government

A provisional government is an emergency or interim government set up when a political void has been created by the collapse of a very large government. The early provisional governments were created to prepare for the return of royal rule...

 Alexander Kerensky

Alexander Kerensky

Alexander Fyodorovich Kerensky was a major political leader before and during the Russian Revolutions of 1917.Kerensky served as the second Prime Minister of the Russian Provisional Government until Vladimir Lenin was elected by the All-Russian Congress of Soviets following the October Revolution...

 is buried), and an Asda

Asda

Asda Stores Ltd is a British supermarket chain which retails food, clothing, general merchandise, toys and financial services. It also has a mobile telephone network, , Asda Mobile...

 supermarket.

There is a large residential estate, called Putney Vale Estate, tucked away behind the supermarket and cemetery. Built in the mid-1950s, the housing consists mainly of ex-local authority masionettes and some semi-detached housing. Today, most of the dwellings are in private hands, but some are still with the local authority. Also on the Estate is a private school, Hall School Wimbledon.

The Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields are popular with Saturday/Sunday league football teams, and the NEC Harlequins who train there.

A 1928 copy of Punch magazine published an advertisement for KLG "'fit and forget' sparking plugs", with the manufacturer's works being in Putney Vale, with its telephone numbers being Putney 2132 and 2133. Founded by Kenelm Lee Guinness

Kenelm Lee Guinness

Kenelm Edward Lee Guinness MBE was a racing driver of the 1910s - 1920s. He was part of the Guinness brewing family, and a director of the company.- Beginnings in motor racing :...

, part of the famous brewing dynasty, he was a noted early motor racer before developing highly reliable auto and aero spark plugs. The company grew from the disused Bald Face Stag pub in Putney Vale into works reputedly employing more than 1,500 people. The site is now the Asda supermarket. After a serious motorsport accident Guinness committed suicide by gassing himself at his nearby home in 1937. He is buried in Putney Vale Cemetery.

In former times Putney Vale was known as Putney Bottom, as it resides at the base the long incline to Tibbet's Corner at the top of Putney Heath.