The River Wandle: The Millers’ Tale

Or, Can I Make Videos In Lockdown? A brief history of the River Wandle.
ko-fi.com/jago...
/ jagohazzard

[@davidcousins5493]

A nice shot of the warehouse behind the mill, part of the Liberty & Co were I worked for a month during school holidays way back in 1967. I was thrown into the river on my last day and lost a shoe in the mud, happy days.

[@marklloyd3536]

Excellent video up to your normal high production. Standards, and very interesting.

[@ChakatSandwalker]

The city I live in has a stream running through it, upon which a flour mill was situated, milling flour from February 1844 to the 1860s, whereupon it was converted into a timber mill. 1873 saw it turn into a bone meal production facility, and it was demolished in the 1880s. A walking track follows the stream, and some of the foundations can still be seen, along with two of the mill stones and what might be a track for crushing fruit to make cider. This video immediately made me think of that, and I think I might go for a wander down the track in the next few days for something to do while we have fine weather (particularly since I live just a short distance from the trail). I love history like this. I think it's also good to see you making use of what you have to produce videos. The Underground is fascinating, but the occasional nugget of non-railway knowledge is well appreciated.

[@highpath4776]

Oops, you have fallen into the Mill Trap, Morris was not at 'Merton Abbey Mills'. It was the Littler Family (see census returns), who made for Liberty of London. I am not certain if Liberty actually went on to acquire the site, but it passed into a conglomerate of cloth printers before they closed it in the 1970s ish (see Merton History Society documentation). At least a couple of Great Uncles worked at the Ravensbury Mills area as Snuff Millers (and the story of Gillet Hatfeild is an interesting one), other uncles worked at Littler's , in the printing dept, and another at Morris's (site was further north abutting the High Street at the site of one time Copper beating mills (now approx trellis house site), in part as an outworker cutting printing blocks in his back shed of his house in nearby High Path. Of course it does not help that the Littler site one of the buildings is called 'The William Morris Pub', but because Liberty of London are still trading their name could not be used as its covered by Trademark regulations.

[@simonwinter8839]

Once again High Path you astound me with your knowledge.

[@adonaiyah2196]

I lived in colliers wood and uts great to see this exposure of my suburb

[@stephenpegum9776]

Presumably if you did a live broadcast from this location Jago you'd have to call it a "live stream" ?!! (I'll get my coat .......!!) 😎😱😱

[@JagoHazzard]

Heyoooo!

[@johnledingham852]

Well, what a delightful fill-in episode this turned out to be. A wander beside the Wandle, through Wandsworth until it merges with the Thames. Undoubtedly on the Thames terms. This should encourage many Londoners others from afar, to experience the greenery and laid back environment on an outing. Thankyou Jago!

[@CAPDude44]

More of these little local videos please. I love these topics that aren't known much outside of the UK

[@TheRobbex]

I saw the Wandle in Wandsworth in the 50s and it looked pretty dead. I am delighted to see it is alive and well. A number of London's lesser waterways have been restored to new life. Good to see. Thanks Jago.

[@WMD4929]

There used to be two photographic printing works on the river and their discharges wouldn't have done it the world of good.

[@zivkovicable]

I had a paddle in the Wandle last summer, & i'm still here to tell the tale.

[@robinjones6999]

I believe some or all the Wandle rises at the Oaks Park in Carshalton. You can hear it through various manhole covers before it arrives at Carshalton Ponds. Theres an old mill here as well. There were extensive watercress beds at Beddington. A visit to Honeywood Lodge at Carshalton is really worth a visit with a fantastic exhibition of the area and River Wandle.

[@michaelXXLF]

There's a Wandle Park in Croydon with a river Wandle in it. Seems the river Wandle has two headwaters.

[@franciskolarik6802]

These replies are awesome in addressing to some extent the mysterious, "This river appears in Croydon," although while this sort of description is all too accurate in the modern era, it does leave one wondering what more there is.

[@crossleydd42]

@@michaelXXLF The Wandle does seem to have two heads, but tracing it on Google Maps shows the further and last sighting to be in Wandle Park, although it might be an insignificant bec further on.

[@lawrencelewis8105]

The best thing to see in Carshalton is "The Hope" pub- one of my all time favourites and every time I'm in Britain, I make sure I have some pints there, at least twice. A two minute walk from the station.

