Description
In 1914 Sutton UDC acquired Manor Park House, a C19th house, and converted its grounds, then neglected and overgrown, into a public park; the house was used as a school then from 1937 as Sutton Public Library until it was demolished in the 1970s. Manor Park's original bandstand was replaced by a new one in 1923, its site now that of sports pitches. The park was created to its current extent over a period of time as land from neighbouring properties was added. In 1921 Sutton's War Memorial was erected on the site of two houses to the east, purchased for the purpose. The park is on sloping land, sub-divided into areas by hedges, fences and trees, which include fine mature and semi-mature evergreen and deciduous trees. A fountain, now surrounded by formal planting, was donated by the Chairman of Sutton UDC in 1924-5.
Practical Information
| Site location | Throwley Road/Carshalton Road/Manor Park Road, Sutton |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SM1 4AF |
| What3Words | ///feared.stole.tried |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Sutton |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am - dusk |
| Facilities | Café, children’s playground, toilets (including disabled) |
| Public Transport | Rail: Sutton. Bus: 407, 726 |
| Research Updated | 1 October 2010 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
An important site near the centre of Sutton and visible from the main road, Manor Park was created to its current extent over a period of time, with land taken from the grounds of a number of neighbouring houses, three along Carshalton Road and a fourth along Manor Park Road, Manor Park House, which gave the park its name. In 1914 Sutton Urban District Council acquired Manor Park House and grounds, then neglected and overgrown, converting it into a public park that was opened by the Chairman of the UDC on 25 May 1914. At that time it had a bandstand but this appears to have disappeared by the early 1920s and a new one was installed in 1923 in the north of the park where there are now sports pitches. In 1921 the War Memorial Committee wanted to site Sutton's memorial in Manor Park close to Carshalton Road, but the Council felt there was insufficient space and it would necessitate tree-felling on the road front. The War Memorial Committee subsequently purchased and demolished two houses east of the park and erected the war memorial on the land. The Portland stone memorial, designed by J S W Burmester, was unveiled in June 1921 by Sir Ralph Forster, a wealthy local resident and donor to the park and other local causes, whose son had died in WWI. In accepting the War Memorial the Council agreed to 'maintain the ground for the benefit of the inhabitants in perpetuity'. In December 1921, a third house, east of the War Memorial was presented to the UDC by Sir Ralph, Charles Wright and Thomas Wall, after whom Thomas Wall Park (q.v.) is named. In 1924 Nos. 6 and 8 Throwley Road were added to the park, and in 1931 No.10 Throwley Road.
The park is pleasantly laid out on a sloping site with the War Memorial at the entrance on Carshalton Road. Manor Park House was used as a school in the 1920s, then as Sutton Public Library from 1937, but was finally demolished in mid 1970s when Central Library was relocated. The park is sub-divided into areas by hedges, fences and trees, which include firs and deciduous trees, many of them mature or semi-mature specimens. In the south is a fountain that was given to the park in 1924-5 by Cllr Charles Yates, Chairman of Sutton UDC. It is enclosed within simple iron rails and gates.
The park is pleasantly laid out on a sloping site with the War Memorial at the entrance on Carshalton Road. Manor Park House was used as a school in the 1920s, then as Sutton Public Library from 1937, but was finally demolished in mid 1970s when Central Library was relocated. The park is sub-divided into areas by hedges, fences and trees, which include firs and deciduous trees, many of them mature or semi-mature specimens. In the south is a fountain that was given to the park in 1924-5 by Cllr Charles Yates, Chairman of Sutton UDC. It is enclosed within simple iron rails and gates.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ260642 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 2.33 |
| Site Ownership | LB Sutton |
| Site Management | Parks Service |
| Dates | 1914, 1921 |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Sutton |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | B2230 Throwley Way, A232, Carshalton Road |
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
A church has existed here since medieval times and is recorded in the Domesday Book. The current church of St Nicholas was rebuilt in 1862-4 when the old parish church was too small for Sutton's growing congregation. It is surrounded by a churchyard with numerous trees including fine yews, and among the many tombs is an interesting mausoleum of 1777 to James Gibson and his family. Other old gravestones include two inscribed C17th slab stones and an early C19th monument to a blacksmith with an inscribed verse.
Benhill Recreation Ground is open grassland with a steep bank to the west along Benhill Road. There are occasional mature and many young and semi mature trees especially towards the south end. The 1st edition OS map of 1867 shows the site as open land with two small buildings marked ‘Brickfields' at the south end.
Warren Park is open grassland with the railway on the north and south boundary, screened by mature trees. The 1st edition OS map of 1867 shows the area of open land, wedged between railway tracks. A C19th house in the north-east corner was probably attached to the land in the mid-to late C19th. A clump of mature trees survives in the centre of the grassland.