Wimbledon Common facts for kids
| Site of Special Scientific Interest | |
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| Area of Search | Greater London |
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| Interest | Biological |
| Area | 346.5 hectares |
| Notification | 1986 |
| Location map | Magic Map |
Wimbledon Common is a big open space in Wimbledon, southwest London. It includes three main areas: Wimbledon Common, Putney Heath, and Putney Lower Common. Together, these areas are known as Wimbledon and Putney Commons. They cover a huge area of 460 hectares (about 1,140 acres). Putney Lower Common is a bit separate, about 1 mile (1.6 km) away from the main part.
Contents
Exploring Wimbledon and Putney Commons
Wimbledon Common, along with Putney Heath and Putney Lower Common, is protected by a special law from 1871. This law stops anyone from building on it or fencing it off. The common is for everyone to enjoy for fun activities. It also protects the plants and animals that live there.
Nature and Wildlife
This area has the largest amount of heathland in London. Heathland is an open space with small shrubs and grasses. There is also a bog area with rare plants. The western parts of the common have thick woodlands. These woods grow on London Clay soil. The Commons are also a very important home for the stag beetle.
Most of the Common is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. This means it is a special place for nature. It is also a Special Area of Conservation under European rules. This helps protect its unique habitats. English Nature works with the people who manage the common to keep it healthy. Wimbledon Common and Putney Heath are also important for nature in London.
Who Looks After the Commons?
The Commons are managed by eight people called Conservators. Five of them are chosen by local people every three years. The other three are picked by government groups. These groups include the Department of the Environment, the Ministry of Defence, and the Home Office.
The Conservators have a team to help them. This team includes a Clerk and Ranger, a Deputy, and a Wildlife & Conservation Officer. There are also seven Mounted Keepers who ride horses to keep everyone safe. Two groundsmen look after the sports fields. Six maintenance workers and one property worker help keep everything in good shape. In total, about 23 people work to care for the Commons.
The Conservators manage a budget of about £1 million each year. Most of this money comes from a yearly fee. This fee is paid by houses within 0.75 miles (1.2 km) of the Commons. People who pay this fee can vote for the elected Conservators. These houses are in three London areas: Merton, Wandsworth (which includes Putney), and Kingston.
A Bit of History
In 1864, the owner of Wimbledon manor, Earl Spencer, wanted to build on the Common. He tried to pass a special law to turn it into a park with houses. But people fought against this idea. It was a big moment for protecting common land in England. His plan was stopped. Instead, a group of Conservators was set up in 1871. Their job was to own the common and keep it natural.
The windmill is a famous landmark near the middle of Wimbledon Common. The border between Wimbledon and Putney Common runs right past it. Here, Robert Baden-Powell wrote parts of his famous book, Scouting for Boys, in 1908. This book started the Scouting movement.
In the 1800s, the windmill was the main office for the National Rifle Association. Many people came to watch their shooting competitions every July. These events were very popular. The Association moved in 1889 because the area became too small for their growing events. They moved to a new place near Bisley, Surrey.
Ponds and Streams
There are two wide, shallow ponds on the higher parts of Wimbledon Common called Kingsmere and Rushmere. They were likely created when gravel was dug up from the ground. Queensmere is a bit deeper and is in a small valley. These ponds were sometimes called "Pen Ponds."
Beverley Brook flows along the western edge of Wimbledon Common. This stream used to be the old boundary for southwest London. Near Beverley Brook are two Local Nature Reserves. These are Farm Bog and Fishpond Wood and Beverley Meads. They are managed by the London Wildlife Trust.
Ancient History at Caesar's Camp
At the southern end of the common, there are remains of an Iron Age hill fort. It is called Caesar's Camp. This area is also used by the Royal Wimbledon Golf Club, but there is a public path through it. People think this fort was used mostly between 600 and 400 BC. There is some proof that the Romans attacked it. This might have happened during the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 44. It could have been taken by the Roman army under Vespasian. The site might have been settled even earlier, in the Bronze Age. Sadly, parts of it were destroyed in 1875.
During World War One, a part of the common called The Plain was used as an air base. It was one of ten bases protecting London. Before 1914, people used to fly model airplanes here.
Exploring Putney Heath
Putney Heath has a long history. King Charles II reviewed his soldiers here in 1684. In 1767, King George III also reviewed his Guards here. Later, in 1799, he reviewed the Surrey Volunteers at the same spot. In 1961, a monument was put up to mark 300 years of the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment. According to Samuel Pepys, King Charles II and his brother, the Duke of York, used to race horses on the heath.
The Fireproof House Obelisk
A stone and brick monument was built on Putney Heath in 1770. It marked 110 years since the Great Fire of London. It also celebrated the invention of fireproof plates by David Hartley. His fireproof house was built nearby. The bottom part of this house was set on fire many times to show it was safe. Kings and Queens, members of Parliament, and the Lord Mayor watched these tests. The monument is still there today. It is a Grade II listed building, meaning it is historically important.
