Category Archives: Events

Read about our upcoming meetings, talks and walks.

Beating The Bounds Of Tooting Graveney Parish (1884 Style)

by Philip Bradley

In July 1884, the Tooting Ratepayers Association met and heard a detailed description of the boundaries of Tooting Graveney Parish. At our May meeting, we will explore this 1884 description and hear which buildings are still there 140 years later and which have disappeared. Where were the Watercress beds, the brickfield and Mr. Mann the hairdresser? How much was spent to beat the bounds of Tooting Graveney in 1850? Come and hear Philip Bradley tell the story of the Tooting Graveney Parish Boundaries and how they used to be beaten at our next THG meeting on Tuesday May 14th 2024 at 7.30pm.

And on Sunday May 19th , we will be walking the 8 mile boundary of Tooting Graveney Parish. Starting at 10.30am at Amen Corner, SW17 (Opposite Sette Bello restaurant), we will be progressing round the Parish, stopping to see which buildings and features survive from 1884 and which have disappeared. There will be a break for lunch in Tooting Town Centre and we should finish back at Amen Corner about 3.30pm.

This event is part of the Wandsworth Heritage Festival. Further details of the Heritage Festival can be found here.

Public Transport Comes To Tooting

by Philip Bradley

When did trolleybuses come to Tooting? Where could you get to for 1d? Were there really horse drawn buses through Tooting. Our next meeting on Tuesday 9th April at 7.30pm will be a talk by John Chilvers on the coming of public transport to Tooting.

We will be meeting at The United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, SW17 9NQ (Tooting Broadway Tube).

We hope you can join us.

Oscar Wilde In Wandsworth Prison

by Philip Bradley

Stuart McLaughlin will be speaking about Oscar Wilde’s time in Wandsworth Prison doing hard labour before being transferred to Reading Gaol in 1895. Stuart wrote his history of Wandsworth Prison back in 2001 and he curates the small museum at Wandsworth Prison.

We will be meeting as usual at The United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, SW17 9NQ. Members free, guests £2. All welcome.

Tooting History Quiz Night

by Philip Bradley

The Tooting History Quiz night will be open to all at our next meeting on Tuesday 10th October. 50 questions on Tooting past and present. There will be prizes and refreshments and Tooting facts to inform and entertain. Teams of up to five people welcome-if you don’t have a team, we will match you up on the night. Free entry for members-guests £2 donation. We hope to see you at The United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, SW17 9NQ at 7.30 on the 10th October.

From Tooting Co-Op To Bletchley Park

by Philip Bradley

Daisy Lawrence was born in Tooting in 1917. She left Sellincourt School aged 14 and went to work at the Tooting Co-Op. In 1942, she was called up to work at the Bletchley Park code breaking centre. Whilst she was working on breaking Japanese codes, her fiancée was held as a POW in the Far East. Daisy’s daughter, Jan Slimming, has written an account of her mother’s life and will be speaking to our September monthly meeting. You will also be able to buy copies of Jan’s book.

Come along on Tuesday 12th September at 7.30pm to the United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, SW17 9NQ.

Tooting History Group will also be at the Woodfield Pavilion on Tooting Common on Saturday 9th September. The heritage event takes place from 10.30am to 5pm with other local history and heritage groups present. Janet Smith will be talking about the history of the lido and I will be leading a walk on the common at 3pm about the battles for Tooting Common. The event is part of the Lambeth Heritage Festival 2023.

We look forward to seeing you at one of these forthcoming events.