The estate of Merton in Surrey was in existence from
the late Saxon period onwards. It comprised of several farms, a hamlet along
the thoroughfare (now Kingston Road) and a village with church further east. A
Saxon timer chapel had stood where in 1115 Gilbert the Norman founded the
church. He also founded Merton Priory in 1117 further east on the edge of the
estate across the river Wandle. The manor originally didn't feature a manor
house. Manor Farm was expanded with an annex to house the lord of the manor for
his infrequent visits. The farm was remodelled as a proper manor house after
1835 by the then owner, businessman John Innes. He has a park laid out around
his stately home with a lodge at the entrance to the grounds.
This period also saw the
suburbanisation of the area around London, starting in Middlesex and Southwark,
but quickly expanding into Surrey. The railway between Wimbledon and Croydon,
opened in 1855, had a station at Lower Merton from 1968 onwards. It is now the
tram halt Merton Park. Pre-empting the opening of the station John Innes bought
extra land at Lower Merton with the aim of developing it for housing. The concept for a suburb in the area on both sides of
the new railway involved attractive, picturesque, artistic and varied buildings
set among grass, trees and shrubs. This makes John Innes' "Merton Park
Estate" the first garden suburb in London. The “garden suburb” was
conceived as a socially mixed development, with small cottages (either terraced
or semi detached) mixed with villas in various parts of the estate.
Three new
straight roads were laid out by Innes (Dorset Road, Mostyn Road and Sheridan
Road) in 1870
and 1871, in anticipation of suburban development. Part of Sheridan Road
followed the line of an older footpath, part of which survives today crossing
the railway line/tramline. After this Melrose Road and the eastern part of
Langley Road were constructed, as well as Kingswood Road north of Kingston
Road. Mayfield road was laid out in 1877. Most of these new roads included avenues
of trees (Planes and Chestnuts). Holly hedges were used to define each plot.
Development however was slow to start. The first phase of development (1870-76),
consisted of large Victorian villas and small cottages, of fairly conventional
design. The architect of the first buildings is thought to be RB Marsh, who
worked for Innes between 1870 and 1873. He was followed by Henry Goodall
Quartermain, who worked for him from 1873 until his death in 1904.
The housing estate of
Merton Park (shown in yellow) integrated older footpaths and country lanes
(shown in orange). Merton Village (MV), the hamlet of The Rush (TR) and Dorset
Hall (DH) were avoided. The first streets to be built are in the east (shown in
red) the later streets are shown in dark red and connect to pre-existing lanes
and streets from phase 1. In phase 2 some older lanes are cut off (for instance
on the north side). The Manor Park lies at the side of the development. Other landholdings
were developed separately: Merton Hill Farm (MHF), Bakersend Farm (BEF) and
Henfield Villa (HV).
By the end of
the 1890s, development along the south side of Kingston Road is almost
complete. Between
1900 and 1914 most of the new development took place at western end of the
suburb in Watery Lane and Manor Gardens. In 1910 a new school was built at the
end of Church Lane. Empty plots along this street and the first residential
roads were also filled in. During the 1920s this process continues until the
whole section south of Kingston Road is developed for housing. North of
Kingston Road most of Mayfield and Kingswood Roads had been completely
developed by 1890. In 1897 development on a larger scale starts with a more
planned set up, starting with a curved street (Winton Crescent) and a straight
street (Wilton Grove) that connects to an older path that ran in front of
Henfield Villa. The grounds of Henfield Villa were developed in the 1920s as a
series of parallel streets as was customary in Victorian times.
Merton Park Estate
has a irregular layout compared to the typical Victorian housing development. The
housing is varied and ranges from freestanding villas to semidetached houses
and long terraces. This mix creates an attractive almost village-like feel in
this development. This was always the aim as the development is romantic and
anti-urban in character. The eastern boundary is the train track with Merton
Park Station (MPS). The estate is monofunctional with only housing and special
functions around the edges. The earlier Fairlawn Villas (FV), the public house
(PH) and the former Nelson Hospital (NH) are at the western edge. In the south
the village of Merton with the Church of Saint Mary (SM) with graveyard, a
village green (VG), vicarage (V), community hall (H), playing fields (PF) and
two schools (S) and the adjoining St Mary's Cottages form a separate entity.
The same is true of the former manor park with the Manor House (MH), Merton
Cottage (MC) and the Lodge (L) at what was once the entrance drive.
The manor park
was first developed by adding a school and sports pitches. The manor house
itself was converted into a school in 1945. The former manor park is now the
John Innes Park. The southern section was the site of the John Innes Institute
from 1910 until it was moved to Hertfordshire in 1945 and the site was
redeveloped for a large school (Rutlish School for Boys). There has been more
redevelopment in other places. Some are in keeping with their surroundings
other clash notably. Although six different architects were employed to design
the buildings at Merton Park - RB Marsh, HG Quartermain, JS Brocklesby, T
Newell, LS Sullivan and V Farrier- the estate has a recognisable aesthetic and
spacious setup that differentiates it from its suburban surroundings. The whole
estate is a conservation area.
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