Raynes Park
Encyclopedia
Raynes Park is a suburb
within the London Borough of Merton
south-west London
, centred around Raynes Park
station and situated between Wimbledon
and New Malden
. It is 8.2 miles (13.2 km) south-west of Charing Cross
. The area is effectively divided into two by the Waterloo
- Southampton
mainline railway. It is a typical London commuter suburb
in that it is relatively prosperous and the residents are mostly middle class although there are few major retail chains. The nearest major shopping area is nearby Wimbledon. Residents can easily travel to nearby Wimbledon, West Wimbledon, Wimbledon Village, Kingston
or Sutton
.
Raynes Park has good train links to Waterloo station. Towards the north and west, either side of the borough boundary with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
are the more expensive areas of Copse Hill and Coombe
with their large detached houses, golf courses and gated lands.
Historically, the area of Raynes Park south of Coombe Lane and Kingston Road was part of the parish
of Merton
and the area north of that line was part of the Parish of Wimbledon. The area remained rural
until late into the 19th century. The first development in the area was the opening of the London & South Western Railway
in May 1838 which crossed the area on a high embankment
, although the station did not open until later.
Cottenham Park to the north of the station was the first part of the area to be laid out for development in the 1870s. It takes its named from Charles Pepys, 1st Earl of Cottenham
who lived in Wimbledon until his death in 1851. The name Raynes Park was originally used in the 1870s and only applied to the area south of the railway line where the local landowner, Richard Garth
, Lord of the Manor
of the adjacent parish of Morden
, planned to develop a new garden suburb similar to that being developed by John Innes at Merton Park
to the east. The name refers to the Rayne family, the previous landowners of the farmland on which Garth intended to build.
Garth laid out the northern section of Grand Drive, about as far south as Heath Drive, and Blenheim Drive and persuaded the railway company to build the station. A number of detached houses were constructed, but Garth's absence as Chief Justice of Bengal
slowed the development and much of the rest of the area became a golf course and cricket grounds.
By the late Victorian period
the residential development of Wimbledon was encroaching on the north side of the railway from the east but, apart from a few buildings including the Junction Tavern and a school, development around the station did not start until the beginning of the 20th century.
South of the railway, the twelve terraced roads known locally as "the Apostles" (although they are not named after the Apostles) were laid out over a former cricket ground during the Edwardian period
. In the 1920s, the Kingston Bypass (A3
) and its spur, Bushey Road (A298), were built as dual carriageways. South of the railway, the majority of residential development occurred in the 1930s with Grand Drive being extended south into Lower Morden
and new roads being developed. Much of the area remains open space.
station is on the National Rail
network. The station is at the junction of the branch line heading towards Epsom
and Dorking
and has four platforms - two served by branch services and two served by the slow lines (there are no platforms on the fast lines). A distinctive local landmark is the station footbridge which spans all four main running lines at an angle of about 45 degrees and links the up platforms (1 & 2, for London) with the down (3 & 4). Another distinctive feature of the station is that the platforms are not opposite each other. The station benefits from frequent train services to central London, with approximately 210 trains to Waterloo each day, averaging about 12 per hour during service hours.
Raynes Park also benefits from London bus services running to Wimbledon
, Colliers Wood
, Tooting
, Streatham
, New Malden
, and Kingston upon Thames
, as well as nightbus services to Wandsworth
, Vauxhall
, Westminster
and Aldwych
.
Bushey Road connects the Kingston Bypass to Wimbledon Chase and Merton Park
. On the south side is Prince George's playing field, which is the home ground of Raynes Park Vale F.C and plays host to Sunday league football. The field also has other purposes and has in the past held travelling Funfair
s and Hindu
festival celebrations. Adjacent to the playing field is a sports and leisure centre. The area has a number of other parks and open spaces including Cottenham Park Recreation Ground and Raynes Park Sports Ground.
A new public library opened in 2006, located on Approach Road, close to the railway station. A support group was founded when the new library was opened, whose purpose is to support the London Borough of Merton in efforts to improve the education and leisure facilities at Raynes Park Library.
The nearest London Underground tube station is Wimbledon
on the District Line
.
is the local mixed secondary school
, and is away from the town centre, adjacent to the A3
flyover
near Shannon Corner. The school badge is derived from its location, showing a stylized version of the two neighbouring main roads, the flyover and the railway line.
