Description
Barnes Common was used jointly by the people of Barnes and Putney until 1589 when a dispute arose and the people of Putney denied access. Until the area was drained in c.1880 the common was mainly marshland. It was almost entirely treeless, as shown on the OS of 1870 but today is largely woodland, coppice and heathland with some open areas of grass where cricket is played. Avenues and roadside planting took place in the late C19th. In the centre of the common is Mill Hill, an island of houses at the site of a former windmill.
Practical Information
| Site location | Vine Road/Station Road/Mill Hill Road/Rocks Lane |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SW13 0NE |
| What3Words | ///fled.loops.popped |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Richmond |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Cricket and football pitches |
| Public Transport | Rail: Barnes. Bus: 33, 72, 265. |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2009 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Barnes Common was used jointly by the people of Barnes and Putney until 1589 when a dispute arose and the people of Barnes refused to allow those of Putney to have access. Until the area was drained in c.1880 the common was mainly marshland and it provided an interesting area of research for natural history societies. The common remains in the ownership of the Church Commissioners, the Dean and Chapter of St Paul's being Lord of the Manor. In the centre of the common is an island of houses at Mill Hill, the site of a former windmill; the original miller's house still exists, now part of Mill Hill Lodge. The common was almost entirely treeless, as shown on the OS of 1870 but today it is mainly woodland, coppice and heathland with some open areas of grass where cricket is played. Avenues and roadside tree planting took place in the late C19th, including London plane, lime and horse chestnut. The Old Barnes Cemetery (q.v.) is situated within the area of Barnes Common, adjacent to the boundary with Rocks Lane Recreation Ground. This was enclosed in 1854 as additional burial ground for Barnes parish churchyard.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ223758 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Church Commissioners |
| Site Management | LB Richmond, Environment Planning & Review, Parks and Open Spaces. Friends of Barnes Common |
| Dates | 1898 |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | Yes: Common (CL61 with Barnes Green) |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Richmond |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Barnes Common |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Metropolitan Importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Nature Conservation area includes Old Barnes Cemetery |
Gallery
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
In 1854 a plot of land in the north-east corner of Barnes Common was enclosed to provide an additional burial ground for St Mary's Barnes, whose churchyard had become overcrowded. The cemetery was laid out with paths, a chapel was built and it was in use until the mid-1950s, with many artists and writers among those buried. After it closed to burials, it was taken over in 1966 by Richmond Borough Council who intended to turn it into a lawn cemetery. The chapel and lodge were demolished, and the boundary railings removed. It was badly vandalised over the ensuing years and many of the headstones broken. The Council has now declared it a nature reserve and it is effectively part of Barnes Common.
Vine Road Recreation Ground was laid out in 1926 on a former orchard, sandwiched between railway lines. The park has a small timber pavilion with pitched roof and small central clock that overlooks an open bowling green, which is backed by hedging with seating around it on 3 sides. Beyond the bowling green the park is laid out as a recreation ground. An adventure playground opened here in July 1967. An area of ornamental planting is in front of the pavilion.
In 1855 3 acres of land of Putney Lower Common were bought by the local Burial Board from Earl Spencer, Lord of the Manor, for this small cemetery. It was established by 1858 on the edge of Putney Lower Common and Barnes Common, and remains visually part of these open spaces. It has ornate railings and gates on Lower Richmond Road, and is otherwise bounded by brick wall, with intermittent railings along the east. The rag stone chapels and lodge were designed by Barnett and Birch in 1855 and built by a local firm of builders, W and R Aviss, whose family tomb is in the cemetery. There are some interesting historic tombs, including that of Sir Alfred Dryden (d.1912), a descendent of John Dryden, the poet. The cemetery is now closed for burials except within privately owned graves. There are a variety of trees including yew and the cemetery is wooded towards the north where the boundary wall abuts Barnes Common.