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NTWANDLE VALLEY

CONSERVATION AREA

LOWER MITCHAM:WATERMEADS AND STATION

LOWER MITCHAM:WATERMEADS AND STATION

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Amended Draft, revisedfollowing public consultation.

New text shownand deleted text shownstruck through.

underlined

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

STRUCTURE OF THE DOCUMENT

LOCATIONAND EXTENT OF THE CONSERVATIONAREA

HISTORY

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENTANDARCHAEOLOGY

LAND USE

BUILDINGS

PLOT WIDTHSAND BUILDING HEIGHTS

OPEN SPACES

STREETAUDIT

NEUTRALAREAS

NEGATIVE FEATURES

CONSERVATIONAREAPROPOSALSAND POLICY

SPECIAL GUIDANCE

NEED FORADDITIONAL PLANNING CONTROLS

REVIEW OF THE CONSERVATIONAREABOUNDARY

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Mitcham Station

Grove Mill and Watermeads

Quality of Open Spaces and Means of Enclosure

SUB-AREA6: MITCHAM STATION AGE OF BUILDINGS MAP

SUB-AREA6: WATERMEADS AGE OF BUILDINGS MAP

ARCHAEOLOGY

DISTINCTIVE AND TRADITIONAL BUILDING MATERIALS AND LOCAL

DETAILS

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INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND

S T R U C T U R E O F T H EDOCUMENT

The designation of conservation areasis a legislative duty of local authorities.These areas comprise "areas ofspecial architectural or historicinterest, the character or appearanceof which it is desirable to preserve orenhance". Local authorities also havea duty to from time to time to reviewwhether any further designations aren e e d e d . T h e Wa n d l e Va l l e yConservation Area was originallydesignated by the Council inNovember 1990 and was extended inApril 2000.

The Government's Planning PolicyGuidance Note 15: Planning and theHistoric Environment (PPG 15)a d v i s e s l o c a l a u t h o r i t i e s t op e r i o d i c a l l y r e v i e w e x i s t i n gconse rva t i on a reas and the i rboundaries. PPG 15 also adviseslocal authorities to define and record,as clearly as possible, the specialarchitectural or historic interest thatjustifies each conservation area'sdesignation, through an assessmentof the elements that contribute to anarea's character.

This Character Assessment for theWandle Valley Conservation Area hasbeen prepared by the Council's Designand Conservation Team in accordancewith Guidelines issued by EnglishHeritage and Planning Policy GuidanceNote 15.

that have their own specific historicalbackground and/or defining features.

The character assessment for theWandle Valley Conservation Area hastherefore been structured to comprise ageneral appraisal document coveringthe whole of the conservation areasupported by a series of more detailedappraisals of each of the individual sub-areas.

. The appraisal is notintended to be comprehensive and theomission of any particular building,feature or space should not be taken toimply that it is of no interest.

Character assessments are useful toolsthat not only set out the specificcharacteristics for which an area hasbeen designated as a conservationarea, but also help the Council to assessthe impact of development proposals onthe character or appearance of aconservation area. They also provide auseful framework within which propertyowners and developers can work whendesigning new development or planningalterat ions to bui ldings, withinconservation areas, by setting out and

describing the special context to whichany new development will need torelate.

Because of its size and linear nature theWandle Valley conservation area, whilsthaving a unifying theme linked to itshistory, development and links to theRiver Wandle, does vary in characteralong its length. The area has, thereforebeen sub-divided into a series of smallerdiscernible sub areas which have theirown special identities and which formrecognisable zones or groups ofbuildings within the area as a whole and

This appraisal covers SubArea 6: LowerMitcham, which includes MitchamWatermeads and the area aroundformer Mitcham Station and should beread in conjunction with the whole areacharacter appraisal

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LOCATIONAND EXTENT OF THE SUB-AREA

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HISTORY

This sub-area further divides into twoareas, the area around Mitcham Stationwith its link to the development of therailway and also the Surrey Iron Railwayand the area around Grove Mill that washistorically a focus for water basedindustrial activity.

