The History of Wandsworth Common

Last modified 20 October 2026

Chronicles
August 2026

You may recall at the start of last month's Chronicles an image of Mount Nod, the "Huguenot Burial Ground" at the top of East Hill. Here are two more, from the same point of view. The image above is from the end of the 19th century, the one below from twenty or so years earlier.

I had intended to write next about the house top right, but then I noticed the headstone in the foreground of the 1896 image and got completely waylaid:

Not very clear, is it? Indeed, it's impossible to make out from this poor reproduction the precise wording, but thanks to J. Traviss Squire's meticulous transcriptions in the 1880s, we know exactly what was inscribed there:

Here lyeth the Body of Mrs. Elizabeth Vanderhoven,

who Departed this life the 14th of March, 1749, Aged 74 years.

Also here lyeth the Body of her beloved Friend Mrs. Judith Grolleau,

who died the 3rd of Nov. 1750, Aged 61 Years.

How common was it for "beloved friends" to share a grave? So far as I know, not very.

We also know from Squire's transcriptions of wills that Judith Grolleau directed her body to be buried in “Wandsworth burial-ground commonly called Mount Nod” , which is the earliest known use of the name "Mount Nod" in a legal document.

[So far as I know, this gravestone, which two women share, has never been discussed in any detail. For example John Traviss Squire does not comment on it, and it is not mentioned on the post-restoration plaques. Indeed, is the stone still there? Is it legible? I must check. Or perhaps somebody could take a look for me?]

Two women in a shared grave

It's hard to know for certain the significance of two (biologically unrelated) women being buried together, which of course suggests a great intimacy.

There are some now widely-reported figures, such as the "Ladies of Llangollen", two upper-class Irish women, Lady Eleanor Butler (1739–1829) and Miss Sarah Ponsonby (1755–1831), who eloped to live together in a romantic partnership in Wales.

And there's a remarkable medieval example in this intriguing memorial brass, set into the floor of a side aisle in Etchingham Church in East Sussex, c.1480. Two women stand side by side looking into each other's eyes — rather than, as was common in married couple memorial brasses, looking forward towards the viewer.

Some scholars see strong evidence of a romantic or even sexual relationship in such shared graves. For example Baylee Woodley's Queer Art History blog (6 May 2021), opens with the line "Etchingham Parish and The Brass of Agnes Oxenbridge and Elizabeth Etchingham is where this art historian dreams of making a lesbian pilgrimage."

But others are not quite so persuaded. Clearly it's difficult to draw firm lines between companionship, affectionate friendship, romantic attachment, and a sexual relationship. For example, the vocabulary of the 18th and 19th centuries allowed women to express very powerful love and devotion to one another without necessarily defining the relationship in sexual terms.

This raises many interesting questions that may be relevant to our Mount Nod couple, which has never (so far as I know) entered the literature, so I've created a separate page to collect Notes on the Etchingham-Oxenbridge Brass, c.1480.

Where there's a will . . . 

John Traviss Squire's summary of Judith Grolleau's will is worth elaborating, so here's a transcription of the whole text. (I have highlighted some passages in italics.) Squire had not been able to locate Mrs Vanderhoven's will, though see below.

Judith Grolleau

In the Name of God Amen

I Judith Grolleau of Knightsbridge in the County of Middlesex, Spinster, being of sound Mind and Memory, do make and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following.

First, I commend my Soul into the Hands of Almighty God, trusting in his Mercy for all my Sins through the Merits of his blessed Son our Saviour Jesus Christ; and I do commit my Body to the Earth, to be decently buried in the Wandsworth Burial Ground commonly called Mount Nod.

And I hereby appoint my Nephew Mr David Lloyd, with whom I now live, Executor of this my Will; as to such Worldly Estate with which it hath pleased God to bless me, I give and bequeath the same (after payment of all my just Debts and Funeral Expenses) as follows: First, I give to each of my late Sister Fourdrinier's children as shall be living at my Death, two Guineas.

And also to my Goddaughter Judith Fourdrinier, my half-pint Silver Mug, which was left me by the late Mrs Vanderhoven.

Item, I give to my [dear] Mrs Lloyd, Wife of my said Executor, my Gold Watch and Chain, to be by her enjoyed during her Life, but after her Death I give and bequeath the same to her Daughter Miss Maria Lloyd, if then living.

Item, I give to the said Mrs Lloyd my Diamond Ring and all my Plate (except the Mug above bequeathed); and my Will and desire further is that the same may be at her sole Disposal at the time of her Death, notwithstanding her being then under Coverture of Marriage *.

And as to all the Rest and Remainder of my Estate and Effects whatsoever and wheresoever that I shall die possessed of or entitled unto, I give and bequeath the same to my said Executor Mr David Lloyd, his Executors and Assigns for ever.

And I hereby revoke all former Wills heretofore by me made, ratifying and declaring this to be my last Will and Testament. In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal this twentieth day of August, one thousand seven hundred and fifty.

Ju: Grolleau

Signed, sealed, published and declared by the within-named Testatrix to be her last Will and Testament, in the Presence of us who subscribed our Names in the Presence of the said Testatrix.

Ann Ledcier — John Waterfall

This Will was proved at London the sixth day of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fifty, before the Worshipful John Bettesworth, Doctor of Laws and Surrogate of the Right Worshipful John Bettesworth, also Doctor of Laws, Master Keeper or Commissary of the Prerogative Court of Canterbury, lawfully constituted; by the Oath of David Lloyd the sole Executor in the said Will named, to whom Administration was granted of all and singular the Goods, Chattels and Credits of the said deceased, being first sworn duly to administer, etc.