Famous Residents and Duels
Many duels, which were formal fights, happened on Putney Heath. In 1798, William Pitt, who was the Prime Minister, fought a duel here. He lived in Bowling-Green House on the heath. This house was famous for its parties in the summer. Pitt died in this house in 1806. Another famous duel happened in 1809 between two government ministers, George Canning and Lord Castlereagh.
Scio House was a large house near the heath. It later became a hospital for officers. Now, it is a group of modern homes.
Putney Heath is about 160 hectares (400 acres) in size. It is about 45 meters (148 feet) above sea level. Because it is high up, it was used for a shutter telegraph chain from 1796 to 1816. This system sent messages from London to naval ships in Portsmouth. Later, a semaphore line worked here from 1822 to 1847.
Historical Figures and Landmarks
Thomas Cromwell, a powerful statesman who worked for Henry VIII, was born near the north side of the heath around 1485. His birthplace was once a cottage called "the smith's shop." Today, the Green Man public house stands on that spot.
For many years, the heath was a place where highwaymen, who robbed travelers, would hide. In 1795, a famous highwayman named Jeremiah Abershaw was caught at a pub on the heath. After he was executed, his body was hung in a cage on the heath as a warning. This spot is now known as Jerry's Hill. It can be seen from the A3 road near Putney Vale.
At Tibbet's Corner, there is an old wooden fence called a cattle pound. It was used to hold lost farm animals. This simple structure is also a Grade II listed building. Many grand homes used to line Putney Hill and the north side of the heath. These included Grantham House, Ripon House, Ashburton House, and Exeter House. Grantham House had a big fountain. Across the road, there was a large, shallow pond for ice skating.
In the 1890s, Putney Heath became a popular place for wealthy people from the city to live. J. P. Morgan, a famous US financier, owned Dover House at one time.
At the top of Putney Hill, there was a house called Bath House. In 1926, it became the Ross Institute and Hospital for Tropical Diseases. It was founded by Ronald Ross, who discovered that malaria is spread by mosquitoes. He won the Nobel Prize for his discovery in 1902. After he died, the hospital became part of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. Bath House was later taken down, and flats were built there. They were named Ross Court to remember its history.
Cricket and Recreation
The village green at Wildcroft and Telegraph roads is still used by Roehampton Cricket Club. This club started in 1842 and has played here since 1859. The club has two teams that play in a league. J. P. Morgan became an honorary member of the club in 1900. The famous explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton also visited the club.
The Chelsea Water Company used to own the land where the cricket pavilion is. Cricket games continued during World War II. In July 1944, a German V-1 flying bomb destroyed the club's pavilion. American soldiers would sometimes stop here to watch the "crazy cricket game."
Every October, a funfair is set up on a large open area near the reservoir. The company that runs the fair pays rent to the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators. This money helps support the common.
Sports and Fun Activities
In August 1730, a cricket match was played between teams from Putney and Fulham. It was played for "50 guineas per side."
The Old Central School in southwest Wimbledon Common had a football team. They played on the common and used a local pub as their changing room. This club later became Wimbledon F.C.. Fulham F.C. also played their home games on Putney Lower Common in 1885–1886.
The Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields are part of the Commons. They have football and rugby pitches for local schools and clubs. They are home to London Cornish RFC and host the yearly National Schools Sevens rugby tournament. Many other sports, like Australian Rules Football and Ultimate Frisbee, are also played here.
Hampton and Richmond Borough Juniors FC play their home matches near the Richmond Park entrance on Sunday mornings.
A Parkrun happens on the common every Saturday morning. Over 300 runners usually complete the 5-kilometer course. It starts and finishes at the Windmill.
Today, the Common is a popular place for cycling, jogging, and walking. It is home to The Wimbledon Common Golf Club and London Scottish Golf Club. The first University Golf Match was played on Wimbledon Common in 1878. The Common is also the base for Thames Hare and Hounds, the oldest cross country running club in the world. They host the yearly cross-country race between Oxford and Cambridge Universities.
The Commons also have about 16 miles (26 km) of paths for horse riding.
Keepers of the Common
The Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act of 1871 allows the Conservators to have officers who act like police. These officers, called Keepers, can make sure the rules of the Act and any local laws are followed.
In the past, there was some debate about giving these officers full police powers. But the final law only allowed them to enforce the rules of the Common. Keepers can also arrest someone if they break a rule and refuse to give their correct details.
A film from 1959 showed the Keepers dressed in bowler hats and tweed jackets. It showed them being inspected by their boss before going out to deal with summer fires and check on golfers.
Local Area Guide
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Putney Vale, Richmond Park | Putney Heath | Southfields | |
| Kingston Vale, Coombe, Richmond Park |  |
Wimbledon | ||
 Wimbledon Common  |
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| Coombe, New Malden | Raynes Park | Wimbledon Chase |
Images for kids
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Near Windmill
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Windmill Cafe
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War Memorial
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Rushmere Pond
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Queensmere
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Ranger's Lodge
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Windmill & Ranger's Office
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An athlete from Belgrave Harriers trains near Rushmere
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Bluegate Pond
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Seven Post Pond
