Category Archives: Blog

Lillian Ball: Tooting Suffragette

by Philip Bradley

Join Jennifer Godfrey, author of SECRET MISSIONS OF THE SUFFRAGETTES: GLASSBREAKERS &  SAFE HOUSES and SUFFRAGETTES OF KENT, to hear stories of hope, determination, courage and sacrifice of those campaigning for women’s suffrage. Topics covered will include the story of Tooting dressmaker & Suffragette Lillian Ball and those of other women from the Tooting area.  Jennifer will also share details of how the suffragettes used disguises, codes and alias names to complete their missions. There will be a chance for Q&A after the talk.  Jennifer will also be selling signed copies of her books at the event (cash or card).

Charles Gassiot-The Man Behind The Road

by Philip Bradley

Charles Gassiot-The Man Behind The Road

A talk by Janet Smith

Wine merchant, art collector and philanthropist, Charles Gassiot was a leading light in Victorian Tooting. There are memorials to him across London but he’s remembered locally only in a road name.  Come and hear Janet Smith talk on why Tooting should make a bigger fuss of him!

Tuesday September 10th 7.30pmat The United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, Tooting, SW179NQ.

All welcome, members free, guests £2

The Forgotten Animal Painters of Tooting: William and Sidney Wombill

by Philip Bradley

William and Sidney Wombill were professional artists who lived in Tooting for over 70 years.  William painted over 2,000 paintings and his son Sidney painted the winners of the Epsom Derby, but today they are largely forgotten and much of their work is lost. Come and hear Karen Ellis-Rees talk about her research into the lives, work and home of the Wombills. 

The meeting is on Tuesday 11th June at 7.30pm and will be held at The United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, SW17 9NQ. (5 minute walk from Tooting Broadway tube).

Tooting Bec Asylum Remembered?

by Philip Bradley

Tooting Bec Hospital closed in 1994. It was demolished and redeveloped as The Heritage Park estate on the edge of Tooting Common. In the 91 years it was open, thousands of patients and staff passed through it’s doors. Many of the patients died there rathe than moving back to be with their families or to the Workhouse or to another asylum.

How should this hospital be marked or remembered? What was life like there for patients and staff?

Come and hear Philip Bradley and Liz Sayce talk about the history of Tooting Bec Hospital at The Woodfield Pavilion, Tooting Bec Common, SW16 1AP on Saturday 1st June at 11am.

This event is part of The Heritage Day organised by the Woodfield Pavilion and is also part of the 2024 Wandsworth Heritage Festival. Further details here.

To book a ticket on Eventbrite, book here:

Beating The Bounds Of Tooting Graveney Parish: The Walk May 2024

by Philip Bradley

Tooting History Group members and supporters will be “Beating The Bounds” of Tooting Graveney Parish next Sunday, 19th May 2024. The walk is based on a description of the boundaries recorded in 1884. This is a walk THG has done before in 2018 and 2019 and it is interesting to see which buildings are still there and which have disappeared.

There will be a break for lunch in Tooting Town Centre from approximately 12.30-2pm. We will be leaving from the Selkirk pub at 2pm for the afternoon part of the walk and arriving back at Amen Corner by 3.30pm. (ie before the football starts at 4pm!)

• Sunday 19th May, 10.30am • Free • Booking not required

• Meet at Amen Corner (opposite Sette Bello Restaurant), SW17 9JE

This walk is part of The Wandsworth Heritage Festival which starts on 18th May and runs for three weeks. For details of all festival events, see here .