Wandle Park
Encyclopedia
Wandle Park is the name of two separate parks in London, on the course of the River Wandle
.
The Wandle Trail
passes through both parks.
. 51°22′28"N 0°06′41"W It was opened in 1890 by the Mayor of Croydon
.
The River Wandle flows through the park in an underground culvert
which was constructed in 1967. The park used to contain a boating lake which dried up and was filled in.
The park is used by many people and is popular with dog walkers, footballers, joggers, skateboarders and families. The park is easily accessible by public transport using Wandle Park tram stop
. The Park has a 'Friends Group' of local residents and park users that are working with Croydon Council to improve the park http://www.wandlepark.com/
. On December 12, 1889 Croydon Corporation bought Stubbs Mead from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for £2,700. The indenture states that "The land shall be forever dedicated and used as an ornamental pleasure ground and place of recreation for the inhabitants of the Borough of Croydon and for no other purpose whatsoever."
Improvements to the park were overseen by the Corporation's Road Committee. Minutes of the Committee available in Croydon's Local Studies Library record that a Mr W. Powell, the Roads Surveyor was instructed to draw up plans and obtain prices for the works. The centrepiece of the new park was an artificial boating lake with an island in the centre planted with trees. It was proposed to divert the River Wandle to feed the lake with water but whilst the lake was being constructed sufficient groundwater was found for this purpose. Proposals were then modified and a separate channel took the river to the north of the boating lake. John Hubert Schmitz, the Mayor of Croydon, opened Wandle Park in May 1890. A newspaper report of the time recorded that approximately 30,000 attended. The park is featured in postcards produced at the turn of the century which frequently record people enjoying the lake. In the early 1900s the lake was extended to the east and another island created that could be reached by two rustic bridges. By the 1930s there was a bandstand, bowling green (with pavilion) and tennis courts and the park was the venue for the Borough's Summer Show http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/parksandopenspaces/parksatoz/wandle/wandlepark.
Photographs show that the lake froze in winter and was used for ice-skating. Other photographs of the time show that the water level in the lake was found to be erratic and it completely dried up at times in the summer http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/archives/lslibrary. In 1967 a concrete culvert was constructed, the river was diverted into it, and the old river bed filled in. The River Wandle was now buried from view and at the same time the now dry lake was filled in, topsoiled and grassed. The former course of the river can be traced by following the line of trees that cross the park. A flint wall on the southern side of the children's playground is also thought to be part of the wall on the north side of the river. A rose garden was created in the 1970s next to the sports pavilion and more recently a skatepark has been provided on the site of the old tennis courts http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/parksandopenspaces/parksatoz/wandle/wandlepark.
http://www.croydon.gov.uk/democracy/councilnews/1013516
, 6.8 km to the North-West, near Colliers Wood
Underground station. It is about half the size of the Croydon park, approximately 11 acres (44,515.5 m²). It is bounded to the south by Colliers Wood High Street, where there is an entrance, the River Wandle to the West, and Byegrove Road to the North. 51°25′07"N 0°10′48"W
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...
.
The Wandle Trail
Wandle Trail
The Wandle Trail is a walking and cycling trail that follows the River Wandle from Croydon to Wandsworth in south-west London-Organisation:The Wandle Trail Group was responsible for the formation of the trail...
passes through both parks.
Wandle Park, Croydon
The larger of the two Wandle Parks, at 8.5 hectares (21 acres), is located in the Broad Green Ward of CroydonLondon Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
. 51°22′28"N 0°06′41"W It was opened in 1890 by the Mayor of Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
.
The River Wandle flows through the park in an underground culvert
Culvert
A culvert is a device used to channel water. It may be used to allow water to pass underneath a road, railway, or embankment. Culverts can be made of many different materials; steel, polyvinyl chloride and concrete are the most common...
which was constructed in 1967. The park used to contain a boating lake which dried up and was filled in.
The park is used by many people and is popular with dog walkers, footballers, joggers, skateboarders and families. The park is easily accessible by public transport using Wandle Park tram stop
Wandle Park tram stop
Wandle Park tram stop is a light rail stop in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London. It serves the residential area between central Croydon and Waddon, and is adjacent to Wandle Park....
