On a scorching Sunday afternoon, we headed off to Morden Hall Park, a National Trust park located on the banks of the River Wandle in Morden, south London.
Covering over 125 acres, it’s a lovely park with lots of little bridges spanning the River Wandle as it meanders through the site.
Rising from a spring near South Croydon, the river heads north to its mouth at Wandsworth on the River Thames.
The estate contains the old Morden Hall itself, Morden Cottage, an old Snuff Mill, and many old farm buildings, some of which are now a garden centre and a city farm.
Above you can see two a pair of edge runner millstones that were used to crush tobacco leaves into snuff.
The snuff was ground by hand until water-powered mills took over in the 18th century.
The park was full of families enjoying a picnic in the sunshine.
Ornate bridge crossing the Wandle.
Enjoying a swim.
Morden Cottage.
Walking around the park.
Cooling down in the river.
River activity.
Morden Hall. Despite being owned by the National Trust it has been boarded up for some time.
The 1770 hall has served as a family home, boarding school for young gentlemen and a military hospital during the First World War.
Elsewhere on the site there has been accusations of ‘bullying’ as the NT look to close down the long-established garden centre [source].
Created in 1921 and now maintained by the National Trust, the two acre rose garden contains 48 beds with over 2,000 roses.
In front of Morden Hall can be found this ‘ruined’ footbridge.
Crossing the tramway on the way to Merton Abbey Mills.
The old water mill at Merton Abbey Mills near the end of the walk.
Read more about Morden Hall Park and Merton Abbey Mills here.
Info:
Morden Hall Park
Morden Hall Rd
Morden,
London SM4 5JD
Tel: 020 8545 6850
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/morden-hall-park/
Related posts:
Morden Hall – Colliers Wood Walk
A visit to the rather modest Lord Nelson memorial in Merton, south London
A stroll around Capability Brown’s Sheffield Park and Garden, East Sussex
A walk around Bute Park, in the former grounds of Cardiff Castle, south Wales
urban75 camping trip to WoWo in Sussex, September 2011
Olympic stadium walk – Mile End to Victoria Park and Bow along the canal
Spring is definitely on its way in Ruskin Park, south London
A walk along the Thames riverfront and beach by Vauxhall, south London
There are free guided walks 11.30 and 13.30 on Tuesdays and Sundays if you would like to find out more about the history of the park including a close up view of the archimedes screw turbine installed last year (not easily seen from public areas). Meeting point is right outside the Riverside Cafe.