Image 1 - Morden Hall

Morden Hall, built in the 1770s, has had a variety of owners and uses in its 200 year life. When the estate was given to the National Trust in 1941, the house had not been lived in for many years as the owner Gilliat Hatfeild found it much too big for his requirements. The building was leased out as office space for a number of years until the early nineties. The National Trust found that the building needed some major repairs and restoration work for which it had no money. The Trust, in a revolutionary strategy, worked with Whitbread to sympathetically convert the building into a Beefeater™ restaurant and function room.

Image 2 - Waterwheel

The Wandle River, which runs through the Park, was one of the most industrialised rivers in the country having over 60 water powered mills during the height of the industrial revolution (13 are mentioned in the Domesday book). The Hatfeild family made their fortune by milling snuff and two of their mills are in the park. The original mill mechanisms were removed and lost during the Second World War, although one of the two breastshot mill wheels survived and was restored and refitted. Unfortunately the buckets had to be removed to prevent children from climbing on the wheel.

Image 3 - Industrial Decay

The white weatherboarded structure on the left bank of the river was built circa 1755 and is the older of the two mills. Mills such as these would probably have been a common sight on the Wandle during the 19th century. The mills stopped operating in 1922 when the snuff workers at the Hatfeild’s Minories factory in London went on strike and Gilliat Hatfeild shut the whole business down. The brown brick mill on the right bank, now called the Snuff Mill Environmental Centre, is used to teach children of all ages about nature, the environment and ecology.

Image 4 - The Buildings

Morden Hall Cottage, currently a registry office, was the home of the late Gilliat Hatfeild after he moved out of the hall. The cottage backs on to the weatherboarded snuff mill and can just be seen in the bottom left picture (notice the castellated wall). The stable block was a later addition (19th century) to the estate and built by Gilliat Hatfeild's father who had a passion for horses and hunting. Both the clock and trout weather vane above the stable gateway reflect his disciplined nature and interest in fishing. The trout farm, converted from an old dairy, allowed Gilliat Hatfeild snr. to indulge in his hobby.

Image 5 - The Waterways

The estate is crossed by a number of water channels, most of which are man-made. These water courses and the river Wandle cross the landscape to create islands and pockets of land. Water is a big feature of the park and provides a habitat for a number of different species of animals, plants and insects. It is hoped that the river can be restocked with fish in the next few years which would be a major step in the rejuvenation of the River Wandle. Many of the activities undertaken by the children using the Snuff Mill Environmental Centre revolve around the river and the habitat it provides.

Image 6 - Brocken Bridges

In order to get about the park there are a number of bridges which cross the waterways. These are built in a variety of styles and materials. There are also a few ornamental bridges and bridge ruins which give a romantic feel to the park and the water courses.

Image 7 - The River

The River Wandle runs straight through the park and is the source of power for the two mills that are on the site as well as the source for all the man-made leets and waterways. The Wandle feeds into the park from the south and is contained in a small mill pond by a weir just behind the mills. The river is then channelled past the waterwheels and through the park, under the white bridge and onwards to the north and the Thames.

Image 8 - The White Bridge

The white bridge is the focal point of the park as all the major pathways lead to it. The bridge is a copy of the previous iron structure which proved to be too badly corroded to restore. Many of the trees in the park are wrapped in ivy which makes them look green throughout the year. This is a mixed blessing, however, as the ivy, if not carefully checked, restricts the growth of the tree and can kill it. The early morning mists on the river can make a delightfully dreamy atmosphere as they seem to hang over the water unable to escape the grip of the trees.

Image 9 - Preening Swan

The mill ponds and various waterways make an ideal habitat for the ducks and swans which live in the park. The heavy flow of the water in the river, however, causes a lot of erosion of the river banks and many of the waterways have had their banks boarded in the past to prevent this. Unfortunately this has ruined the habitat for river birds like the ducks as they are unable to climb over the boards to get on the bank. Furthermore, plants are restricted from growing right up to the waters edge limiting the sources of food and shelter. The National Trust are currently removing areas of boarding along the banks to encourage the birds to nest.

Image 10 - What Are You Looking At?

Although fascinating looking creatures, swans can be quite violent especially when protecting young. Luckily, this photograph was taken in March and none of the birds were nesting!

Image 11 - Beg!

The park is open every day during daylight hours and provides a haven from the hustle and bustle of London suburbia. The public have free access to all the park land except those areas closed of for environmental reasons. Dog walking is probably the most common activity in the park with many people visiting the park twice a day. Dogs are meant to be kept on a lead at all times to prevent them disturbing the wildlife and other park users, but this is frequently forgotten.

Image 12 - Escape

Although the National Trust, Thames Water and the Environment Agency have spent a number of years cleaning up the Wandle, the many years of pollution have taken their toll and killed off most of the fish and plants in the river as well as contaminating the river bed. Swimming and all other river activities are generally forbidden because of the poisonous nature of the water. It was, therefore, with some surprise that I came across these children on a raft paddling up the river. They were on an expedition to travel up the Wandle to see what was there.

Image 13 - Paddlers Progress

With a cheery wave they continued on up the river heading for somewhere to have their picnic and a rest before starting the journey back home.

Image 14 - Sunday Afternoon

The curved avenue leading east from the white bridge is lined with chestnut and lime trees which were planted by Gilliat Hatfield. A number of trees were unfortunately lost in the storms, however, the walk is still very impressive in the summer and a welcome shelter from the midday sun.

Image 15 - The Peoples Park

Many people walk through the park taking advantage of the green meadows, stately trees, flowing rivers and the peace without contributing to its upkeep as the National Trust are not allowed to charge an entrance fee as a condition of the legacy. The park costs over £300,000 a year to maintain which is met from funds generated by the park. To help cover these costs, some of the buildings on the estate have been put to commercial use, for example, a garden centre franchise in the walled garden, the civic registry office and the restaurant. There is still a short fall of funds, however, which make conservation and restoration a lengthy task.

Image 16 - Winter Warmth

Morden Hall Park is a traditional country park rather a Victorian style civic park with neatly tended lawns and flower beds. It seems out of place, being completely surrounded by the buildings and business of a busy London suburb instead of fields, forests and meadows. Nevertheless, hundreds of people every week use the park, each finding their own enjoyment and fulfilment from being there.

Gilliat Hatfeild’s legacy to the people of Morden is a sanctuary from the pressures of the day, where simple enjoyment can be found from being close to nature in its many guises.