Description
The tithe map of 1847 shows the site of Wandle Meadow Nature Park as Byegrove Mead, which may have been managed as water meadows. In 1868 the Wimbledon to Streatham railway was constructed nearby and in 1877 the meadow was acquired for the Wandle Valley Sewage Works, built adjacent to the Wandle River. After the sewage works closed in 1970, a proposal to build a football stadium on the land south of the railway was strongly opposed and the site was eventually preserved as a nature reserve. Above-ground structures were demolished and made safe, with the old filter beds remaining and now creating an interesting wildlife habitat, with footpaths and cycle routes laid out. A bridge links it to Garfield Recreation Ground, which existed as a public park from the early C20th.
Practical Information
| Site location | North Road via Mead Path/Chaucer Way |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SW19 1TR |
| What3Words | ///join.into.fade |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Merton |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Haydons Road. Bus: 200, 156 (walk) |
| Research Updated | 18 December 2025 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The tithe map of 1847 shows the site of Wandle Meadow Nature Park as Byegrove Mead, which may have been managed as water meadows. In 1868 the Wimbledon to Streatham Railway was constructed nearby and in 1877 the meadow was acquired for the Wandle Valley Sewage Works, built adjacent to the Wandle River, which were established by Croydon Board of Health for the benefit of Mitcham and Merton, later becoming the Wandle Valley Joint Sewerage Board in 1917. A northern extension was added in the C20th between the Wandle and Lambeth Cemetery to the south of Plough Lane. The smaller Wimbledon Works were on the west of the river north of Plough Lane. In the 1970s the sewage works were closed and the areas north and south of Plough Lane were developed for industrial use; an electricity pylon was erected within the site of the old Wandle South Sewage Works. A proposal to build a stadium for Wimbledon Football Club on the remaining land south of the railway line was vociferously opposed by local residents and following a campaign the plan was dropped on 1989. In 1992 a feasibility study was carried out putting forward various proposals for the site and a working party was set up including the National Trust, London Wildlife Trust, London Ecology Unit and officers of Leisure Services at Merton Council. Most above ground structures had been removed leaving subsurface tanks filled with hard-core and other rubbish along with the concrete bases of the filter beds. There were also localised dumps of fly tipping and spoil, however a number of habitats had developed on the site in the 20 years it had been derelict. The area was eventually preserved as a nature reserve when London Borough of Merton created the Wandle Meadow Nature Park, with a small area used for housing.
A Derelict Land Grant was received from the Department of the Environment, and above-ground structures were demolished and made safe, with the old filter beds remaining and now an interesting wildlife habitat, and footpaths and cycle routes laid out. It was formally opened on 24 November 1993 by Professor David Bellamy. A bridge linking it to Garfield Recreation Ground, which existed as a public park from the early C20th, as well as interpretative panels and signposting were installed in 1994. The nature park is part of The Wandle Trail, a 20km walking and cycling route following the Wandle River from East Croydon to the Thames at Wandsworth Town. Established in September 1988 by the Wandle Group in association with the Wandle Industrial Museum, it continues to be promoted by the Wandle Trail Group, which is formed of representatives from the London Boroughs of Wandsworth, Merton and Sutton, together with Groundwork Merton, Sustrans and Wandle News. It is designated part of the National Cycle Network.
Friends of Garfield Rec and Wandle Meadow Nature Park was formed in 2020.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ264710 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 4.15 |
| Site Ownership | LB Merton |
| Site Management | Leisure and Culture Services |
| Dates | 1988-1993 |
| 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 | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Borough Importance I |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeological Priority Zone |
| Other LA Designation | Local Nature Reserve. Public Open Space. 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
Lambeth Cemetery was established as additional burial space for the parish of St Mary Lambeth in 1853/4, 12 hectares having been purchased from Samuel Martin of Garratt Lane. The cemetery was laid out on a grid pattern, with brick gothic lodges and chapels designed by Frederick K Wehnert and John Ashdown. The cost of land, layout and buildings amounted to £21,500. In 1874 the Burial Board acquired a further c.4.45 hectares as the need for additional space grew and by 1889 there had been over 109,000 burials here. The Crematorium was added in the 1970s towards the north of the cemetery.
Fountain Road Recreation Ground was laid out in 1932 as part of the adjacent Council housing development of Anderson House. The site had once been a clay quarry for brickworks, replaced in 1898 when the Council's 'dust destructor' was built here, the scheme for disposing of rubbish by incineration. The 153 foot high chimney was eventually demolished on 30 October 1930 and the recreation ground was laid out through a scheme for the relief of unemployment. It was partly grassed with the remainder paved and provided with see-saws and swings.
The site of Wandle Park was formerly that of Wandlebank House and grounds, owned from 1791-1821 by James Perry, who owned the Merton Corn Mill, an important industry on the Wandle River from medieval times. The land was purchased by Wimbledon Corporation and vested in the National Trust for a public park, which opened in 1907. The Mill Pond Garden was added in 1910 purchased through public subscription; the pond dating the late Eighteenth Century was created as a reservoir for the Merton Corn Mill. Wandle Park was re-designed in 2003 in order to transform its wetland features.