Description
Putney Heath is part of Wimbledon and Putney Commons, and adjoins Wimbledon Common to the south, the remains of extensive common lands in the area. In the C18th it was a notorious place for duels and highwaymen and Tibbet's Corner, the site of a gallows, now lies in the centre of a roundabout. The Heath is on undulating land with areas of woods and grassland and has several ponds including Scio Pond. There are a number of memorials on the Heath, including the war memorial to the north near Putney Heath Road, and a memorial to the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment. An obelisk by George Dance was erected in 1788 to commemorate an experimental fire-proof house created by David Hartley in 1776, near Tibbet's Corner. Opposite the Green Man Pub in the north east is the former Pound for stray animals.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Putney Upper Common |
|---|---|
| Site location | Putney Heath Lane/Kingston Road/Tibbet's Ride/Roehampton Lane/Old Portsmouth Road |
| Postcode | SW15 |
| What3Words | ///cook.relate.runner |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Wandsworth |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | Playing fields, car park (Telegraph Pub). Nature trails |
| Events | Numerous (incl. Wimbledon and Putney Lower): Fairs, Horse Shows, Scout and Cub Group meetings, Riding for the Disabled, Morris Dancing, sponsored walks, cross country runs, orienteering and charitable events. |
| Public Transport | Rail: Putney, Barnes then bus. Bus: 85, 170, 265, 424, 485 |
| Research Updated | 1 May 2005 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Near Putney Heath was former grounds of Bovey Tracey, for which Capability Brown designed a landscape plan in 1774 for Baron Tracey, later 6th Viscount Tracey of Toddington, but neither the house nor grounds remain. Putney Heath is now bisected by the busy A3 and its north tip has become a bus terminating point. Part of it is flanked by the post WWII LCC Argyle Estate, while its east boundary consists of large houses and flats facing Wimbledon Park Side. Within the Heath itself is an area enclosed for a bowling green in the late C17th by the Lord of the Manor, Earl Spencer. The popularity of bowling led to further greens being added and their existence is recalled in the road name Bowling Green Close. The area was later built over with housing, including modernist housing as well as 1930s blocks of flats set in areas of landscaping, such as Highlands Heath.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ228738 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 168.3 |
| Site Ownership | Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators |
| Site Management | Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators |
| Dates | c.1880 |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Pound. Local list: Hartley Memorial |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | Wimbledon & Putney Commons Act 1871 |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Wandsworth |
| In Conservation Area | Yes |
| Conservation Area Name | Putney Heath (small part) |
| Tree Preservation Order | Yes |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Metropolitan Importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Common. SSSI (south of Kingston 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
* on National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Alton Estate was built by the LCC in the 1950s over a high lying site that contained a number of C18th houses and their gardens, elements of which remain, partly within the housing estate and partly within educational establishments that now occupy the houses. The estate aimed to accommodate 9,500 people and provide schools, community buildings and shops; public open space was included within the overall design, with mature trees from the earlier landscaping retained. It was developed in two phases by different teams of architects. The earlier was Alton East built c.1951-55 under Rosemary Stjernstedt adopting Swedish and picturesque principles of town planning as a setting for the 11-storey point blocks and terraces of maisonettes. Alton West, built c.1954-58 under Colin Lucas on the grounds of Downshire House, Manresa House and Mount Clare, was influenced by Le Corbusier's ideas.
Alton Estate was built by the LCC in the 1950s over a high lying site that contained a number of C18th houses and their gardens, elements of which remain, partly within the housing estate and partly within educational establishments that now occupy the houses. The estate aimed to accommodate 9,500 people and provide schools, community buildings and shops; public open space was included within the overall design, with mature trees from the earlier landscaping retained. It was developed in two phases by different teams of architects. The earlier was Alton East built c.1951-55 under Rosemary Stjernstedt adopting Swedish and picturesque principles of town planning as a setting for the 11-storey point blocks and terraces of maisonettes. Alton West, built c.1954-58 under Colin Lucas on the grounds of Downshire House, Manresa House and Mount Clare, was influenced by Le Corbusier's ideas.
Innes Gardens is on the site of the former grounds of Gifford House, a large C18th house that was pulled down in the 1950s/60s after war damage. An C18th ice-house that was in the south-west corner of the original grounds is now adjacent to Nos.137-146 Innes Gardens. The pond in the recreation ground may be a remnant of an earlier pond.
Wildcroft Manor Gardens Estate comprises 56 flats built in 1936 on the 3-acre site of the former Wildcroft Manor. David Hartley's historic Fireproof House previously stood on the site. An obelisk in his memory stands nearby on Putney Heath. The estate gardens comprise lawns, mature trees, a formal area with box hedging and a pond with a small fountain. The gardens are constantly evolving but retain their original 1930s layout, a traditional garden with many roses and mature shrubs. The gilded ornamental entrance gates of c.1900 to Wildcroft Manor survived being taken for the war effort in WWII, reputedly because Queen Mary had admired them when passing by. They were made by J & C McLaughlin Ltd of Dublin.