Weather-boarded house by Morden Hall Park

Image: © Stefan Czapski Taken: 5 Jan 2011

These days weather-boarded houses and industrial buildings are scarce in South London and neighbouring areas of Surrey. From the evidence of 19th century photographs we know that there were once many more. A few - including this one - still exist close to the River Wandle, between Morden and Mitcham. The Wandle Valley was the focus for much early industry, with many water-mills sited along its length. It also gave rise to the Surrey Iron Railway - Britain's first public railway, dating from before the age of steam. This tall building stands next to the 'Surrey Arms', and backs on to Morden Hall Park. I would be interested to know what its original function was, and how it came to survive. Notice that the roof has a 'valley' between two ridges - so that technically this would be described as a double-pile house.

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