Category Archives: Blog

Tooting Bec Asylum Remembered-

by Philip Bradley

Plaque Unveiling And Book Launch

Saturday 27th September 2025

Tooting History Group members and residents of the Heritage Park Estate in Tooting have been researching the history of Tooting Bec Asylum/Hospital for the last eighteen months. Wandsworth Council have now agreed to erect a Green Plaque at the Estate to remember the hospital and it’s residents and staff. And Tooting History Group is publishing a book to record the history of the hospital to coincide with the unveiling,

The Green Plaque will be unveiled at 2pm on Saturday 27th September 2025. Part of the original wall to the Asylum is still there, by the pedestrian entrance to the Heritage Park Estate at the corner of Tooting Bec Road and Franciscan Road.

The book “Tooting Bec Asylum Remembered 1903-1995” by Karen Ellis-Rees and Annie Caulfield will be launched on the same day at the Pavilion, Tooting Bec Lido, Tooting Bec Road, SW16 1RU. We will be at the Pavilion (rear of Lido car park) from 3pm. (249/319 bus)

You will be able to buy a copy of the book for £5.

What was Tooting’s Bottomless Pit? Is Tooting Graveney A “Watery Place”? Why is W.E.Morden Important In Tooting’s History?

by Philip Bradley

At our monthly meeting on Tuesday 9th September you will hear THG members Geraldine Kelly, Karen Ellis-Rees and Philip Bradley give short talks and tidy up the answers to these questions.

There will also be a display of recently acquired black and white photos of Tooting taken in the
1950s and 60s by Ronald Kipps.

The meeting is on Tuesday 9th September at 7.30pm in the United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road,SW179NQ.
(Tooting Broadway Tube)

South London’s Greatest Show-Place: The Tooting Granada

by Philip Bradley

The Tooting Granada (“Buzz Bingo”) is the only Grade 1 listed building in Tooting and the only Grade 1 listed Cinema in the UK. Richard Gray is a historian of Cinema architecture and will be telling us about “South London’s Greatest Showplace” through it’s history, architecture and entertainment. We will be showing clips of early films shown at The Granada. He will also speak about some of the other seven cinemas of Tooting and their demise.

Richard is the author of “Cinemas in Britain-A History of Cinema Architecture”

The talk is on Tuesday 8th July at 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, SW179NQ

The Music Hall Artistes Of Lambeth Cemetery

by Philip Bradley

Our next talk will be on “The Music Hall Artistes of Lambeth Cemetery”
This is jointly organised by Tooting History Group and the Friends of Streatham Cemetery
How did over 250 music hall artistes and entertainers come to be buried in Tooting? What was life like as a music hall artiste in Victorian and Edwardian times? What songs did they sing? What acts did they perform?
Join Karen Ellis-Rees of London Overlooked/Tooting History Group, Peter Winbourne and Di Berry for an evening of stories and song about the once shining music hall stars who now rest in Lambeth and Streatham Cemeteries. This presentation of words and music will take place in the Chapel of Lambeth Cemetery on Blackshaw Road.


Friday 27th June 7.30pm

Chapel, Lambeth Cemetery, Blackshaw Road, SW17 0DH (Entrance between Fountain And Bertal Roads)

Tickets £6

Booking required – book via https://bit.ly/4bSPVxQ

Light refreshments

This event forms part of the Wandsworth Heritage Festival 2025. You can find details of all the Wandsworth Heritage Festival events here

Wimbledon In Sporting History

by Philip Bradley


Plough Lane, Wimbledon has been the site for many sporting events over the years. Professional football, greyhound racing, speedway and stock car racing have all had their day, and in the last three years,  AFC Wimbledon have returned to a brand new stadium to continue the sporting tradition. 

Come and hear John Lynch (Founder & Managing Director Wimbledon in Sporting Heritage) and Jon Stevens give us a history of Wimbledon’s Sporting Heritage and some of the memorable sporting occasions that have occurred down Plough Lane at our next meeting:

Tuesday 13th May at 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, SW179NQ. (Tooting Broadway tube)

Members free, guests £2. Light refreshments.

Even if you are not interested in sport, this talk is bound to be a fascinating account of the passion and commitment generated by the different sporting activities that have been happening in Plough Lane for over 100 years.

We look forward to seeing you there.