Cannon Hill Common

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Majestic Oak ISH CannonHillCommon1.jpg
Majestic Oak
Drawing of Cannon Hill House, 1893. Cannon Hill Common House.JPG
Drawing of Cannon Hill House, 1893.
Cafe ISH CannonHillCommon2.jpg
Cafe
Looking towards Motspur Park ISH CannonHillCommon3.jpg
Looking towards Motspur Park

Cannon Hill Common is a public park in the London Borough of Merton. It is situated near Raynes Park and Morden. It is also the location of a Local Nature Reserve [1] [2] and the Paddock Allotments.

Contents

History

Cannon Hill Common is not common land. It was but part of the former extensive holdings of Merton Priory, founded in the 12th century and later part of Cannon Hill Estate. The land was farmed for many centuries until Cannon Hill House was built, probably shortly after 1762. The ornamental lake was created in the 18th century and is a remnant of the former landscaped grounds of Cannon Hill House. By 1880 the house was empty and the surrounding land farmed. The house was sited at the top of the common at the edge of the pond and woodland that was first designated a bird sanctuary in 1927. [3]

During its heyday in the nineteenth century a steeple chase of local gentry used to take place from Raynes' farm at West Barnes to Cannon Hill lake and back along what is today Blenheim Road. The Cannon Hill estate was well stocked with pheasants, partridges, hares and rabbits and entertained shooting parties. [4]

Local house builder Mr Blay offered 60 acres (24 ha) of land to Merton and Morden Urban District Council for the creation of Cannon Hill Common. The Council agreed to purchase 53½ acres at a cost of £17,610. The Park officially opened on the 9 April 1927. [5] The pavilion that once stood on the common housed a holiday play scheme in the early seventies and a cafe in the late 1980s. In 2008 the pavilion was destroyed in a fire started by arsonists. The remains were demolished and plans to rebuild it by Merton Council have come to nothing. [3]

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Morden Human settlement in England

Morden is a district and town in south London, England, within the London Borough of Merton. It adjoins Merton Park and Wimbledon to the north, Mitcham to the east, Sutton to the south and Worcester Park to the west, and is around 8 miles (13 km) south-southwest of Charing Cross. Prior to the creation of Greater London in 1965, Morden was in the administrative county of Surrey. It is in ceremonial county of Surrey.

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Motspur Park Human settlement in England

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Merton, London (parish)

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Fishpond Wood and Beverley Meads

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Cherry Wood Nature reserve in London

Cherry Wood is a 1.8 hectare Local Nature Reserve and Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade II, in Morden Park in the London Borough of Merton. It is owned by Merton Council and managed by the council together with the Friends of Cherry Wood.

Derwent Floodwash

Derwent Floodwash is a 1.8 hectare Local Nature Reserve and Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade II, in Morden Park in the London Borough of Merton. It is owned by the London Borough of Wandsworth and managed by Merton Council. The site borders Pyl Brook, and it is designed to store flood waters when the brook overflows, preventing flooding of properties downstream.

Merton Park Green Walks

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Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Wood

Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Wood is a 1.7 hectare Local Nature Reserve and a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade I, in Motspur Park in the London Borough of Merton. It adjoins Sir Joseph Hood Memorial Playing Fields, and both are owned and managed by Merton Council.

References

  1. "Cannon Hill Common". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 1 March 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  2. "Map of Cannon Hill Common". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  3. 1 2 A Short History of Cannon Hill Common (video documentary) by William Hobbs , 2012
  4. Jowett, Evelyn M. An Illustrated History of Merton and Morden Published Merton and Mordon Festival of Britain Local Committee (1951) , page 108
  5. Jowett, Evelyn M. (1987). Raynes Park with West Barnes & Cannon Hill: a social history. Merton Historical Society. ISBN   0-9501488-5-7.

Coordinates: 51°24′04″N0°13′12″W / 51.401°N 0.220°W / 51.401; -0.220