Morden Hall Park
Encyclopedia
Morden Hall Park is a National Trust
park located on the banks of the River Wandle
in Morden
, south London
. It covers over 50ha (125 acres) 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 many old farm buildings, some of which are now a garden centre and a city farm. The rose garden has over 2000 roses.
There is evidence of an earlier manor-house, but the Hall dates back to the 1770s and contains a variety of natural landscapes, including the parkland of the "Deer Park", meadow and marshland. A number of historic buildings are located in the park, including the Hall itself and preserved watermill
s where tobacco
was once ground into snuff
.
The Hall was owned and occupied by the Garth family for generations.
It was occupied, as a school, for young gentlemen about 1840, until it was sold by Sir Richard Garth
to a tobacco merchant Gilliat Hatfeild (1827–1906) in the 1870s.
The Hall was a military hospital during the First World War.
Gilliat Hatfeild's son, Gilliat Edward Hatfeild (1864–9 February 1941), left the core of the estate (including the house) to the National Trust
, when he died. The Hall is now empty, after Whitbread plc decided that the building/location did not fit in with the business plan they had for their Beefeater chain.
They still own the lease and continue to pay rent, according to the original lease contract. At least two attempts to sub-lease the property have failed, after limited success.
Gilliat Edward Hatfeild lived at the nearby Morden Cottage which he considered better suited to his life as a bachelor. The formal garden of the cottage is surrounded by an unusual collection of ornamental trees, including one of the oldest yews in England.
Outside of the main park, the remainder of the estate has been swallowed up in housing developments stretching between Morden
, South Wimbledon
and Collier's Wood and an industrial estate at Deer Park Road.
The Tramlink
light rail
line from Wimbledon
to Croydon
runs through the northern part of the park, and Phipps Bridge
and Morden Road
tram stops give access to the park. Both tram stops are a 0.5 mi (0.80467 km) walk through the park to the Snuff Mill and Riverside Café. Morden tube station
and Morden South railway station
are respectively 0.25 mi (0.402335 km) and 0.5 mi (0.80467 km) walk through the town centre from the main entrance.
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...
park located on the banks of 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...
in 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 :...
, south 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...
. It covers over 50ha (125 acres) of parkland with 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...
meandering through it spanned by numerous foot bridges. The estate contains Morden Hall itself, Morden Cottage, an old Snuff Mill, and many old farm buildings, some of which are now a garden centre and a city farm. The rose garden has over 2000 roses.
History
The estate land was originally owned by Westminster Abbey.There is evidence of an earlier manor-house, but the Hall dates back to the 1770s and contains a variety of natural landscapes, including the parkland of the "Deer Park", meadow and marshland. A number of historic buildings are located in the park, including the Hall itself and preserved watermill
Watermill
A watermill is a structure that uses a water wheel or turbine to drive a mechanical process such as flour, lumber or textile production, or metal shaping .- History :...
s where tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
was once ground into snuff
Snuff
Snuff is a product made from ground or pulverised tobacco leaves. It is an example of smokeless tobacco. It originated in the Americas and was in common use in Europe by the 17th century...
.
The Hall was owned and occupied by the Garth family for generations.
It was occupied, as a school, for young gentlemen about 1840, until it was sold by Sir 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....
to a tobacco merchant Gilliat Hatfeild (1827–1906) in the 1870s.
The Hall was a military hospital during the First World War.
Gilliat Hatfeild's son, Gilliat Edward Hatfeild (1864–9 February 1941), left the core of the estate (including the house) to 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...
, when he died. The Hall is now empty, after Whitbread plc decided that the building/location did not fit in with the business plan they had for their Beefeater chain.
They still own the lease and continue to pay rent, according to the original lease contract. At least two attempts to sub-lease the property have failed, after limited success.
Outside of the main park, the remainder of the estate has been swallowed up in housing developments stretching between 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 :...
, South Wimbledon
South Wimbledon
South Wimbledon is a locality in the London Borough of Merton in southwest London, England.-Toponymy:It is marked on an Ordnance Survey map of 1876 as New Wimbledon and on a 1907 map as South Wimbledon...
and Collier's Wood and an industrial estate at Deer Park Road.
Access
The main entrance to the park is a short walk from Morden town centre, and car parking is available at the main entrance. The Snuff Mill and Riverside Café are adjacent to the main entrance.The Tramlink
Tramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
light rail
Light rail
Light rail or light rail transit is a form of urban rail public transportation that generally has a lower capacity and lower speed than heavy rail and metro systems, but higher capacity and higher speed than traditional street-running tram systems...
line from 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...
to 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...
runs through the northern part of the park, and Phipps Bridge
Phipps Bridge tram stop
Phipps Bridge tram stop is a stop on the Tramlink service in the London Borough of Merton. The stop is named for Phipps Bridge Road, an adjacent residential street....
and Morden Road
Morden Road tram stop
Morden Road tram stop is a stop on the Tramlink service in the London Borough of Merton. It is on the site of the former Morden Road railway station on the Wimbledon-West Croydon line, which closed to heavy rail traffic in 1997....
tram stops give access to the park. Both tram stops are a 0.5 mi (0.80467 km) walk through the park to the Snuff Mill and Riverside Café. Morden tube station
Morden tube station
Morden is a London Underground station in Morden in the London Borough of Merton. The station is the southern terminus for the Northern line and is the most southerly station on the Underground network. The next station north is...
and Morden South railway station
Morden South railway station
Morden South railway station is in Morden in the London Borough of Merton. The station is served by First Capital Connect trains, and is on the Thameslink loop...
are respectively 0.25 mi (0.402335 km) and 0.5 mi (0.80467 km) walk through the town centre from the main entrance.