How the river built the town
The town is one of the five town centres of the London Borough of Wandsworth. It lies between Clapham Junction to the east and Putney to the west, on the Wandle as it flows north into the Thames. The old roads focus on the river crossing, and the clean, fast water drew trade and industry from early on. From the Middle Ages the town was one of the main industrial centres around London, with industry powered by the River Wandle. Domesday Book spells the name Wandesorde and Wendlesorde. The town and the river share a root, the Old English Wendlesworth, meaning Wendle's Settlement.
In the late 1600s, the town gave refuge to Huguenot craftsmen. These French Protestants fled persecution under Louis XIV, set up a French church and brought hat making to the town. Their burial ground at Mount Nod, between East Hill and Huguenot Place, was used from 1687 to 1854. It's now a public green space, with several Grade II listed tombs restored in 2021.
By the 19th century, the town had snuff mills, silk printing, felt making and the world's largest calico bleaching works.
A brass plaque on Barchard Street calls the Surrey Iron Railway the first public railway in England, "probably in the world". On the plaque's account, horses pulled goods wagons nearly nine miles from Croydon to the Wandle. It dates the line from 1803 to 1846. Some of its stone sleepers are set in the wall below.
Choosing a green space
| Wandsworth Park | King George's Park | Wandsworth Common | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setting | Edwardian park with river views | 55 acres along the Wandle | Woods, lakes and heath |
| History | Laid out by the London County Council | Opened in 1923 | Common land, protected by law |
| For children | Play area | Three play areas and an adventure playground | Four playgrounds |
Wandsworth Park is on Putney Bridge Road. An avenue of London plane trees gives shade and a view of the wide river, with boats and birds to watch. There's a café and a putting green by the play area. The park was laid out on old allotments and market gardens.
King George's Park runs from the town centre to Earlsfield, and the Wandle forms part of its eastern edge. The Wandle Trail goes through it on its way along the Wandle valley, and you can walk or cycle it. It also has a lake, a leisure centre, a bowling green and tennis. It was first called "Southfields Park", and unemployed soldiers laid it out. The lake area was once the garden of a local mill-owning family.
Wandsworth Common is the place for open, natural landscape, and the law protects commons more strongly than other parks. In Northside Field, look for the remains of an 1837 smock mill, the Common's only listed building. It once pumped water from the railway cutting into an ornamental lake called the Black Sea. That lake was later filled in to make way for housing. The Lady Allen Playground is designed mainly for children with special needs, and other local children can use it at certain times. The Friends of Wandsworth Common ask visitors not to have barbecues, as they burn the grass.
At the mouth of the Wandle, The Spit is a tiny nature reserve, about 50 m long, with three large white willows. It was laid out in 2001.
Heritage that takes planning
- Wandsworth Prison Museum holds uniforms, documents and objects such as an original lock and key of the jail. The Crime & Punishment Collections Network lists it as open by appointment only, with an email address for enquiries, in a listing last updated in 2022. It's in the North Gate car park on Heathfield Road, not inside the prison. A Welcome to Wandsworth listing for a museum open weekend gave a recommended age of 18+.
- The Old Burial Ground on Garratt Lane took burials from the 1830s to the 1930s. It's now a public park.
- Wandsworth Town Hall was built in 1935 to 1937 and is Grade II listed.
Wandsworth Heritage Festival
The Wandsworth Heritage Festival runs once a year across the borough. It's a programme of walks, talks, exhibitions and shows about local history. Check the festival page for current dates.
Getting there
Wandsworth Town station is in Travelcard Zone 2, with trains to London Waterloo in under 15 minutes. Check the operator's station page for step-free access before you travel.
The River Bus stops at Wandsworth Riverside Quarter Pier, a 15-minute walk from the station. The pier isn't accessible for prams, mobility scooters or wheelchairs, so the operator suggests Putney Pier instead. It has a ticket machine and Oyster readers but no staffed ticket office.
Shopping and leisure
Southside is the town's shopping centre, with a 14-screen cinema and a multi-storey car park. Its access page lists lifts to all areas, disabled parking bays, wheelchair hire and Shopmobility.
Card photo: Tree Avenues at North of Wandsworth Park by Doyle of London, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (resized).