[* Coverture of marriage: an old English common law doctrine that merged a married woman's legal identity into that of her husband. Wikipedia: Coverture.]

"My half-pint Silver Mug"

Arguably, the "half-pint Silver Mug" is a real find. By implication, a cup or mug may represent great intimacy since it touches the lips of the drinker. Elizabeth Vanderhoven had died in March 1749, and Judith Grolleau had written her will in the following August. By then Judith Grolleau still had, and was keeping, a silver mug that had been Elizabeth's. It was cherished enough to pass on by name to her own goddaughter Judith Fourdrinier, rather than simply lumped in with "all my Plate" (which goes to Mrs Lloyd instead). This is a small detail that does a lot of work: it shows the bond outlasted Elizabeth's death and mattered enough to be written into a legal document.

Late-breaking news - found it!

Until a few hours before I sent out this month's Chronicles, I knew nothing of Elizabeth Vanderhoven's will, or indeed whether she had made one. But thanks to Ancestry.co.uk, I was able to find a copy.

A full transcription, with commentary, is now published: Elizabeth Vanderhoven's will, 1749. See also September's Chronicles.

Also hot off the press

[Well, it was piping hot when I drafted it, but it's still nice and warm.]

The authors, all London guides, profile over 80 women connected to the borough. It’s a lovely, lively mix of past and present, and women active in many different fields: Entrepreneurs, Writers, Scientists, Artists, Activists, Entertainers, Educators and Sportswomen.

Out of curiosity, I used the indexes to make an alphabetical/geographical list of the women included, and added links where I've written about them myself:

Key: Bm = Balham | Ba = Battersea | E = Earlsfield | N = Nine Elms | P = Putney | R = Roehampton | S = Southfields | T = Tooting | W = Wandsworth Town

This really is a wonderful list, many of whom were new to me. Warmly recommended.

I’m particularly pleased to see that Jeanne Rathbone is included in the book. As I’ve said many times before, she's has been indefatigable in honouring previously unrecognised women of Battersea, for example by erecting plaques on or near their homes. Jeanne’s Inspirational Women of Battersea (2022) is itself inspirational, and contains some women who have been left out of the current volume, which has a larger geographical spread.

You must read Jeanne's supercharged blog.

Going further . . . 

Extraordinary Wandsworth Women started me thinking about other women in our area whose life and work greatly interests me. In a few cases, I've added a link.

Louisa Sarah Bevington, anarchist, poet, lived on St John's Hill. (I was pleased to see a good introduction to LSB by Janice Morphet in the latest Battersea Matters.)

Joan Bicknell, first woman professor of psychiatry, specialist in treatment of mentally disabled people, worked at Springfield Hospital, St George's

Angela Carter, novelist and essayist, grew up on Ravenslea Road, attended Hearnville School and then Streatham Hill and Clapham High School,

Irene Caudwell, playwright, historian, memoirist, associated with St Anne's Church, lived Spencer Park and Earlsfield Road

Miss Champion, philanthropist, lived Bolingbroke Grove [and Nightingale Lane?]

Marie Duval (aka Isabel Ross, nee Isabelle de Tessier [?]) (dates), comic artist, actor, buried Magdalen Road cemetery

Edith Holden, Matron at 3rd London General Hospital in WWI, buried Magdalen Road cemetery

Henrietta Frances Lord, translated Ibsen into English, lived Bolingbroke Grove,

Leonora Kathleen Green, (1901-1966)

Shirley Passmore, local historian, community activist, co-founder of the Wandsworth Society etc, lived Spencer Park. Shirley inspired me to begin researching Wandsworth Common.

Sophia Sheppard, owned a large area of Wandsworth in the early 19th century, which were passed on after her death in 1848 to Magdalen College, Oxford (hence all the Oxford-related references in local street names.)

Gladys Turquet-Milnes (1887–1977), first woman professor of modern languages, University of London, lived on Loxley Road

Mary Ward (nee Lord, sister of Henrietta Frances Lord), pioneering translator of Ibsen into English, Bolingbroke Grove,

Ellen Barchard Wilson (nee Barchard), botanical illustrator, gardener

These are my first thoughts, but there must be many more women who we should know more about Who would you add?

Open House Festival, 12-20 September 2026

Click on this link for lots of info. about this year's always-inspiring event.

There are booked tours, drop-ins, guided walks and much else. Always check the website.

Local highlights include:

St Mark's Schoolhouse, 1866 — Battersea Rise, SW11 1EJ. See July 2023's Chronicles (part II) for historical background. Definitely deserves a Wandsworth Green Plaque!

Emanuel School, Battersea Rise — Former Royal Patriotic orphanage for boys, Henry Saxon Snell, 1871, converted to school 1883.

St Anne's Church, Robert Smirke, 1824

Quaker Meeting House, 1778

Tooting Bec House, 47 Chetwode Road, SW17 7RF — residence

So many more stories still to tell. But that’s all for now, folks!

Send me an email if you enjoyed this post / want to comment on something you’ve seen on the site / would like to know more — or just want to be kept in touch.

If you would like to receive notifications of new Chronicles, let me know . . .

Philip Boys (“History Boys”)

August 2026

Some more August Chronicles for you:

• August 2021
• August 2022
• August 2023
• August 2024
• August 2025

Some organisations you really must join:

• Friends of Wandsworth Common
• Battersea Society
• Clapham Society
• Wandsworth Historical Society
• Wandsworth Society

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