Description
The site, once part of the estate of Morden Manor, was acquired in 1931 by Merton and Morden UDC and transferred by way of a conveyance 24th October 1935. The Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Playing Fields were opened as a public amenity and named in memory of Sir Joseph Hood, MP, former Mayor of Wimbledon and a local benefactor. Part of the site is largely grassed and used as playing fields, with a bowling green and 1950s pavilion fronted by rose gardens in the north. To the west a path leads to the Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Wood, which was established as a nature reserve in 1994. The Beverley Brook runs through the woodland. In 2000/2001 10,000 trees were planted as a Millennium Wood adjacent to the wood and to the south of the Playing Fields.
Practical Information
| Site location | Marina Avenue, off West Barnes Lane |
|---|---|
| Postcode | KT3 6NG |
| What3Words | ///name.league.scales |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Merton |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | 8am (weekdays)/9am (weekends & Bank Hols) - dusk |
| Facilities | Play area, Crazy Golf, tennis courts, football pitches, Trim Trails, paddling pool (summer holidays), toilets, cafe, car park |
| Public Transport | Rail: Motspur Park. Bus: K5 |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2011 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
At the time of the Reformation, the whole area, consisting of woods, arable and pasture land, belonged to the Priory of Merton. From the early 16th century, and probably long before, an area between the Beverley Brook and the village of Lower Morden formed Hobald’s Farm. It was bought by the Garths, Lords of the Manor of Morden, before 1611. The Memorial Wood was originally planted in the 1860s, in all likelihood as a hunting covert for the Garth family, Lords of the Manor of Morden, since there were dog kennels near here. The site consists of woodland, some areas of grassland and the Beverley Brook, which forms the boundary with Kingston borough.
Until 1990 the wood was inaccessible to the public and designated a bird reserve. As the fencing was being breached regularly, it was decided to allow pedestrian access by the children’s play area. An additional permissive access path and small railway sleeper bridge were installed in 2005 to the southern end of the playing fields. This permissive path (shut for short periods in December) now allows for circular access around the woodland. The woodland overlooked from the west by two gas holders, it was established as a nature reserve in 1994 and contains fine trees including mature oaks. The wood was extended by community planting as a Millennium project. The wood is 3.78 hectares.
The remainder of the site consists of playing fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, crazy golf (on what was formerly a bowling green) and a children's playground with a paddling pool and picnic table. There is also a pavilion with changing rooms, toilets, and a community room (with regular users including a Children's playgroup). A cafe opens in the summer. The park is sometimes colloquially referenced as 'Sir Joe'.The old rose beds in front of the pavilion were replaced by two new shrub beds in 2005. A new border was planted in 2006 adjacent to the car park. The Friends planted daffodil bulbs and the 22nd Wimbledon Beaver Cub Scouts planted wild flower seeds on the eastern boundary in 2006.
The Friends of Sir Joseph Hood has been involved in the development, improvement, maintenance and management of site since their formation in 2003. The land was transferred with the full right for the Council and its successors in title and people authorized by it to have access to the land. The conveyance is subject to a number of covenants including a requirement that the Council will maintain the property as a playing field and recreation ground. The property also has the benefit of a Deed of Grant dated 18 February 1935, which was assigned to the Council by Dame Roney (the previous landowner).
Until 1990 the wood was inaccessible to the public and designated a bird reserve. As the fencing was being breached regularly, it was decided to allow pedestrian access by the children’s play area. An additional permissive access path and small railway sleeper bridge were installed in 2005 to the southern end of the playing fields. This permissive path (shut for short periods in December) now allows for circular access around the woodland. The woodland overlooked from the west by two gas holders, it was established as a nature reserve in 1994 and contains fine trees including mature oaks. The wood was extended by community planting as a Millennium project. The wood is 3.78 hectares.
The remainder of the site consists of playing fields, tennis courts, basketball courts, crazy golf (on what was formerly a bowling green) and a children's playground with a paddling pool and picnic table. There is also a pavilion with changing rooms, toilets, and a community room (with regular users including a Children's playgroup). A cafe opens in the summer. The park is sometimes colloquially referenced as 'Sir Joe'.The old rose beds in front of the pavilion were replaced by two new shrub beds in 2005. A new border was planted in 2006 adjacent to the car park. The Friends planted daffodil bulbs and the 22nd Wimbledon Beaver Cub Scouts planted wild flower seeds on the eastern boundary in 2006.
The Friends of Sir Joseph Hood has been involved in the development, improvement, maintenance and management of site since their formation in 2003. The land was transferred with the full right for the Council and its successors in title and people authorized by it to have access to the land. The conveyance is subject to a number of covenants including a requirement that the Council will maintain the property as a playing field and recreation ground. The property also has the benefit of a Deed of Grant dated 18 February 1935, which was assigned to the Council by Dame Roney (the previous landowner).
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ226671 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | LB Merton |
| Site Management | Leisure and Culture Services; Friends of Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Playing Fields |
| Dates | 1931 |
| 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 - Borough Importance II (Wood only) |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Local Nature Reserve (wood). Public Open Space (Recreation Ground). Green Corridor |
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
Morden Cemetery, also called Battersea New Cemetery, set up by Battersea Burial Board in 1891. North East Surrey Crematorium opened in 1958 on part of the cemetery land. There are extensive grounds with formal and informal features, well planted with mature trees, and extensive rose gardens. A wide drive flanked by Lombardy poplars leads to the chapel and crematorium from the main entrance, which has the original half-timbered cemetery lodge and entrance, which has fine railings and gates with Gothicised piers.
Merton and Sutton Joint Cemetery, originally known as Carshalton and Merton and Morden Cemetery, opened in 1947. Prior to this the land was part of the now-vanished Morden Common, which remained open land until the early C20th. The entrance is through imposing gates with stone gate piers surmounted by urns, with a plain brick lodge to the left and a smaller building to the right. From the entrance is a wide drive leading up to the brick chapel, designed by Albert Thomas. Either side of the drive are rose beds and an avenue of ornamental trees. There are trees particularly on the boundaries and some scattered evergreens and shrubs among the graves.
The borough boundary between RB Kingston and LB Sutton cuts north-south across the park, which is a remnant of commonland, the boundaries of which have not changed for at least 150 years. It was shown on a Tithe Map of 1839 as Back Green and prior to the building of the railway in the 1850s it used to be linked to the main area of Lower Green, which is now the main road through Worcester Park. Upper Green was located near the junction of Malden Road and Church Road. Nearby is a further remnant of commonland, Malden Green, which remains as a strip of grass by the main road with Lombardy poplars, but otherwise has disappeared.