[@Ealsante]

It's definitely not all, as Waddon Ponds and Wandle Park over in Croydon are also sources apparently. From there it flows west across Beddington Park before meeting the stream from Carshalton.

[@seanmcdonald5859]

0.26 . . . .is that duck motorised?? It does seem to to be proceeding in a hasty manner . .

[@O-sa-car]

Well it’s paddling downstream - but probably heading to a booty call

[@mickofmorden]

William Morris was not at what is now known as Merton Abbey Mills. His works were downstream on the east bank where the Sainsbury's/M&S complex is now located and on the west bank where Trellis House Care Home is located. Merton Abbey Mills was, from the early 1900s, the home of Liberty Print Works where textiles were printed for their London store. Previously it had been known as Littler's Factory named after the Littler family who printed for Liberty's until taken over. Both the Morris Works and Merton Abbey Mills had been textile printing works since the 1700s. For more information on the history of all the mills and works along the Wandle Valley visit the Wandle Industrial Museum in Mitcham (www.wandle.org).

[@highpath4776]

The wandle mills are confusing in history one is uncertain of location of some in the reports

[@mickofmorden]

@@highpath4776 check out the Wandle Industrial Museum website: www.wandle.org and go to exhibitions-mills and check out the McGow research for information on mill locations and history.

[@nicholaskelly6375]

In the 18th Century the Wandle Valley was one of the most highly industrialised regions in the world! The reason the Surrey Iron Railway was built was quite simple. The proposed canal up the Wandle Valley would have simply taken to much water as a result William Jessop suggested that an Iron Railway would be a far better option. Running from a large basin/short canal in Wandsworth the 4' 2" gauge plateway ran up the valley with a branch to Hackbridge in to Croydon where a further short tramroad linked the SIR to the Croydon Canal which had approached the town via a completely different route. Later in 1806 the SIR was connected to an extension the Croydon, Merstham & Godstone Railway (Which never actually reached Godstone). If you look behind the back of the Starbucks in Hooley on the A23 you can see the remains of the bridge carrying Dean Lane over the CM&GR. It is one of the few remaining structures surviving on the route of these early railways. Following the closure of the SIR the basin in Wandsworth became known as MacMurray's Canal which ran up to Youngs Ram Brewery. Which as late as the 1980's had a pair of locally built beam engines One of which dated from the 1830's making it at the time the oldest regularly working steam engine in the World.

[@robdriver1419]

I know the Dean Lane bridge rather well as used to live in Netherne-on-the-Hill - now live next to Wandle Park so found this and your comments fascinating thank you

[@NewController01]

I tend to powerwalk along the Wandle trail a lot whenever I get the chance, mostly, I get as far as Carshalton...one of these days I do want to ATTEMPT to make a day of going the entire length

[@illyasvielemiya9059]

it is possible that wandsworth name come from a (fake) wizard scammed a noble to sold his city. The city is bought with one wizard's wand, hence one wands worth...wandsworth

[@beeble2003]

Seems legit. I heard the nobleman threw the useless stick into the river, shouting "That wand'll never work!", which is how the river got its name. The Duke of Whimble, wasn't it? His big estate was a little to the southwest.

[@bobbydorou8438]

Over the years have cycled along the wandle cycle path and by Nelson's home with EMMA . There is I believe a small theatre run on solar power and the area there is where Liberties of London once had their screen printed fabrics produced.

[@asheland_numismatics]

I like this video. 👍

[@PtolemyJones]

How is "Mills upon the Wandle" not a sixties pop hit?

[@illyasvielemiya9059]

I thought you talked about Snuff video when you talked about Snuff. Holy, how the meaning of word change.

[@crossleydd42]

You remind me of my childhood, early 1950s, when I used to row one of the hired boats along the River Wandle in Morden Hall Park. The Hall itself was the offices of the Merton & Morden Urban District Council, the Morden part then in Surrey. This before the dreaded monstrosity of an office block was built near Morden Tube Station and eventually housed the staff of the newly-formed Borough of Merton, which took over from the UDC. I can also recall paddling in the river with friends and finding leeches on our legs afterwards.They say that you should only burn them off with cigarettes, but at 13, we didn't smoke, so pulled them off. Scary! My other memory is seeing the River Wandle, where it ran alongside Merton Bus Garage, sited midway between South Wimbledon and Colliers Wood Tube Stations.. In fact, you couldn't see the river water for the overwhelming amount of foam, which we assumed was caused by the nearby upstream! From your video, the pollution has been cured or, at least, greatly reduced. Nice to see the river again, having left the area in 1956.

