Items below were inspired by a book "Secrets of Wimbledon Common
and Putney Heath" by Clive Wichelow
Wildcroft Manor is surrounded by thousands of acres of Wimbledon Common and
Putney Heath. For many residents and visitors this is a welcome open space,
set with paths and ponds and woods. Suitable for walking dogs and
entertaining children. For others, the place resonates with history,
and the following snippets try to explain why.
 | Imagine the thunder of hooves and the excitement of
horseracing. You might think of Epsom or Sandown. In 1667 Samuel Pepys recorded that
the King and Duke of
York had gone to Putney Heath to "run some horses". Such
races on the Heath and Common were organised through the centuries until March 10th 1862, and
included the prestigious King's Plate trophy. |
| Rifle Shots echoing across the Common? In 1684 King Charles
II had inspected his troops on Putney Heath. Nearly a century later King
George III had reviewed his Guards and the Surrey Volunteers. Queen
Victoria opened the first National Rifle Association Meeting on the
Common in 1860. Four years later participants and
spectators might have travelled across the Common on the horse-drawn tram. |
| It was the same King George who, with his wife Queen Charlotte, had
breakfasted in Wildcroft Manor, whilst a fire raged on the floor
below. Inadvertent regicide was only avoided by the use of copper and
iron sheets between the floors, as David Hartley dramatically demonstrated
his fire-proof house. |
| Many other monarchs would have been familiar with these open
grounds. Once, the inhabitants of Wimbledon were taxed with a one-off
supplement of one shilling
and 8 pence for the re-gravelling of the roads so that Queen Elizabeth I could
ride her carriage to Putney - with as few jolts as possible. |
| Near to the present Wildcroft Manor is the Telegraph pub.
Originally opened as a beer shop in the 1850's it became a licenced Inn in
1861. It was named after the adjacent mechanical Telegraph
Station which belonged to the Admiralty. This was one of a
chain of such signal stations, built in 1796, stretching from Central London
to Portsmouth via Chelsea, Putney and on through Kingston to the Portsmouth
Naval Base. These were towers with six shutters, later replaced by
taller towers with just two moveable arms. The communication system
worked, but was replaced by the electric telegraph in 1847. The latter
was quicker and also worked at night - and in fog! |
| Farming on the Common. Well into the 20th century there were
several working farms on Wimbledon Common. One of these, Newlands
Farm, was established back in mediaeval times. In the 19th
century it supplied wheat to be ground in the Wimbledon
Windmill. Part of the farm was sold in 1891 for use as Putney
Vale Cemetery - whilst another part of the farm still provides food to
locals - being the site of the modern day Asda supermarket. |
| Fighting on the Heath? Bare-knuckle fighting provided mass
entertainment (and more gambling opportunities) through the 18th and 19th
Centuries - even though it had been declared illegal in 1750. It was
patronised by the nobility and the authorities frequently turned a
blind-eye. Some of the more memorable fights on the common
included the one between Belcher and Gamble on Dec 22 1800, as well as the
July 15 1801 fight between Tom Jones and Elias the Jew. The prize
money could be equivalent to a year's wages, but the fighting was rough, for
the Queensbury Rules of boxing were only introduced in 1867. |
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