There is an active Residents' Association which spends much of its time dealing with traffic and planning
issues. The new owners of the old London Electricity Board Sports and Social Club (LESSA) playing fields have been refused planning permission for a large housing development partly due the fact the area is marginally on a floodplain
.
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...
within 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...
south-west 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...
, centred around Raynes Park
Raynes Park railway station
Raynes Park railway station is in the London Borough of Merton in South London. The station is served by South West Trains, and is in Travelcard Zone 4...
station and situated between Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
and New Malden
New Malden
New Malden is a town and shopping centre in the south-western London suburbs, mostly within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and partly in the London Borough of Merton, and is situated from Charing Cross...
. It is 8.2 miles (13.2 km) south-west of Charing Cross
Charing Cross
Charing Cross denotes the junction of Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It is named after the now demolished Eleanor cross that stood there, in what was once the hamlet of Charing. The site of the cross is now occupied by an equestrian...
. The area is effectively divided into two by the Waterloo
Waterloo station
Waterloo station, also known as London Waterloo, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex. The station is owned and operated by Network Rail and is close to the South Bank of the River Thames, and in Travelcard Zone 1....
- Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
mainline railway. It is a typical London commuter 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...
in that it is relatively prosperous and the residents are mostly middle class although there are few major retail chains. The nearest major shopping area is nearby Wimbledon. Residents can easily travel to nearby Wimbledon, West Wimbledon, Wimbledon Village, 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...
or Sutton
Sutton, London
Sutton is a large suburban town in southwest London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Sutton. It is located south-southwest of Charing Cross and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan. The town was connected to central London by...
.
Raynes Park has good train links to Waterloo station. Towards the north and west, either side of the borough boundary with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames
The Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames is a borough in southwest London, England. The main town is Kingston upon Thames and it includes Surbiton, Chessington, New Malden and Tolworth. It is the oldest of the three Royal Boroughs in England, the others are Kensington and Chelsea, also in London,...
are the more expensive areas of Copse Hill and Coombe
Coombe
-Places in England:* Coombe, Buckinghamshire* Coombe, Bude, Cornwall* Coombe, Camborne, Cornwall* Coombe, Liskeard, Cornwall* Coombe, Redruth, Cornwall* Coombe, St...
with their large detached houses, golf courses and gated lands.
History
- For earlier history see MertonMerton (historic parish)Merton was an ancient parish in the Brixton hundred of Surrey, England. It was bounded by Wimbledon to the north, Mitcham to the east, Morden to the south and Kingston upon Thames to the west. The 1871 Ordnance Survey map records its area as . The parish was centred around the 12th century parish...
and WimbledonWimbledon, LondonWimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
.
Historically, the area of Raynes Park south of Coombe Lane and Kingston Road was part of the parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
of Merton
Merton (historic parish)
Merton was an ancient parish in the Brixton hundred of Surrey, England. It was bounded by Wimbledon to the north, Mitcham to the east, Morden to the south and Kingston upon Thames to the west. The 1871 Ordnance Survey map records its area as . The parish was centred around the 12th century parish...
and the area north of that line was part of the Parish of Wimbledon. The area remained rural
Rural
Rural areas or the country or countryside are areas that are not urbanized, though when large areas are described, country towns and smaller cities will be included. They have a low population density, and typically much of the land is devoted to agriculture...
until late into the 19th century. The first development in the area was the opening of the London & South Western Railway
London and South Western Railway
The London and South Western Railway was a railway company in England from 1838 to 1922. Its network extended from London to Plymouth via Salisbury and Exeter, with branches to Ilfracombe and Padstow and via Southampton to Bournemouth and Weymouth. It also had many routes connecting towns in...
in May 1838 which crossed the area on a high embankment
Embankment (transportation)
To keep a road or railway line straight or flat, and where the comparative cost or practicality of alternate solutions is prohibitive, the land over which the road or rail line will travel is built up to form an embankment. An embankment is therefore in some sense the opposite of a cutting, and...
, although the station did not open until later.
Cottenham Park to the north of the station was the first part of the area to be laid out for development in the 1870s. It takes its named from Charles Pepys, 1st Earl of Cottenham
Charles Pepys, 1st Earl of Cottenham
Charles Christopher Pepys, 1st Earl of Cottenham PC KC was a British lawyer, judge and politician. He was twice Lord Chancellor of Great Britain.-Background and education:...
who lived in Wimbledon until his death in 1851. The name Raynes Park was originally used in the 1870s and only applied to the area south of the railway line where the local landowner, Richard Garth
Richard Garth
Sir Richard Garth PC QC was Member of Parliament for Guildford from 1866 to 1868 and Chief Justice of Bengal from 1875 to 1886....
