Tag Archives: Tooting Bec Hospital

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.

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).

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:

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.