Tag Archives: Tooting

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).

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 .

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.