Wimbledon Park
Encyclopedia
Wimbledon Park is an urban park
in Wimbledon
and the suburb
south and east to which it lends its name. It is the second largest park in the London Borough of Merton
and also gives its name to Wimbledon Park tube station
. To the immediate west of the park resides the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
. Wimbledon Park should not be confused with the much larger and better known Wimbledon Common, further to the west up the hill.
The original park comprised the grounds of Wimbledon Park House, the seat of the manor
of Wimbledon
, situated on the hill to the south, near St Mary's Church, Wimbledon
the old parish church of Wimbledon. A series of owners enlarged the park northwards and eastwards. By the 19th century it was at its largest extent, and one of the homes of the Earls Spencer
, lords of the manor
. The park had been landscaped in the 18th century by Capability Brown
when the lake was formed by constructing a dam across a brook that flows from the springline near Wimbledon Common down to the River Wandle
in Earlsfield
.
In 1846, the 4th Earl Spencer
sold the estate and house to John Augustus Beaumont a property developer who laid out new roads and sold plots of land for house building. Two roads still bear his name today - Augustus Road and Beaumont Road.
Development of the area was slow at first, but continued throughout the second half of the 19th century, gradually nibbling away at the parkland.
The modern park was purchased by the Borough of Wimbledon just before the First World War
and is, with its ornamental lake, the grounds of the Wimbledon Club and Wimbledon Golf Course, the only remnant of the former, larger park. Late in the 20th century the London Borough of Merton sold on the Golf Course to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, leaving just the public park and the lake in its ownership
Along the park's northern edge lies Horse Close wood, a small patch of old planted woodland, largely consisting of Ash and Oak
. The London Underground District Line runs to the east of the Park between Southfields tube station
and Wimbledon Park station
.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in 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 the 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...
south and east to which it lends its name. It is the second largest park 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 also gives its name to Wimbledon Park tube station
Wimbledon Park tube station
Wimbledon Park is a London Underground station in Wimbledon. The station is on the District Line and is between Southfields and Wimbledon stations. The station is located on Arthur Road close to the junction with Melrose Avenue close to the eastern side of Wimbledon Park...
. To the immediate west of the park resides the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club
The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club , also known as the All-England Club, based at Aorangi Park, Wimbledon, London, England, is a private members club. It is best known as the venue for the Wimbledon Championships, the only Grand Slam tennis event still held on grass...
. Wimbledon Park should not be confused with the much larger and better known Wimbledon Common, further to the west up the hill.
The original park comprised the grounds of Wimbledon Park House, the seat of the manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
of 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...
, situated on the hill to the south, near St Mary's Church, Wimbledon
St Mary's Church, Wimbledon
St Mary's Church, Wimbledon is a Church of England church and is part of the Parish of Wimbledon, south-west London, England. It has existed since the 12th century and may be the church recorded in the Domesday Book in the Mortlake Hundred...
the old parish church of Wimbledon. A series of owners enlarged the park northwards and eastwards. By the 19th century it was at its largest extent, and one of the homes of the Earls Spencer
Earl Spencer
Earl Spencer is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain that was created on 1 November 1765, along with the title Viscount Althorp, of Althorp in the County of Northamptonshire, for John Spencer, 1st Viscount Spencer, a great-grandson of the 1st Duke of Marlborough...
, lords 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...
. The park had been landscaped in the 18th century by Capability Brown
Capability Brown
Lancelot Brown , more commonly known as Capability Brown, was an English landscape architect. He is remembered as "the last of the great English eighteenth-century artists to be accorded his due", and "England's greatest gardener". He designed over 170 parks, many of which still endure...
when the lake was formed by constructing a dam across a brook that flows from the springline near Wimbledon Common down to 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 Earlsfield
Earlsfield
Earlsfield is an area within the London Borough of Wandsworth, London, England.Earlsfield is a typical London suburb and comprises mostly residential Victorian terraced houses with a high street of shops, bars, and restaurants between Garratt Lane, Allfarthing Lane, and Burntwood Lane...
.
In 1846, the 4th Earl Spencer
Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer
Vice-Admiral Frederick Spencer, 4th Earl Spencer KG, CB, PC , styled The Honourable Frederick Spencer until 1845, was a British naval commander, courtier and Whig politician. He initially served in the Royal Navy and fought in the Napoleonic Wars and the Greek War of Independence, eventually rising...
sold the estate and house to John Augustus Beaumont a property developer who laid out new roads and sold plots of land for house building. Two roads still bear his name today - Augustus Road and Beaumont Road.
Development of the area was slow at first, but continued throughout the second half of the 19th century, gradually nibbling away at the parkland.
The modern park was purchased by the Borough of Wimbledon just before the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and is, with its ornamental lake, the grounds of the Wimbledon Club and Wimbledon Golf Course, the only remnant of the former, larger park. Late in the 20th century the London Borough of Merton sold on the Golf Course to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, leaving just the public park and the lake in its ownership
Along the park's northern edge lies Horse Close wood, a small patch of old planted woodland, largely consisting of Ash and Oak
Pedunculate Oak
Quercus robur is commonly known as the Pedunculate Oak or English oak. It is native to most of Europe, and to Anatolia to the Caucasus, and also to parts of North Africa.-Taxonomy:Q...
. The London Underground District Line runs to the east of the Park between Southfields tube station
Southfields tube station
Southfields is a London Underground station in Southfields in the London Borough of Wandsworth. The station is on the District Line between and stations. The station is located on Wimbledon Park Road at the junction with Augustus Road and Replingham Road...
and Wimbledon Park station
Wimbledon Park tube station
Wimbledon Park is a London Underground station in Wimbledon. The station is on the District Line and is between Southfields and Wimbledon stations. The station is located on Arthur Road close to the junction with Melrose Avenue close to the eastern side of Wimbledon Park...
.
See also
- Wimbledon - History for details of the early history of the manor.
External links
- Wimbledon Park Heritage Group
- Wimbledon Park Residents' Association Website
- Wimbledon Park entry from The DiCamillo Companion to British & Irish Country Houses
- Wimbledon Park Golf Course
- Motco.com
- Stanford's 1862 Library Map of London and its Suburbs
- Wimbledon Village & west side of Wimbledon Park
- East side of Wimbledon Park Showing Wimbledon Park House
