Part Two:  Wilderness Island to Morden Hall Park

 

Now remember that we have diverted from the Croydon branch to the Carshalton Branch of the Wandle. As we walk beside this narrow river, with Wilderness Island on the right bank, we soon reach the confluence of the two branches, ie, where they meet. They join and go over a weir together, making a lovely waterfall noise. Hard to believe that the island and these banks were once a hive of industry; there were gunpowder, leather, oil and copper mills and factories right here. After a short, overgrown walk we are at The Hack Bridge, Nightingale Road.  There has been a bridge here since the Middle Ages, presumably first a wooden one, replaced in 1800 by an iron one, and twice more since.

 

In July I crossed over the bridge and met a father and son cycling the Trail. We got talking about the Wandle and the son told me that he was doing a university dissertation about the possibilities of using the River to produce hydro electric power. Amazing to think the Wandle could go back to producing power, more than 100 years after its industrial heyday. They told me that this is a viable possibility….hmm, let’s wait and see! Now we get to a path with the River on the left, and on the right….are the remains of Corbett Close, formerly several blocks of flats, now piles of grey rubble hidden behind a huge hoarding.  This is an example of how landscapes can change again and again; my reference book shows a map of Hackbridge Lodge and the driveway to Hackbridge House on this site, demolished to make way for the Corbett Close flats, which have been demolished to make way for….more housing? Now we are at Culvers Avenue and there is a helpful Wandle Valley Information Board which shows you how far you’ve come! A short walk through a recreation area with a welcome bench and then a little further on, on the right is another area of modern industry, formally heavy mill industry. As we approach Middleton Road there is a yellow brick house which belonged to the owner of one of the three mills that were once here. Standing on Goat Bridge and looking back, it’s hard to imagine how the area must have looked with a leather mill, a corn mill and a ‘drug grinding’ mill.  Jura-Spray Ltd. occupies this space now.

 

Over the bridge into Watermead Lane and we see some cottages where workers at a nearby tannery lived. Now we get to a nice yellow gravel path which replaces the narrow, muddy, uneven path that was there a couple of years ago.  This makes it a very pleasant walk through what feels very much like countryside. The open space on the left is Poulter Park. At the end of this stretch is Watermeads, a National Trust Nature Reserve which was the site of three mills: textiles, paper and snuff; hard to imagine at this beautiful, peaceful spot. We cross into LB Merton somewhere here. Before reaching Bishopsford Road, we can see through the trees the white weather boarded Fisheries Cottages, so called because one of the former tenants worked for the short-lived Wandle Fisheries Association. We can also glimpse a former corn mill, Grove Mill, now a gated development of posh flats. (The gate was open so I sneaked in to take a photo!) A little further on I met a couple who were enjoying splashing around with their children. They told me about a friend of theirs who had studied the reeds in the river bed. They said how nice it is to live in an urban area right next to a river.  There is a pond to the right of the main river which has a ‘Danger, Deep Water’ sign, as it’s deceptively completely covered with water plants. Now there is another lovely open space, Ravensbury Park, with its little bridges and willow fringed banks and Riverside Cafe.  And here’s an encouraging National Cycle Trail post which informs us we are 3 miles from Carshalton and only 5 miles to Wandsworth, hooray!

 

There are some interesting mill stones to be seen as we approach Morden Road, and a surprising number of teenagers (and older) playing Pokemon Go. Cross the road by the pelican crossing and behind us is the yellow brick building of Ravensbury Mill (they’re always yellow, aren’t they?) which is now part of the Wandle Industrial Museum.  Through a small gate hidden in the fence and we are now in Morden Hall Park.

Remember, words in Bold are photos, which I’m still working on! I will post them shortly.