Barnes Common facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Barnes Common
Broom on Barnes Common
Type	Common land
Location	Barnes, London
Area	49.55 hectares (122.4 acres)
Open	All year
Status	Local Nature Reserve

Barnes Common is a special nature spot in Barnes, London, England. It's a large open space, also known as common land, which means it's land that people can use. It sits right next to Putney Lower Common and has a big road, the Upper Richmond Road, on its south side. Barnes Common is one of the biggest open spaces in London, covering about 49.55 hectares (that's like 122 football fields!) of protected land. It's also a local nature reserve, which means it's a place where nature is protected and people can enjoy it. You can find a full-size football pitch and a nature trail here.

The common has different kinds of trees, bushes, and grassy areas. It's mostly flat and is owned by St Paul's Cathedral. The local council, the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, helps manage it, with advice from a group called Barnes Common Limited.

There's a small area called Mill Hill inside the Common, which has eleven large houses. Three of these houses are very old and important, known as listed buildings.

Getting to Barnes Common

You can easily reach Barnes Common by public transport. Barnes railway station is located right on the edge of the common. Several London Buses routes also serve the area, including routes 33, 72, 265 and 485.

A Look Back in Time

The Story of Marc Bolan

A famous singer and rock musician named Marc Bolan passed away on Barnes Common on September 16, 1977. He was a passenger in a car that crashed into a tree near Gipsy Lane on Queens Ride. Today, this spot is known as Marc Bolan's Rock Shrine, where fans remember him.

An Old Cricket Match

Long ago, in August 1736, Barnes Common was the site of an exciting cricket match. Teams from Surrey and London played here. This is the only time that old cricket records mention a game being played on Barnes Common.

Barnes Common Limited

Legal status	Not-for-profit membership organisation
Headquarters	Barnes Common, Barnes, London SW13 0HT
Main organ	On the Common (newsletter)
Affiliations	affiliated to Barnes Community Association and associated with the South West London Environment Network
Staff	none