Conferences
Simon NcNeill-Ritchie, Director of Surface Doctor and member of Wandsworth Historical Society
Wandsworth’s history goes back to the Romans and there is still evidence of this: Stone Street is a Roman road. A lot of its history relates to the rivers: the river Wendel runs from Croydon and joins the river Thames at Wandsworth.
In the Domesday Book, Wandsworth is listed as being seven miles from London. It was primarily an agricultural area with water mills used for milling corn and for fulling (bleaching fabric). The Huguenots fled persecution in 17th century France and set up businesses in the area which made Wandsworth prosperous. These businesses included making fine felt hats which were supplied for Cardinals at the Vatican.
Later the water mills and windmills were used for making paper and gunpowder. As Croydon grew it drew water off the head of the Wendel.
There are now 34 bridges crossing the Thames, but in the 18th century there wasn’t a bridge between Brentford (Kew) and London Bridge. Sir Robert Walpole was responsible for the building of the Putney Bridge which was opened in 1729 and there was a toll at either end. This is the only bridge to have a church at either end: St Mary’s and Saints.
In 1770 the area was still pastoral and some of the current street names refer to this time: Lavender Hill and Springfield being examples.
Several prominent buildings were built because of Wandsworth’s proximity to London: Springfield Hospital, Surrey House of Correction (1851), Royal Victoria Patriotic Asylum which was for orphan girls of the Crimean War and later was a hospital for the TA in the First World War
The railways arrived in the early 19th century and between 1850 and 1930 there was a huge population explosion. There was a rise in buildings, some of which were privately funded. In 1903 the local council built houses and in 1923 Wandsworth Metropolitan Council opened houses and parks.
In World War II refugees trying to get to Britain were held by MI5 in one place (males and females kept separately). The Patriotic Hospital was used as an interrogation centre. Six spies were found through this process and three of them were sent to Wandsworth prison and executed.
In 1965 local government re-organisation meant that Tooting, Putney, Battersea and Wandsworth came in to one borough. The borough’s coat of arms depicts the area’s history:
the waves represent the Saxon invaders, there are tears of the Huguenots, the dove of peace carrying lavender, the dragon with crosses for the Corporation of London and the four parishes depicted in the shield, four oars, four stars and four crosses.