, Lord of the Manor
Lord of the Manor
The Lordship of a Manor is recognised today in England and Wales as a form of property and one of three elements of a manor that may exist separately or be combined and may be held in moieties...
of the adjacent parish of Morden
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 :...
, planned to develop a new garden suburb similar to that being developed by John Innes at Merton Park
Merton Park
Merton Park is a place in the London Borough of Merton. It is a quiet and leafy suburb situated between Wimbledon, Morden, South Wimbledon and Wimbledon Chase. It is 7.3 miles south-west of Charing Cross...
to the east. The name refers to the Rayne family, the previous landowners of the farmland on which Garth intended to build.
Garth laid out the northern section of Grand Drive, about as far south as Heath Drive, and Blenheim Drive and persuaded the railway company to build the station. A number of detached houses were constructed, but Garth's absence as Chief Justice of Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
slowed the development and much of the rest of the area became a golf course and cricket grounds.
By the late Victorian period
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
the residential development of Wimbledon was encroaching on the north side of the railway from the east but, apart from a few buildings including the Junction Tavern and a school, development around the station did not start until the beginning of the 20th century.
South of the railway, the twelve terraced roads known locally as "the Apostles" (although they are not named after the Apostles) were laid out over a former cricket ground during the Edwardian period
Edwardian period
The Edwardian era or Edwardian period in the United Kingdom is the period covering the reign of King Edward VII, 1901 to 1910.The death of Queen Victoria in January 1901 and the succession of her son Edward marked the end of the Victorian era...
. In the 1920s, the Kingston Bypass (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...
) and its spur, Bushey Road (A298), were built as dual carriageways. South of the railway, the majority of residential development occurred in the 1930s with Grand Drive being extended south into 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:...
and new roads being developed. Much of the area remains open space.
Transport and amenities
Raynes ParkRaynes Park railway station
Raynes Park railway station is in the London Borough of Merton in South London. The station is served by South West Trains, and is in Travelcard Zone 4...
station is on the National Rail
National Rail
National Rail is a title used by the Association of Train Operating Companies as a generic term to define the passenger rail services operated in Great Britain...
network. The station is at the junction of the branch line heading towards Epsom
Epsom railway station
Epsom railway station is the main railway station for Epsom in the county of Surrey. It is located off Waterloo Road, near to the High Street....
and Dorking
Dorking railway station
Dorking railway station is one of three railway stations that serve the town of Dorking in Surrey, England. The station is within walking distance of Dorking Deepdene station and interchange on a through ticket is permitted...
and has four platforms - two served by branch services and two served by the slow lines (there are no platforms on the fast lines). A distinctive local landmark is the station footbridge which spans all four main running lines at an angle of about 45 degrees and links the up platforms (1 & 2, for London) with the down (3 & 4). Another distinctive feature of the station is that the platforms are not opposite each other. The station benefits from frequent train services to central London, with approximately 210 trains to Waterloo each day, averaging about 12 per hour during service hours.
Raynes Park also benefits from London bus services running to Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
, Colliers Wood
Colliers Wood
Colliers Wood is an area in south London, England, in the London Borough of Merton. Colliers Wood station is served by the London Underground's Northern Line.It is a mostly residential area, split down the middle by a busy High Street...
, 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:...
, Streatham
Streatham
Streatham is a district in Surrey, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, New Malden
New Malden
New Malden is a town and shopping centre in the south-western London suburbs, mostly within the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and partly in the London Borough of Merton, and is situated from Charing Cross...
, and Kingston upon Thames
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...
, as well as nightbus services to Wandsworth
Wandsworth
Wandsworth 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:...
, Vauxhall
Vauxhall
-Demography:Many Vauxhall residents live in social housing. There are several gentrified areas, and areas of terraced townhouses on streets such as Fentiman Road and Heyford Avenue have higher property values in the private market, however by far the most common type of housing stock within...
, Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
and Aldwych
Aldwych
Aldwych is a place and road in the City of Westminster in London, England.-Description:Aldwych, the road, is a crescent, connected to the Strand at both ends. At its centre, it meets the Kingsway...
.
