Description
Golf was played informally on Wimbledon Common from the early C19th. In 1864 members of the nearby London Scottish Rifle Volunteers formed the London Scottish Golf Club, playing from Mrs Doggett's Cottage beside the Windmill on a 7-hole course. By 1869 civilians were also admitted although the club was entirely managed by the military. In 1871 the course was extended to 18 holes before the newly formed Common Conservators could intervene. In 1881, the military and civilian sides of the club split, the former retaining the name London Scottish, the latter becoming Wimbledon Golf Club, which gained the prefix Royal in 1882 for its patron, the Prince of Wales. Initially, the clubs shared the same course but in 1907 the Royal Wimbledon began to lay out a new course on some 97 hectares of adjoining farmland, leased from Warren Farm. The course was later redesigned in 1924 and this is the course occupied by the club today. To the north is London Scottish Golf Course, also known as Wimbledon Common Golf Course.
Practical Information
| Site location | 29 Camp Road, Camp View, Wimbledon Common |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SW19 4UW |
| What3Words | ///calms.sound.locals |
| Type of Site | Private Open Land |
| Borough | Merton |
| Open to Public | No |
| Public Transport | Rail/Tube: Wimbledon (District) then bus. |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2012 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The Royal Wimbledon Golf Course is the site of the Old Park established in the 1570s by Sir Thomas Cecil and attached to Warren House, later Cannizaro House (q.v.). In 1705 the park comprised 121 hectares of 'poor quality' land. Early maps show woods either side of Copse Hill but by the 1st OS map there is no tree cover shown on the golf course lands. In the 1860s there was a strip of woodland running east-west approximately halfway between the stream at the bottom and Caesar's Camp, following the northern boundary of the southern area, which was known as Shadwell Wood by the early C20th. The woodland between the stream and Copse Hill was known as Wimbledon Wood. From 1827 the parkland was owned by the Drax family.
Golf is first played 'formally' on the common over seven holes in 1865, extended to 18 holes in 1871. In 1882 the Royal Wimbledon Club negotiated a 21 year lease of Camp Cottage as its club house, and in 1907 Royal Wimbledon Golf Club agreed to a lease of 240 acres of Warren Farm. A new golf course was designed by Willie Park and constructed opening on Easter Monday 1908. In 1919 Harry Colt was commissioned to design a new course which opened in 1924. In 1938 a 60-year lease of the land was granted by Wimbledon Borough Council, followed in 1986 by a 300 year lease secured from the Borough of Merton for £300,000 with a peppercorn rent. There were subsequent minor redesigns of fairways for various holes. The Golf club only has title to a small portion of land around the golf club house off camp road. The use for golf is an established right over part of Wimbledon and Putney common land (see Wimbledon Common).
Golf is first played 'formally' on the common over seven holes in 1865, extended to 18 holes in 1871. In 1882 the Royal Wimbledon Club negotiated a 21 year lease of Camp Cottage as its club house, and in 1907 Royal Wimbledon Golf Club agreed to a lease of 240 acres of Warren Farm. A new golf course was designed by Willie Park and constructed opening on Easter Monday 1908. In 1919 Harry Colt was commissioned to design a new course which opened in 1924. In 1938 a 60-year lease of the land was granted by Wimbledon Borough Council, followed in 1986 by a 300 year lease secured from the Borough of Merton for £300,000 with a peppercorn rent. There were subsequent minor redesigns of fairways for various holes. The Golf club only has title to a small portion of land around the golf club house off camp road. The use for golf is an established right over part of Wimbledon and Putney common land (see Wimbledon Common).
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ227711 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 60.7 |
| Site Ownership | London Borough of Merton |
| Site Management | Royal Wimbledon Golf Course |
| Dates | 1907/8; 1924 |
| Designers | Golf Course: Willie Park Jnr (1907/8); Harry Colt (1924) |
| 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 | Merton |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Metropolitan (north) / Boro Imp I (south) |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeological Priority Zone |
| Other LA Designation | Green Chain; Urban Green Space |
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
Wimbledon Common is managed by Wimbledon and Putney Common Conservators. Wimbledon Common consists mainly of a plateau of acidic grassland, the most notable area being The Plain. The earliest history of the commons dates back to the Palaeolithic Age. In 1864 the lord of the manor, Earl Spencer, proposed enclosing 700 acres to form a park for a new mansion near the windmill and selling 300 acres for building. He was prevented by the Select Committee enquiry of 1865 that led to the Metropolitan Commons Act 1866. Eventually an Act of Parliament in 1871 secured the future of Wimbledon Common, entrusting it to a Board of Conservators with annual compensation paid to Earl Spencer. Earl Spencer's annual compensation was bought out in 1968 following a decade of fund raising. The area is registered as Common Land and managed under Section 193 of Law of Property Act 1925.
Wimbledon Common has a range of habitats from wet and dry heath, grassland, woodland and 5 ponds, as well as the Beverley Brook that runs through the site. The Common has changed little since the 1871 Act although woodland is now extensive on the west and north, Shadwell Wood in the south reduced by 1 of the 2 golf courses here, formed in 1908.
Wimbledon Common has a range of habitats from wet and dry heath, grassland, woodland and 5 ponds, as well as the Beverley Brook that runs through the site. The Common has changed little since the 1871 Act although woodland is now extensive on the west and north, Shadwell Wood in the south reduced by 1 of the 2 golf courses here, formed in 1908.
* on The National Heritage List for England, Parks & Gardens
Cannizaro Park is on land that was once part of Wimbledon Common. In the early C18th the estate was purchased by William Browne who built two houses, Mansion or Westside House, and Warren House. Between 1817-41 Warren House was leased to Francois Platamone who became the Duke of Cannizzaro in 1830, after whom the house was renamed (albeit misspelt) in 1874. In 1920 house and grounds were purchased by E. Kenneth Wilson and his wife, who laid out a new garden, much of which remains in the public park today. In 1947/8 the Wilsons' daughter sold the house and 13.5 hectares of land to the Corporation of Wimbledon, who opened the grounds to the public. The gardens soon regained their reputation as a place of beauty, and the park today has a sunken garden, azalea dell, water garden, Italian garden, Mediterranean garden and rose Garden, as well as woodland and lakes. Cannizaro House was leased as an Old People's Home and since 1987 has been a hotel.
Cannizaro Park is on land that was once part of Wimbledon Common. In the early C18th the estate was purchased by William Browne who built two houses, Mansion or Westside House, and Warren House. Between 1817-41 Warren House was leased to Francois Platamone who became the Duke of Cannizzaro in 1830, after whom the house was renamed (albeit misspelt) in 1874. In 1920 house and grounds were purchased by E. Kenneth Wilson and his wife, who laid out a new garden, much of which remains in the public park today. In 1947/8 the Wilsons' daughter sold the house and 13.5 hectares of land to the Corporation of Wimbledon, who opened the grounds to the public. The gardens soon regained their reputation as a place of beauty, and the park today has a sunken garden, azalea dell, water garden, Italian garden, Mediterranean garden and rose Garden, as well as woodland and lakes. Cannizaro House was leased as an Old People's Home and since 1987 has been a hotel.
Crooked Billet is a small corner of Wimbledon Common with a green, two public houses and residential housing, which despite surrounding development has never quite lost its identity as a semi-rural enclave. It was former grazing land, with adjoining farm buildings and cottages dating back to at least the C17th and possibly earlier. The origins of the name Crooked Billet are disputed. There are a number of trees on the green, including a horse chestnut, willow and London plane.