[@wesleyjohnclarke7657]

have you got any new vids coming on as London is in Tier 2 as i watch your videos every night, very enjoyable to watch i have got a channel myself if you would like to take a look when you have time to, myself and Tamra who is in the so called bubble, she is my accomplise. Search for tam cockings in the youtube searchbar would you be happy to to do a vid about the history of the grand Union Canal in your area

[@edepillim]

As a kid Morden Hall Park was on my adventure rounds. In the 50s great film star fetes were held there with top stars. The poor Wandle back in the 50s was so polluted that great mountains of foam floated down past the very ugly Merton Board Mills. Close by was the Tri ang Toy Factory and during WW2 my mother worked there producing war items, whilst her very young children were put in a nursery. Lord Hatfield who owned Morden Hall Park was a great benefactor. He gave his big house over to a war convalescence home and it was also used as a home for sick children. He moved to a small cottage on the site.

[@HHM706]

My Dad worked at the Merton Board Mills for 30 years. The Savacentre stands there now .

[@bryan3550]

Would love to see anything you can find on the River Fleet: once navigable, now a mere drain... 😢

[@UncleBooBoo]

Nice video. It would be good to have more information on the location of the landmarks and sites.

[@AlexWindsor]

The two main ones (you can search Google maps) are Merton Abbey Mills and Morden Hall Park

[@UncleBooBoo]

@@AlexWindsor Wow thank you Alex!

[@lawrencelewis8105]

Speaking of mills, this may interest you: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaSbgGewfpealbs

[@SeanieVoiceOver]

I have watched 87 of your videos yet only now have I subscribed

[@roberthuron9160]

On Long Island,one of the remaining water mills,is located in Roslyn( Nassau County), and there was a museum,and other things connected with it,and at one time there was a restaurant in it,and I went there as a child,fascinating and boy,did that wheel groan,(wooden gears),never forgot! There are also a number of mills in Suffolk County,and Brooklyn has a number of former farms and mills,in the historic records! Thanks for the beautiful views of a rather pretty little river,and as,usual an unusual history!! Thanks,Jago! 🛶🛶🛶🛶🛶🛤🛤🛤🛤🛤🛤🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🛴🛴🛴

[@Steve-g1r]

I've lived alongside the river Wandle my hole life. Grew up in Colliers Wood and we would hang around in Wandle park. As a child with my friend's we would make polystyrene rafts from the building site on north road and float down river towards Wandsworth (late 70's to early 80's) Along with the foam from the Board mills that stood on the grounds of the current Sainbury's. The River has come a long way since then, Being stocked with thousands of wonderful fish and running cristal clear. Some of the spots you showed on this video hold great memories from my past 😊 Thanks for sharing!

[@GNTel313]

I used to live just off the St Helier estate and never realised that this was right on my doorstep !!. Yet another interesting video Jago. Thank you.

[@hurricanekate6839]

I loved this! I live near a similar river in Maine (US), also used for industry but now the focal point of a beautiful park. I just discovered your site today (via "oldest houses in London") and subscribed immediately. London is my favorite city and I also love trains, so I look forward to exploring your videos further. Thank you!

[@MrGreatplum]

I have a friend of mine who has done a number of videos on this river and with your video as well, I now know enough to bore my family anytime we are near it 😀 Last summer, I saw a kingfisher flying past my kids who were paddling on the Wandle at Beddington Park!

[@michaeljames4904]

*One’t crossbeams com’outta skew on’treddle!*

[@crossleydd42]

That's easy for you to say!

[@41708]

I always liked industrial archeology in the north of England especially railways, but I find your videos fascinating concerning London and its history. I did at one stage whilst courting, visit SE18 every week and found the whole area exreemely interesting, Espescially the Woolwich ferry which was stolen one Rag Week. it was also the first time I took beer with no head on it, (Courage _you need it )

[@PhattSpicer]

Just a thought but "worth" is an old saxon word for enclosure, of parcel of land. Maybe a parcel of land near the River Wandle?

[@DanaBentley]

Your backyard may seem unexciting to you, but for some of us it is still fascnating and new. I know lockdown keeps changing, but if you need to make videos close to home at any time, we'll still be here watching. Stay safe.

