The History of Wandsworth Common

IN PROGRESS — NOT FOR PUBLICATION

MAP SEQUENCE SHOWING

5-HOUSES / BOLINGBROKE GROVE

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Corris, 1787

[Notice creeping enclosure - at the front of the 5 houses, land is being taken from the Common right up to the road (the future "Bolingbroke Grove").]

Also the neat row of trees on the west of the road - presumably the famous "Grove"? They're usually described as Elms.

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Milne, 1800

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Milne, 1800 v2

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OS, Old Series, 1-inch, 1808-1820

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Edwards, Companion to the Road from London to Brighthelmston., 1801

[Is it significant that the term "Bolingbroke Grove" is placed along the far (eastern) side of the Falconbrook? At this time, and for quite a while, what we call Bolingbroke Grove was referred to as "5 Houses [Road]" or similar. Several maps show a single? row of trees along this road, to the west. Was this the "Grove"? Or was the grove a row of trees along the Falconbrook? It must have had some special significance. Why else would Edwards bother to name it? ]

For some useful info. about James Edwards, Topographer, see e.g. Sources for Epsom and Ewell History: Edwards’ Companion to the Road from London to Brighthelmston.

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Faden, 1819

[William Faden, A New Topographical Map of the Country in The Vicinity of London, Describing all the New Improvements, 1819.>

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[Check this: Copy for sale.]

Wyld, 1872: The Country In The Vicinity Of London, Describing All The New Improvements, Metropolitan Boroughs And Parish Boundaries 1872.

[This maps was "Published By James Wyld, Successor To Mr. Faden, Geographer To Her Majesty, Charing Cross East.". And how similar it looks to Faden's of decades earlier! (see above.) Had the area been thoroughly re-surveyed in the meanwhile? Probably not. But the changes are interesting.]

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Cruchley, 1829

Before the railways.

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It seems to me that the red line across the Common (dividing the Black Sea) shows the expected not the actual built route of the London and Southampton Railway (later London and South Western Railway). This section opened in [1838?].

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Cruchley, New Plan, 1847 (11th edition; 1st edition 1829)

Cruchley, mid?late? 1830s. Or is it the version from 1847? Check.

Cruchley, New Plan of London and its Environs, 1847.

It seems possible that the red line across the Common (dividing the Black Sea) was drawn on the map before the railway was actually built, possibly mid-1830s, and not revised after the opening of the line in 1838. In short, it shows the expected not the actual built route of the London and Southampton Railway (later London and South Western Railway).

[The map shows the date "1829" prominently, but this is the 11th edition, 1847. Notice there a completed railway line to Earlsfield, but the one to "Wandsworth Common" to the east is not even in progress. To the south-east, the Common is shown as stretching to the stream at the lowest point of today's Nightingale Lane (the Falcon Brook). A wide track crosses from what is now Trinity Road to a point near the 3-island pond on "The Five Houses" (i.e. today's Bolingbroke Rd). Surely the north-south road joining today's Bolingbroke Rd and Bellevue is misplaced? See also the numerous ponds and the many islands in the Black Sea to the north edge of the Common. It would be good to compare this with earlier editions. Most Cruchley maps I have come across do not reach out as far as Wandsworth.]

British Library: Cruchley, New Plan of London and its Environs, New edition 1847