Morden Hall Park
Morden Hall Park (NT) is full of surprises. To get to the estate from Morden Tube Station, cross the road into Aberconway Road, and after a few minutes you will see the estate wall and entrance ahead. The first discovery is some estate farm buildings, including a small, whitewashed cowshed. On a grander scale, the stable yard on the left has an ornamental arch topped by traditional clock and a bell which let workers know when to start and stop work.
Opposite are the charming old buildings of the old Snuff Mill, with its (unrestored) waterwheel. I saw a water wagtail here. Huge millstones lie around. They were in use until 1922. Nearby are two bridges, with delicate ironwork. One (no access) leads to the formal gardens of Morden Hall, now a Beefeater Restaurant. The other is excellent for playing Pooh sticks, as the Wandle flows in controlled fashion here.For those who do not wish to eat a picnic on the river bank there is a café in the old walled garden nearby. Imaginatively, this is also now used as a garden centre, so keeping up the tradition of nurturing plants.
The National Trust parkland is reached via a shady path which passes the Hall. Keep the Wandle on your right. The 125 acres where the river meanders supports all kinds of wildlife. I didn’t see a kingfisher which are apparently around, but did admire a beautiful damsel fly. The park is on the flood plain of the Wandle, so there is extensive wetland with bullrushes etc. as well as meadowland conserved by traditional hay cutting.
If you wish, you can continue walking along the Wandle up to Merton Abbey Mills, the rural sounds from the Deen City Farm being occasionally counterbalanced by the noise of a high-speed tram on its way to Croydon. Incidentally, the tramlines are completely ungated, like a country level crossing - so take special care if you have children with you.
From Merton Abbey Mills a few minutes’ walk will take you to Colliers Wood Tube. ( For further info see that entry.)
If you are travelling south outside peak hours you will have to change at Kennington to pick up a Morden train - usually a very quick and easy connection.
MAP
Morden is just one walk from the many to be found at London Tube Rambles. There are architectural gems, beautiful country views, historic places and whacky buildings to be found, even in the most unpromising areas covered by the Greater London Underground stations. Usually the places listed are within a mile of the Tube - often only five minutes walk away. If you reached this as an individual page via a search engine, you might like to go to www.londontuberambles.co.uk to see the other destinations explored . You'll be amazed at what's out there!
© DR2006