[@garymcguire8529]

The name Wandle comes from the Womble song, " Over ground under ground' Wandling free, the Wombles of Wimbledon Common are we".

[@nejafeja]

I just finished cycling the whole river Wandle trial today, did it bit by bit in different directions cause I am new to cycling. Really enjoyed doing my lockdown research about this area, thanks for the video

[@JagoHazzard]

Glad you liked it! I still haven’t explored the whole river myself, I keep meaning to do the remaining bits.

[@nejafeja]

@@JagoHazzard I did Wimbledon to Carshalton today and to Wandle's delta a few weeks ago

[@nejafeja]

@@JagoHazzard your mention of the pickle ditch got me curious... have you seen this? wandlevalleypark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Pickle-Ditch.pdf

[@highpath4776]

Lots of leets off the river and it splits course and sourcd with ponds and springs at carshalton and waddon

[@sloanelouch393]

@@nejafeja I believe that the Pickle Ditch, is the old course of the Wandle. It was diverted for the building of the Abbey.

[@HighWealder]

I remember as a kid the paddle and rowing boats on the Wandle in Ravensbury Park.

[@bostonrailfan2427]

surprised that this wasn’t titles “wandering around Wandle”

[@kitiyana]

Thank you.. lovely little wander of the Wandle

[@andrewpinner3181]

Wait ! There are Milfs upon the Wandle ?! Yippee ! l have to go see !

[@lotusgroup123]

Can’t beat a wander along The Wandle

[@davidioanhedges]

One of 68 water mills on the Wandle ...

[@adrianbaker5916]

There's miles of mills along the Wandle

[@jamesjohnmoss8130]

Thanks great as usual, keep it going,

[@49mrbassman]

Used to be good fishing on the Wandle, when I was a lad.

[@1974UTuber]

Looks like a lovely little town. I would really like to visit England one day and see all these sites for myself. If only the British Pound wasn't worth 3 times more than the Australian Dollary Doo. I wouldn't have enough for accommodation, would have to sleep in an old mill or abandoned rail station.

[@beeble2003]

You know that's not how exchange rates work, right? The British pound being worth around three Australian Dollary Doos means that something that costs about $3 in Australia will likely cost about £1 in the UK. London is expensive, but the exchange rate isn't the reason.

[@gnhansen29]

Interesting video!

[@steadyc9277]

Neat!

[@richardmorley9851]

I am curious about Beverly Brook, both a river and the girlfriend of Peter Grant. In fact all "Rivers of London" info would be very welcome. (Yep. I'm a fan)

[@JagoHazzard]

I’ve passed Beverley Way many times by bus. Those books are fantastic, I keep thinking I should do a video about them - maybe Beverley Brook is a good place to start.

[@richardmorley9851]

@@JagoHazzard "Well, dedicated follower of fashion " was about the Wardle ..... so it made me think.

[@WillyMcCoy50]

Safety third

[@msamour]

Please don't take this the wrong way. Your voice is the perfect embodiment of the British "Remain calm and carry on." although, i am pretty sure i am messing it up at the moment.

[@Mcscher]

Do the wombles gome from Wandle 🙊

[@beeble2003]

No, silly. The Wombles come from Wombledin.

[@markshaw270]

The name Wandle is thought to derive from a back-formation of Wandsworth (Old English "Wendlesworth" meaning "Wendle's Settlement”). The Wandle Trail follows the course of the river from Croydon to Wandsworth.

[@beeble2003]

Going directly from Wendle to Wandle seems more likely than going via Wendlesworth/Wandsworth, and the section of Wikipedia that you've copy-pasted without acknowledgment doesn't cite any source for its claim.

[@markshaw270]

@@beeble2003 yep it was copied and pasted. So what. I am lazy! And secondly it is actually true, also I grew up around the area and knew that ages ago. And thirdly I couldn't care less what you think

[@beeble2003]

@@markshaw270 Actually true according to whom? This kind of local legend gets passed on all the time. Some of them are true; some of them aren't.

[@markshaw270]

@@beeble2003 get a life

[@henryharesdene4164]

OOO - it was just getting interesting - when the video ended! You obviously ran out of material, hence the end... A shame, sice there's more to be found (methinks). Where you find i t - I have no idea. As with so much of London't heritage 'you ' have to dig deep, and simce I emigrated to Sussex many years ago, I can't help, but then who am I - of no importance. Please dig around to enlighten us both in due course. With many thanks and a greenie........