Bushey Road connects the Kingston Bypass to Wimbledon Chase and Merton Park
Merton Park
Merton Park is a place in the London Borough of Merton. It is a quiet and leafy suburb situated between Wimbledon, Morden, South Wimbledon and Wimbledon Chase. It is 7.3 miles south-west of Charing Cross...
. On the south side is Prince George's playing field, which is the home ground of Raynes Park Vale F.C and plays host to Sunday league football. The field also has other purposes and has in the past held travelling Funfair
Funfair
A funfair or simply "fair" is a small to medium sized travelling show primarily composed of stalls and other amusements. Larger fairs such as the permanent fairs of cities and seaside resorts might be called a fairground, although technically this should refer to the land where a fair is...
s and Hindu
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
festival celebrations. Adjacent to the playing field is a sports and leisure centre. The area has a number of other parks and open spaces including Cottenham Park Recreation Ground and Raynes Park Sports Ground.
A new public library opened in 2006, located on Approach Road, close to the railway station. A support group was founded when the new library was opened, whose purpose is to support the London Borough of Merton in efforts to improve the education and leisure facilities at Raynes Park Library.
The nearest London Underground tube station is Wimbledon
Wimbledon station
Wimbledon 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...
on the District Line
District Line
The District line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. It is a "sub-surface" line, running through the central area in shallow cut-and-cover tunnels. It is the busiest of the sub-surface lines. Out of the 60 stations served, 25 are underground...
.
Other information
Raynes Park High SchoolRaynes Park High School
Raynes Park High School is a co-educational comprehensive school that educates around 1150 students aged 11 to 19. It is located in Raynes Park, England.-Admissions:...
is the local mixed secondary school
Secondary school
Secondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
, and is away from the town centre, adjacent to 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...
flyover
Overpass
An overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
near Shannon Corner. The school badge is derived from its location, showing a stylized version of the two neighbouring main roads, the flyover and the railway line.
There is an active Residents' Association which spends much of its time dealing with traffic and planning
Urban planning
Urban planning incorporates areas such as economics, design, ecology, sociology, geography, law, political science, and statistics to guide and ensure the orderly development of settlements and communities....
issues. The new owners of the old London Electricity Board Sports and Social Club (LESSA) playing fields have been refused planning permission for a large housing development partly due the fact the area is marginally on a floodplain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
.
Notable people associated with Raynes Park
- Dave Benson-PhillipsDave Benson-PhillipsDave Benson-Phillips is a British children's television presenter who gained high popularity as the host of the children's game show Get Your Own Back, shown on BBC One between 1991 and 2003...
, children's television presenter. - Richard BriersRichard BriersRichard David Briers, CBE is an English actor whose career has encompassed theatre, television, film and radio.He first came to prominence as George Starling in Marriage Lines in the 1960s, but it was in the following decade when he played Tom Good in the BBC sitcom The Good Life that he became a...
, actor, grew up in Raynes Park. - Tubby HayesTubby HayesEdward Brian "Tubby" Hayes was an English jazz multi-instrumentalist, best known for his tenor saxophone playing in groups with fellow sax player Ronnie Scott and with trumpeter Jimmy Deuchar. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest British jazz instrumentalists.- Early life :Hayes was born...
, jazz musician. - Chris PowellChris PowellChristopher George Robin "Chris" Powell is an English football manager and retired player, who had a long career as a left back, crowned by five caps for the English national team...
, footballer. - Graham StuartGraham Stuart (footballer)Graham Charles Stuart is a former English football player who played as an attacking midfielder. He retired after being released by Norwich City on 17 May 2005....
, footballer. - Danny CiprianiDanny CiprianiDaniel Jerome Cipriani is an English rugby union footballer. He plays fly-half, centre and fullback. He has played for London Wasps and England. He's currently playing his first season of Super Rugby as a member of the inaugural Melbourne Rebels squad.-Biography:Danny Cipriani is mixed-race, his...
, rugby star & ex partner of Kelly Brook. - Jay Laga'aiaJay Laga'aiaJay Laga'aia is an actor and singer. He is best known internationally for his role as Captain Typho in the films Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.-Career:...
, actor. - Oliver ReedOliver ReedOliver Reed was an English actor known for his burly screen presence. Reed exemplified his real-life macho image in "tough guy" roles...
, actor, grew up in Raynes Park. - Martin Brett,(Brett Martini), Musician, Voice of the Beehive.
- David Whelan (opera singer), opera singer, lived in Raynes Park.