Mitcham Station:

The former Mitcham railway station, aGrade II listed building is located closeto the route of the Surrey Iron Railway.

The advent of steam locomotivessignalled the collapse of prosperity forthe Iron Railway and it was eventuallybought by the London Brighton andSouth Coast Railway in 1837 andclosed in 1838, with part of the line of theroute being used for the London toBrighton mainline.

It is unlikely that the surviving listedbuilding was itself the Surrey IronRailway station as early illustrationsheld by the Wandle Industrial Museumsuggest that the station at that time mayhave comprised a separate complex oftimber framed buildings located to thesouth of the surviving building. Thelisted building was probably originally alinked pair of houses, which later

became a station office connected withthe later passenger railway.

The Wandsworth to Croydon stretch ofrailway remained open until 1846, andpart of this route was later used by theWimbledon and Croydon Railway whichopened in 1855 and continued in useuntil 1997 when it was closed andadapted for the present CroydonTramlink line also linking Wimbledon withCroydon.

The station did prompt a cluster ofbuildings around it although it did notdevelop into a significant commercialcentre. Immediately to the south was thesite of the former Surrey Brewery ofwhich remnants of some buildings arebelieved to survive within the commercialcomplex now occupied by FunnellsRemoval and Storage Company. Themain Brewery Building that dated from at

least the early 19thC e n t u r y w a slocated on the siteto the east of thecurrent warehousesite, just beyondthe conservationarea boundary.The Brewery Sitewas separa tedfrom the road by arow of buildings,p r o b a b l y

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1950-20001900-19491850-18991800-18491750-1799

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Sub Area 6: Lower Mitcham: Mitcham Station Age of Buildings Map

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residential which fronted the LondonRoad. These buildings were demolishedto make way for road widening in the1960s and the former brewery site wassub-divided in the mid 1990s. Theoriginal Brewery buildings whichoccupied the easterly parcel weredemolished to make way for aResidential Care Home. The westernParcel remains as the Funnells site.

Opposite the former station building aretwo early 19th Century semi-detachedvillas, 470-472 and 482-484 LondonRoad to the north of which was the site ofBaron House (more correctly BarronHouse), which was owned by Mr.Barron, after whom it is called. There is apainting of the house at the LondonGuildhall Art Gallery, held in itsWakefield Collection. This shows asymmetrical fronted building with twoforward projecting wings of two storeyswith attics in the roof set behindparapets.

To the south of the railway line oppositethe brewery site was Mitcham GroveHouse part of the former grounds ofwhich now form Ravensbury Park andwhich is described in more detail in thesub-area 5Appraisal.

The site of Grove Mill and former CrownMill to the east of London Road, Mitchamopposite the entrance to RavensburyPark is on the southern outskirts of themedieval village and later village ofMitcham. The location is an ancientmilling site, with map evidence showing amill on the site as early as 1746 and withdocumentary evidence indicating thepresence of milling activity during the16th Century when three mills existedupstream of Mitcham Bridge where abypass channel formed an island. Two ofthe mills were on the present Grove Millsite and the third located on the oppositeside of the Wandle. This was possibly thesite of one of the two Doomsday mills ofMitcham.

In the early 15th Century evidencesuggests that Mitcham Mill, a corn mill,was located on the site. Some time in thelate 15th Century a new copper mill was

Grove Mill and Watermeads

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established manufacturing blanks forhalfpenny and farthing coins for theRoyal Mint which at that time waslocated in the Tower of London, it is fromthis activity that mill gained its name"Tower Copper Mill". Following the lossof the contract for coining copper in 1717production at the copper mill appears tohave declined and following thebankruptcy of the owner some yearslater it was converted into a corn mill.There is evidence of paper millingactivity by the 18th Century althoughtowards the end of that century evidencesuggests that all the mills were beingused to grind corn, although thereappears to have been some milling ofsnuff for a short period but this ceasedunder the terms of a new lease grantedin 1772. However in 1786 a new owneragain converted one of the mills for snuffmilling. In 1788 one of the mills burntdown and a new mill was built on the siteof the current Grove Mill. The other twomills were located opposite on thebypass channel that formed the island.

