Future Events
Guided Walks for 2025
Sunday 23rd March
Colliers Wood station to Merton Abbey Mills via Wandle Park and Wandle Bank. A short illustrated walk, taking in the former Merton Mill which became Connolly's Leather Works and now contains apartments, continuing to the site of the iconic William Morris's works and ending at Merton Abbey Mills, the home until 1982 of the Liberty Print Works, where shops and refreshments are available.
Sunday 27th April
Morden Hall Park stableyard to Merton Abbey Mills. Begin this illustrated walk by inspecting the buildings and machinery of the former snuff mills, which were owned by the Hatfeild dynasty who donated Morden Hall Park to the National Trust. Then learn about innovations in textile printing that took place in mills on the route alongside the Wandle to Merton Abbey Mills, passing Deen City Farm and Phipps Bridge on the way. Finish by browsing the shops and having lunch at a venue at Merton Abbey Mills.
Sunday 1st June
Colliers Wood station to Plough Lane and back via Waterside Way and Chaucer Way. Learn about Wandle industries on this illustrated walk which takes in the former Merton Mill, which became Connolly's Leather Works and now contains apartments, and continues through Wandle Meadow Nature Park to The Old Copper Mill near the AFC Wimbledon stadium. We return along the route of the early 19th century Surrey Iron Railway passing near the site of the works of the fine art potter William De Morgan.
Thursday 3rd July
Earlsfield station to the mouth of the Wandle. This popular illustrated walk covers a wide range of sites and industries, including textile printing and dyeing, corn milling, copper and iron smelting and brewing, along the River Wandle from the Domesday Book to the arrival of the Huguenots in the late 17th century to the 20th century, We also pass the site of factories formerly occupied by the Columbia Gramophone Company and Airfix.
Sunday 14th September
Mitcham tram stop to Morden Hall Park. An illustrated walk covering the rich history of Mitcham industries, including brewing, corn milling, textile printing, tobacco and snuff milling, and the cultivation of liquorice and lavender. Learn about the history of Ravensbury Park and cross into Morden Hall Park, where the Hatfeilds obtained the lordship of the manor from the profits of their tobacco importation and snuff milling business. The park is now owned by the National Trust and contains a garden centre, a bookshop and refreshment outlets. Phipps Bridge tram stop is nearby.
All walks to start at 12.00. Please book places by email to John.sheridan08@gmail.com. The walks generally take 90 minutes to two hours, except the shorter walk on 23 March which might take about an hour. The walks are free. Donations to the Wandle Industrial museum are welcome but not obligatory.
William Kilburn - Botanical Illustrator & Eminent Calico Printer
This talk takes place on October 11th at 2:30pm, at the Merton Historical Society, St James's Church, Martin Way, Morden, SM4 4AR
William Kilburn - Botanical Illustrator & Calico Printer
William Kilburn produced exquisitely detailed floral designs in the latter part of the 18th century and went on to use his engravings to produce fine printed fabrics at his mill in Wallington. His life is not widely documented nor are there many examples of his work still in existance, other than his botanical drawings.
He is notable for achieving one of the first copyright acts to protect the original designs of cotton and calico printers from plagiarism by less accomplished printers at a time when it was vital to keep abreast of fashion changes.
This talk will take place on Thursday, May 22nd at 7:30pm, at the Honeywood Museum, Honeywood Walk, Carshalton, SM5 3NX. Doors open at 7:10pm and seats are £7 (members £6). To book, please contact susan.hoskin@mail.com or 07721 852 378.
Talks for 2025
As you will be aware that the Wandle Industrial Museum give a number of talks. Normally these talks are given to groups and organisations and not open to everyone. Over the next month or so we will be giving talks that are open to anyone to attend. Details are below. We would be grateful if you could, if possible, make your members, etc aware of these.
All events are subject to change depending on Government Covid-19 restrictions.
This page was last updated on 15thMarch, 2024