Description
Wilderness Island is an industrial landscape dating back to the C17th, with remains of watercourses belonging to mills situated at the confluence of two arms of the River Wandle. The 1st edition OS map of 1867 shows the island under wood with an area to the south up to the railway embankment as open land. There is a well-preserved fish pond, and the site had former use as pleasure grounds. It is now maintained for its ecological value as a nature reserve.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Scawens Moor; ‘Watersmeet’ |
|---|---|
| Site location | Mill Lane, Carshalton |
| Postcode | SM5 2NH |
| What3Words | ///power.reveal.bigger |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Sutton |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Special Conditions | No Dogs and use paths |
| Facilities | Toilets in Strawberry House opposite |
| Events | Occasional guided ecology and local history walks |
| Public Transport | Rail: Hackbridge; Carshalton. Bus: 151, 127 |
| Research Updated | 1 November 2004 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Pending further research
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ283655 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 1.5 |
| Site Ownership | LB Sutton |
| Site Management | London Wildlife Trust |
| Dates | C17th-C20th |
| 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 | Yes - Metropolitan Importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Site of Wildlife value (Schedule 4) |
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
Elms Pond Open Space and Lakeside are landscaped lakes that were associated with Wallington House, which was demolished in 1928. Elms Pond became part of the Elms estate in 1799 and was landscaped c.1805. Although the Manor House has gone, there was a clause in the 1790s to ensure preservation of the land as open space. The form of the present landscape with fountains, borders, yews etc. was made between 1928-1930. The lakeside was extended in length in the C19th and now has a wooded perimeter. The site has many fine trees. Elms Pond was restored in c.2004.
The Culvers is an area of open land to the north of Hackbridge comprising the River Wandle. It is the site of the C18th-C20th landscape park of the Culvers Estate. The site has areas of rough parkland and long grass with paths and mature trees. The 1867 OS map shows an extensive wooded area within an area of river channels with parkland to the south of Culvers House. Formerly open parkland, the area is now mostly developed for residential housing, the old garden reduced to a few scattered trees with remnants of mill heritage.
Hackbridge Green is an old village green, today a triangular open space with fine mature trees and C18th cottages forming the backdrop. The 1st edition OS map of 1867 shows the site as open space.