Figges Marsh

Figges Marsh is a remnant of former Mitcham commonland and is a registered Town Green. The name apparently originates through a man called William Figg who held land here in the C14th. As with other Mitcham commonland it was vested in the Board of Mitcham Common Conservators in 1891 and was taken over by Mitcham Urban District Council under a private Act in 1923. It flanks London Road, which was a toll road into London. Up until the early C20th Figges Marsh remained surrounded by open land, with some housing constructed south of Tooting Junction station to the north of the common by 1911 (OS Surrey VII.16 25 ins Edition of 1913, surveyed 1864-6, revised 1911). By the 1930s housing surrounded the commonland, with London Road Cemetery (q.v.) and adjacent Recreation Ground (Tamworth Recreation Ground) marked to the west of Figges Marsh (OS Surrey VII.16 25 ins Edition of 1935, revised 1934). During WWII it was dug for allotments and trenches to prevent landing of enemy aircraft, as shown in the Air Photos taken in January 1946.

Figges Marsh today is an open triangular space with an avenue of trees either side of the path that runs through the site alongside London Road. The OS 25 ins to the mile map of 1911 shows trees along the Streatham Road boundary and a number of footpaths crossing the site, which remain in the same positions today. Figges Marsh was used for grazing until 1923, and was also used for sports. Photographs in Merton Memories Photographic Archive show that new trees had been planted on the green in c.1904; a group of small boys are shown playing in c1910, and others record cricket matches and football being played; and a photograph in 1951 shows at that time it was bordered by paling fencing. By 1952, maps show that lavatories, a drinking fountain and shelter (no longer in existence) had been built at the junction of Streatham Road and Manship Road, with trees planted along the footpaths.  

Figges Marsh is now protected in perpetuity as a Queen Elizabeth II Field, a scheme set up by Fields in Trust in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics. Each park that participated in the scheme received a commemorative plaque, an oak sapling and access to an improvement grant. The circular plaque is set into a stone located adjacent to Manship Road. In c.2008 amenities were added to the park, including an outdoor gym and table tennis in the southern part of the site, and a mile-long walking and running path loops around the park.

The Friends of Figge's Marsh was established in 2016 and since then has worked to maintain and improve the park. Projects have included creating flower and shrub beds, planting a boundary privet hedge and additional trees, including two copses of native trees along the Streatham Road boundary, in addition to regular litter-picking, bulb planting and maintenance works. The Friends hold regular community events.