Merton
The River Wandle runs through the London Borough of Merton, whose name derives from the ancient parish of Merton, centred around St. Mary’s in Merton Park. Merton appears in the Domesday Book as Meretone, which is thought to mean farm by the mere (a small lake).
Along the Merton section of The Wandle Trail, there’s a wealth of fascinating places to visit. Wandle Meadow Nature Park was once a sewage works but is now a nature reserve. For weekend arts and crafts shopping, there’s Merton Abbey Mills, formerly used by Liberty’s Print Works. Deen City Farm is a great place for young people to learn where their food comes from. The National Trust runs Morden Hall Park, a tranquil country estate with renovated snuff mill.
History abounds in Merton. In 1236 under Henry III, Merton Priory was the seat of the first recorded parliament. It was demolished in 1538 as part of Henry VII’s dissolution of the monasteries, but remains can still be seen from the foot tunnel under Meratun Way, near Sainsbury’s.
In 1802, Admiral Lord Nelson bought Merton Place and loved to spend time there with Lady Hamilton.
From the 17th century, the River Wandle powered mills driving a developing textile industry – at Merton Abbey, a silk manufacturing works and later a calico-printing factory. Renowned Arts and Crafts designer, William Morris, established a textile printing factory in 1881.
Other Merton industries included flour-milling, copper and iron-working, brazil wood and snuff-milling, and leather-working, with goods being taken to the Thames along the horse-drawn Surrey Iron Railway from 1803.
