Abbey Recreation Ground

The name Abbey originates with the C12th Merton Priory, which became an important centre of learning until its destruction as a result of Henry VIII's Dissolution of the Monasteries in the Sixteenth Century, although several sections of the former priory wall still exist. Abbey Recreation Ground was once within the lands of the Merton Place estate owned by Lord Nelson, where he lived form 1801-1805 immediately prior to his death at the Battle of Trafalgar. In the Nineteenth Century the estate was largely built over for housing although Abbey Recreation Ground is on a site that remained open land and was in use for allotments in the early Twentieth Century. After World War I this site became a Recreation Ground, as shown on the OS 25 ins Map (Surrey VII.15, revision of 1933).

The northern boundary of the recreation ground was formed by the Tooting, Merton and Wimbledon railway line between Merton Park and Morden Road. The line from Wimbledon to West Croydon had opened in 1855 with the Wimbledon Tooting and Streatham line and a branch line from Tooting via Merton Abbey opening in 1868. Originally called Lower Merton, it was served by a station that was renamed Merton Park in 1887. However, the Tooting branch closed to passenger trains in 1929 due low usage although it remained in use for freight trains. It finally closed in May 1975 and the tracks between Merton Park and Tooting were taken up. Left to become wild the old track was relatively unused until 1994 and was threatened with destruction due to a proposal, later scrapped, to extend Merantun Way through to Kingston Road. A granite dust footpath was laid out along the old scalping base of the railway line and two new entrances leading into Abbey Recreation Ground and Morden Road were installed. This provided formal access through the site for walkers and prevented further damage to fences and vegetation bordering Abbey Recreation Ground. This woodland path following part of the old railway line is now part of Merton Park Green Walks.

The recreation ground was again used for allotments during World War II and Air Photo Mosaic Sheet (51/2569 N.E./TQ2569N.E.) shows allotment plots still in place in May 1947 and 1948, but by 1951 the OS Map shows it once more in use as a recreation ground (OS 25 ins TQ2569NE-A). A drinking fountain is shown near the south-east entrance from Morden Road, together with lavatories and 2 pavilions/shelters along the south boundary. 

It remains predominantly open green space, with a perimeter path and trees, and is mainly used for playing fields, with regular use by a wide variety of football teams and clubs. There are two football pitches, a cricket pitch where cricket is played in the summer, and a children's playground in one corner. Entrance arches were installed in 2018/19 with wording highlighted in gold: 'Welcome to Abbey Recreation Ground'. Adjacent to the south of the park is the Willmore End housing development of 64 town houses built in 1974/5 for Countryside Properties Ltd. on what was formerly Lansdale Nurseries. Willmore End Residents Association (WERA) was formed in November 2006 with the aims: 'to represent its members in negotiations and dealings with the London Borough of Merton and other such bodies as deemed necessary, with the aim of preserving and maintaining the amenities and standards of the community, local environment and the protection of member’s interests and quality of life.' Since then it has been involved in a number of projects in Abbey Recreation Ground, as well as Merton Park Green Walks and Nursery Road Playing Fields, which lie to the west of the recreation ground. Projects in Abbey Recreation Ground include a new footpath, planting of 300 whips around the entrance to Nursery Road Playing Fields; in 2011 the old changing rooms were demolished and replaced with modern changing rooms, following fundraising by WERA that attracted grants from the London Marathon Charitable Trust and Viridor Credits. The public toilets were refurbished in 2015 and in 2021 funding was received from CIL 2021 for fencing, benches, trees and bulbs. This has led to resurfacing of the perimeter path in 2021, planting of over 100,000 bulbs in 2022, construction of a split chestnut post and rail fence between the recreation ground and the Nature Trail in late 2022, and the upgrading of the safety flooring of the children's play area in 2023.

Abbey Recreation Ground and Merton Park Green Walks were the recipient of the Green Flag Award in 2018. A Community Payback team is based in Abbey Recreation Ground and has been involved in numerous projects including establishing a wildflower bed in the park. The team also works in other nearby public gardens, Nelson Gardens and Kendor Gardens.