SITE DETAILS

Putney Heath

Wandsworth

Summary:

Putney Heath is part of Wimbledon and Putney Commons, and adjoins Wimbledon Common to the south, the remains of extensive common lands in the area. In the C18th it was a notorious place for duels and highwaymen and Tibbet's Corner, the site of a gallows, now lies in the centre of a roundabout. The Heath is on undulating land with areas of woods and grassland and has several ponds including Scio Pond. There are a number of memorials on the Heath, including the war memorial to the north near Putney Heath Road, and a memorial to the Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment. An obelisk by George Dance was erected in 1788 to commemorate an experimental fire-proof house created by David Hartley in 1776, near Tibbet's Corner. Opposite the Green Man Pub in the north east is the former Pound for stray animals.

Previous / Other name:

Putney Upper Common

Site location:

Putney Heath Lane/Kingston Road/Tibbet's Ride/Roehampton Lane/Old Portsmouth Road

Postcode:

SW15 > Google Map

Type of site:

Public Open Land

Date(s):

c.1880

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII: Pound. Local list: Hartley Memorial

Borough:

Wandsworth

Site ownership:

Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators

Site management:

Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Playing fields, car park (Telegraph Pub). Nature trails

Events:

Numerous (incl. Wimbledon and Putney Lower): Fairs, Horse Shows, Scout and Cub Group meetings, Riding for the Disabled, Morris Dancing, sponsored walks, cross country runs, orienteering and charitable events.

Public transport:

Rail: Putney, Barnes then bus. Bus: 85, 170, 265, 424, 485

The information shown above was correct at the time of the last update 01/05/2005
Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.wpcc.org.uk

Fuller information:

Near Putney Heath was former grounds of Bovey Tracey, for which Capability Brown designed a landscape plan in 1774 for Baron Tracey, later 6th Viscount Tracey of Toddington, but neither the house nor grounds remain. Putney Heath is now bisected by the busy A3 and its north tip has become a bus terminating point. Part of it is flanked by the post WWII LCC Argyle Estate, while its east boundary consists of large houses and flats facing Wimbledon Park Side. Within the Heath itself is an area enclosed for a bowling green in the late C17th by the Lord of the Manor, Earl Spencer. The popularity of bowling led to further greens being added and their existence is recalled in the road name Bowling Green Close. The area was later built over with housing, including modernist housing as well as 1930s blocks of flats set in areas of landscaping, such as Highlands Heath.

Sources consulted:

Ben Weinreb & Christopher Hibbert, 'The London Encyclopaedia' (Macmillan, revised ed. 1993); Edward Walford, 'Old & New London' Vol 61 (Cassell & Co., c.1885/6); D Stroud; LB Wandsworth, Putney Heath Conservation Area Character Statement; Wandsworth Conservation and Design Group, 'Putney Heath Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Strategy' (2009)

Grid ref:	TQ228738
Size in hectares:	168.3

On EH National Register :	No
EH grade:
Site on EH Heritage at Risk list:
Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:	Wimbledon & Putney Commons Act 1871
Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:	No

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.
On Local List:
In Conservation Area:	Yes
Conservation Area name:	Putney Heath (small part)
Tree Preservation Order:	Yes
Nature Conservation Area:	Yes - Metropolitan Importance
Green Belt:	No
Metropolitan Open Land:	Yes
Special Policy Area:	No
Other LA designation:	Common. SSSI (south of Kingston Road)

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