[@dukenukem5768]

@1:28 : The Surrey Iron Rly (SIR) was not _"one of the first public railways in Britain"_ , it was the first in the World. That makes Mitcham Station the oldest used public station in the world, and though now called a tram stop it still has rails and a platform. It is on the exact site of the original SIR goods station. The SIR was freight only and horse drawn.

[@Furypurplemonkeyface]

"Contrary to popular belief, it was not the world's first railway authorised by Parliament independently of a canal: that was the Middleton Railway (1758). Nor was it the first public railway or the first railway company: both of those honours go to the Lake Lock Railway near Wakefield, Yorkshire." en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surrey_Iron_Railway

[@qaphqa]

♡♡♡

[@edwinleslie1330]

As a kid back in the early 60s what I remember about The Wandle was if you stood on the bridge going over it at Wandsworth High Street..... Boy did it stink.. 😮

[@AcornElectron]

Subbed. Interesting content. Stay safe and well fella and keep up the good work.

[@michaelbourke8967]

Love the videos on the tube but I must of missed this one. I Live in mitcham few mins away from abbey mills and modern hall park. I run round most of those places infact might run the entire length of wandle due to this video. nice learning some stuff about them

[@ethanlittle776]

Merton abbey mills used to have a railway station thick was located where the main road goes past the Sainsburys opposite and continued down the road to link up with the line coming from South Wimbledon. Could be a nice video but there isn’t anything left at all now

[@Atomsk102]

I was going to say, it looks like a New England river, and those streams attracted the milling industry as well.

[@DeKat-84]

I'm really enjoying the relaxing views of the more tranquil areas during lockdown. Love it! :-)

[@dylanlincoln856]

Love the Wandle and regularly walk it. Thank you for your videos they have been great during lockdown

[@highpath4776]

There is some thought that the wandle was called the Hyndebourne ( Noisy River ), but that name was either transferred or copied to one running through Lambeth (not the Effra),

[@highpath4776]

The Flour Mill down Wandle Bank has an interesting history, with its last use as part of the Connelly Leather Factory, this did not move out of Merton until the late 1980s (perhaps a touch later), and had extensive works to the north of north road now flatted housing).

[@GR46404]

I should not criticize, I suppose, but it looks like Renny really phoned it in on that mill.

[@martinsawyer109]

Agree with Bryan3550 Any chance, gov’nr?

[@xsbxsbxsb]

Keep up the good work! These views of "the old country" are much appreciated.

[@TheSynthnut]

Snuff mills no less, now there's something not to be sneezed at, or, is that the other way around?

[@beeble2003]

It must be that way around. There's no such thing as a sneeze mill.

[@TheSynthnut]

@@beeble2003 The inference was that maybe it was something to be sneezed at! It's poor a joke by the way, in case you missed that ;-)

[@beeble2003]

@@TheSynthnut I know. I was making an even poorer joke! :)

[@ladiorange]

There's a lovely cycle path in the Wandsworth part

[@shauntodd7123]

Amazing you should do more rivers

[@394pjo]

Yay! I live right next to it where it meets the Thames.

[@amethyst7084]

Only just caught up with this video, Jago. Thanks for making and sharing it. I think I'll have to search the rivers of London. Aside from the Thames, Roding, Lee and Wandle, I'm sure there are more. 👍🏾🏞

[@jameskharma343]

Honest question, did anyone else ever go in the wandle for a paddle when they were a kid? I did and that was less than 20 years ago.

[@jpisty]

I didn’t because I live on a different continent

[@pulaski1]

I am looking forward to a video about Wandsworth. :)

[@highpath4776]

The wandle used to inaccessible put its outlet for many years with the brewery and engleheart lead works there.

[@wadeguidry6675]

Very pretty.

[@musicfactoryaustralia6579]

Weetabix

[@whyyoulidl]

Nah, don't do that wheat thing ;-)

[@crossleydd42]

I can only reply with "Shredded Wheat"!

[@hobomalobo]

I quite often walk along the Wandle between sorta Wandle Park in Croydon towards Carshalton to visit my "local" (after a 2 hour walk) pub. Its a pretty peaceful journey. This video will be all sorts of stuff in the other direction or past Carshalton I think so very interesting and informing. Good stuff