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.

The Lost Hospitals Of Tooting (+AGM)

by Philip Bradley

Tooting has been home to a large number of hospitals over the years. Fever hospitals, general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, geriatric hospitals and maternity hospitals have come and gone from Tooting in the last 130 years. Now there are only two. Where were these other hospitals? What was there before St. Georges Hospital? What is the heritage of Heritage Park? Philip Bradley will uncover the Victorian origins of healthcare and hospitals in Tooting at our February meeting. There will also be a short AGM business meeting.

Tuesday 13th February 2024. Members free, guests £2. 7.30pm. All welcome.

United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, SW179NQ.

“Love it, List It or Lose It!” Tooting’s built environment 

by Philip Bradley

Tooting History Group is actively involved in speaking up for historic buildings and other heritage assets in Tooting. Come and hear about this work at our next meeting with Libby Lawson, Conservation Officer, Tooting History Group.

  • Which buildings or features in Tooting need more TLC? 
  • Are there any we could do without? 
  • What should Tooting History Group be doing to improve Tooting’s built heritage? 

We will be looking at local and national listing of buildings and other assets.

The meeting is next Tuesday, 14th November, starting at 7.30pm at the United Reformed Church, Rookstone Road, SW17 9NQ. 


Come along and take part in the discussion.