Description
Adjoining Richmond Park and separated from it by a brick wall, Sheen Common was once part of the extensive common land predating the formation of Richmond Park. In the C18th George III had a farm to the west of the common near the parish boundary and King's Ride recalls the route from Kew Palace to the farm and Richmond Park. In 1845 the parish pound was moved to the common, which remained in the ownership of the Lord of the Manor until the East Sheen Common Preservation Society purchased the freehold in 1880. Today, owned by the National Trust and leased by Richmond Council, East Sheen Common consists of woodland, a cricket field, tennis courts and a bowling green.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Sheen Common |
|---|---|
| Site location | Fife Road/King's Ride, Sheen |
| Postcode | SW14 |
| What3Words | ///seat.type.crush |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Richmond |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Football pitches, cricket square, bowling green, tennis courts, toilets. |
| Public Transport | Rail: North Sheen. Bus: 485, 33, 337. |
| Research Updated | 1 March 2004 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The East Sheen Common Preservation Society purchased the freehold of the common from Lord of the Manor, Earl Spencer, for £2,500, together with an additional £1,000 for their right to use the Rifle Butt that had been built on the Common by subscription in 1860 for the use of the 9th Surrey Royal Volunteers Corps, and later used by the Inns of Court Volunteers. In addition to the rifle range, previous uses of the common include a ladies golf course and a gravel extraction site, evidence of which can be seen in the uneven ground in the wooded area of the common. On its west flank is East Sheen Cemetery (q.v.).
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ195746 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 21.29 |
| Site Ownership | National Trust, leased to LB Richmond |
| Site Management | LB Richmond Environment Planning and Review, Parks and Open Spaces/Friends of Sheen Common |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | Yes: Common (CL65) |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Richmond |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Metropolitan Importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | No |
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
The site is shown in 1893/4 as woodland and opened as Barnes Cemetery in 1905. In 1913 the northern triangular section of the site was laid out as the cemetery while to the south was a nursery. The cemetery is linked to the main road to the north by an avenue of plane trees, with a lodge at the entrance and a mortuary chapel on the south boundary. In the 1930s the area to the south of Barnes Cemetery was laid out on a grid and the cemetery was subsequently renamed East Sheen Cemetery. Although it now forms a continuous area of graves with Richmond Cemetery, the old Barnes Cemetery boundary is still clearly defined by a holly hedge. The cemetery contains various fine trees, clumps of pampas grass, with yews behind the chapel and on either side of the main roadway between the entrance on Kings Ride Gardens and the chapel.
The cemetery appears to have originated in c.1786 as a small burial plot donated by King George III, who also endowed the workhouse nearby. In 1853 steps were taken to acquire the cemetery for municipal use, although Richmond Burial Board was not formed until 1868. Between 1868 and 1890 the cemetery was enlarged several times, with further extensions in 1898 and 1902. Adjacent and contiguous with Richmond Cemetery is East Sheen Cemetery. The cemetery contains numerous mature trees including yew and cypress, particularly in the older part, and the more open grassed area is surrounded by horse chestnuts, lime, false acacia and ash, with yew and holly throughout. There are numerous interesting tombs commemorating people in all walks of life, including a number of local and national dignitaries.
Pesthouse Common was part of the extensive common land in this area, its name suggesting a connection with a plague hospital. In 1785 King George III gave the parish certain parts of Pesthouse Common as compensation for shutting public rights of way up Love Lane when he was improving Richmond Park. Mature lime and horse chestnut trees border the site.
