Wormwood Scrubs is common land, but since 1872 the military have had rights to use it under the Military Forces Location Act and part of the Scrubs had been leased to the Army since 1812. In the past this use was extensive and at times access was limited. Wormwood Scrubs now merges imperceptibly with Old Oak Common, which is in fact located in LB Ealing. Originally the division between the two commons and borough boundary was one of the several small streams that joined to form Stamford Brook. The military finally released the last land that it held in 1962. Sports facilities, including the Linford Christie Stadium, have been built on this area.
