Category Archives: Our Next Meeting Details

Tooting Bec Hospital Remembered

by Philip Bradley

Tooting Bec Hospital stood in the grounds of what is now the Heritage Park Estate on Tooting Bec Road between Franciscan Road and Church Lane. It was opened in 1903 by the Metropolitan Asylum Board and was designed to take the overflow of patients from their Caterham and Leavesden Asylums. At it’s peak, it accommodated over 2200 patients. It finally closed in 1995 and was sold and redeveloped as The Heritage Park Estate.

This talk will give a history of the Asylum as originally built and the changes in Mental Health provision that lead to it’s closure. People came to Tooting to work (and live) in the hospital from all over the world. Should there be plaques on the Heritage Park site to remember the hospital? Are you interested in an Oral History project connected with the hospital and it’s former patients and staff?

Come along to the All Saints Parish Church Hall (Bruce Hall) on Tuesday December 3rd at 7.30pm and hear all about this Tooting History Group/local residents project. (Entrance at rear of car park on Brudenell Road).

Beer And Skittles: Pubs, Breweries And Beer Houses of Tooting

by Philip Bradley

Our next meeting will be a bit different! Join Karen Ellis-Rees in a history tour of Tooting’s oldest pubs, and find out about the Tooting Brewery, which operated on the High Street for at least a century.  Also hear the story of the fatal fire at the Rising Sun Inn, which saw the disappearance of a Tooting landmark. And there will be a chance to taste locally brewed London Porter as made across London in the 19th Century.

The meeting is on Tuesday 12th November at 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, Tooting, SW179NQ. Everyone welcome-members free, guests £2.

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

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.