. The Park has a 'Friends Group' of local residents and park users that are working with Croydon Council to improve the park http://www.wandlepark.com/
History of Wandle Park, Croydon
One of the oldest public open spaces in Croydon, Wandle Park was built to meet the leisure and recreation needs of the population of a growing industrial town. The park was formed from two watermeadows to the west of Croydon town called Frog Mead and Stubbs Mead. The deed of sale records that Croydon Corporation bought Frog Mead in 1888 from the Briton Medical & General Life Association Limited for £1,518. 15s. The 13 acres (52,609.2 m²) of Stubbs Mead was part of the Archbishop of Canterburry's land holdings in Croydon. The Archbishops had long held land in Croydon and their presence was recorded in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
. On December 12, 1889 Croydon Corporation bought Stubbs Mead from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for £2,700. The indenture states that "The land shall be forever dedicated and used as an ornamental pleasure ground and place of recreation for the inhabitants of the Borough of Croydon and for no other purpose whatsoever."
Improvements to the park were overseen by the Corporation's Road Committee. Minutes of the Committee available in Croydon's Local Studies Library record that a Mr W. Powell, the Roads Surveyor was instructed to draw up plans and obtain prices for the works. The centrepiece of the new park was an artificial boating lake with an island in the centre planted with trees. It was proposed to divert the River Wandle to feed the lake with water but whilst the lake was being constructed sufficient groundwater was found for this purpose. Proposals were then modified and a separate channel took the river to the north of the boating lake. John Hubert Schmitz, the Mayor of Croydon, opened Wandle Park in May 1890. A newspaper report of the time recorded that approximately 30,000 attended. The park is featured in postcards produced at the turn of the century which frequently record people enjoying the lake. In the early 1900s the lake was extended to the east and another island created that could be reached by two rustic bridges. By the 1930s there was a bandstand, bowling green (with pavilion) and tennis courts and the park was the venue for the Borough's Summer Show http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/parksandopenspaces/parksatoz/wandle/wandlepark.
Photographs show that the lake froze in winter and was used for ice-skating. Other photographs of the time show that the water level in the lake was found to be erratic and it completely dried up at times in the summer http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/archives/lslibrary. In 1967 a concrete culvert was constructed, the river was diverted into it, and the old river bed filled in. The River Wandle was now buried from view and at the same time the now dry lake was filled in, topsoiled and grassed. The former course of the river can be traced by following the line of trees that cross the park. A flint wall on the southern side of the children's playground is also thought to be part of the wall on the north side of the river. A rose garden was created in the 1970s next to the sports pavilion and more recently a skatepark has been provided on the site of the old tennis courts http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/parksandopenspaces/parksatoz/wandle/wandlepark.
The Regeneration of Wandle Park, Croydon
Plans have been drawn up to bring the river to the surface and provide facilities including a new cafe, changing facilities, bandstand, pond, multi-use games area, a new playspace and skatepark. The park has received funding from the adjoining British Gas Site (Barratt Homes providing a Section 106 contribution as part of their planning consent), the Environment Agency, Croydon Council, Heritage Lottery Fund and the Mayor of London's Help a London Park Scheme. Work will begin in 2011 and be complete in 2012.http://www.croydon.gov.uk/democracy/councilnews/1013516
Wandle Park, Merton
Another Wandle Park can be found in MertonLondon 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...
, 6.8 km to the North-West, near 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...
Underground station. It is about half the size of the Croydon park, approximately 11 acres (44,515.5 m²). It is bounded to the south by Colliers Wood High Street, where there is an entrance, the River Wandle to the West, and Byegrove Road to the North. 51°25′07"N 0°10′48"W
Wandle Park, Croydon
- http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/parksandopenspaces/parksatoz/wandle/wandlepark
- http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/archives/lslibrary
Wandle Park, Merton
- http://www.merton.gov.uk/leisure/history-heritage/heritage-sites/wandle_park.htm