Wandsworth Park

A short history (from information supplied by the Local History Library to mark the Centenary in 2003)

Wandsworth Park is one of only two Grade II listed historic parks within Wandsworth, the other being Battersea Park.  The site's historic listing acknowledges that the Park is of special interest due to the quality of its layout which has little changed since its opening in 1903. 

The site that the Park now stands on was in 1897 allotment land.  In that year the Wandsworth District Board was given the opportunity to buy 18 acres of land between the riverbank and Putney Bridge Road. 

In partnership with the London County Council, the land was bought for £33,000 in December 1898, the London County Council contributing £4,429 and the Wandsworth District Board contributing £11,727, the remainder being raised by public subscription.  The Park was laid out by Lt Col J Sexby, the London County Council's first Superintendent of Parks. 

The purchased site consisted of allotments interspersed with public footpaths with the unprotected river to the north and Putney Bridge Road to the south.  To the east was the industrial area of Point Pleasant; while to the west were the rear of the buildings on Deodar Road and the edge of the Putney residential area. 

Due to the amount of traffic using Putney Bridge Road at the time, the Metropolitan Borough Council took the step of widening the road to 50 feet, thus defining the southern park boundary. Following this, work commenced to deal with the river frontage, which, at the time of purchase, was a natural riverbank exposed to the tidal river. Softwood piles were driven in during 1901 and backfilled to form a river promenade, with an iron railing following the piled edge. Once completed, the work on the layout of the Park itself proceeded. 

The design was influenced by a move away from the very labour-intensive schemes of the Victorian era and a rise in the interest of organised sport from the 1880s onwards.  This resulted in the centre of the Park being laid out as a playing field and ornamental planting being concentrated in the south eastern corner. 

In the 1920s the bowling green pavilion and tennis courts were added and in 1955 the flat roofed brick shelter.  In the late 1990s the park saw a number of minor changes with the removal of various storage and park buildings along the eastern park boundary and the construction of a sports pavilion adjacent to the bowling green.

The centenary of the Park was celebrated in February 2003 by the planting of a memorial tree and the unveiling of a plaque in the south-eastern corner of the park by the Mayor, Councillor Leslie McDonnell.

Within the same area and at the entrance to the Park replacement bow-top railings were installed and the central rose bed was replaced by traditional seasonal bedding displays.  In addition, period style replacement seats were introduced throughout the Park.  

Brief Description (from the London Historic Parks and Gardens Trust): See EH Register listing.

Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (WaL03) (Greater London Authority/London Borough of Wandsworth November 2002): Wandsworth Park is classified as a Site of Local Importance. The habitat is parkland. 

An attractive and well used formal park in an Area of Deficiency for accessible wildlife sites. Mature trees and dense shrubberies provide habitat for common birds, and the location beside the Thames attracts passing migrants in addition to the resident birds.

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