Henry Hoare of Mitcham Grove (seeSub-Area 5: The Parks appraisaldocument) acquired the head lease of allthree mills in 1792 which at that timewere occupied by Richard Glover. BothHoare and Glover were shareholders inthe Surrey Iron Railway. Glovercontinued corn and snuff milling as wellas paper making at the site. Hoareeventually died in 1828 and the estatessold in lots by auction by his executors.The mills continued to work until around1846 at which time the snuff mill appearsto have become unoccupied and wasagain put up for sale by auction in 1848.It seem that the lease was taken up by afelt manufacturer and it is this mill thatlater gained the name Crown Mill. CrownMill was eventually destroyed by fire in1870 but was hastily re-built in brick with

a slate roof and felt production continuedat the site.

Corn milling continued at the other twomills and it is one of these that laterbecame Grove Mill. It seems that thesetwo mills were eventually rebuilt as asingle three-storey structure at around1861. Corn milling ceased at the start ofthe 20th Century and when a new leasewas granted for the Grove Mill in 1903 tothe new occupiers the Patent Horse HairCompany who converted it for themanufacture of artificial horsehair, whichwas used as mattress and upholsterystuffing.

The building was badly damaged by firein 1907 and subsequently also re-builtas a two storey building with the shell ofthe earlier building retained behind theextended west front and this is the millbuilding that survives today. The artificialhorsehair product was given the nameLyxhayr and the company renamedLyxhayr Limited. The Crown mill at thistime had fallen into disuse and thecompany eventually took it over in 1910and was reconstituted as LyxhayrManufacturers Limited. There was afurther change in name in 1919 toMitcham Fibre Mills Limited, and the

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company eventually bought the freeholdof both buildings. The fibre companycontinued with a further name changeuntil 1959 but only occupying the CrownMill. The Grove Mill was leased tomedicated toilet soap and perfumemanufacturers R. F. White andCompany Limited.

In 1940 Grove mill was damaged by asecond World War bomb and in 1954 amajor extension was added to the southand east.

After the departure of the fibre companyit seems that the Crown Mill was takenover by C. S. Walker (Sacks) Limitedand the associated Jute CompanyLimited. However there was a further fireat the Crown Mill 1964 that completelydestroyed it and it was never re-builtalthough Walkers continued to occupyother buildings on the site. Shortly afterthe millrace through Grove Mill thatprovided the water to power the mill andthe adjacent north-south river channelswere infilled by Surrey County Counciland the route of the river diverted to itspresent alignment to the south. Duringthe 1960s an asbestos cement sheetedshed was built to the north-east of thesite of Crown Mill over the formermillrace. This housed a number of smalllight industrial enterprises, and wasdemolished in 2003 to make way for thenew residential development.

R. F. White and Company Limitedvacated Grove Mill in 1979 whenproduct ion was moved to toPeterborough. The Mill was againoccupied until 2003 after which thebuilding was converted into flats as partof a new residential development on theremainder of the site.

Three of the millworker cottages surviveand remain in residential occupation.Two are 18th Century with anotheradded on the end in the 19th Century.

The sub area extends to the north ofGrove Mill to include Wandle House, aGrade II Listed Building. This wasformerly part of a larger house WandleGrove, a villa dating from 1795 thedesign of which is attributed to RobertMylne, the Scottish Architect andEngineer, and who also designed thefirst Blackfriars Bridge, London's thirdriver crossing and completed in 1769.During the mid 19th Century WandleGrove was occupied by William Wilsonwho in 1848 donated two inscribed silvercups to Mitcham Parish Church.

Little exists as to the houses’ history butmaps show the property occupying alarger footprint with associated buildingsand structures set into landscapedgrounds. During the 1960s the housewas converted to office use with the

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Sub Area 6: Mitcham: Watermeads - Age of Buildings Map

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Conservation Area Boundary Statutory List Local List

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addition of a poorly designedextension, which does little to preservethe setting of the building or characterof the conservation area.

Historic maps suggest that the earliestdevelopment comprised the millingactivities on the Wandle followed bygradual development of large houses

along the main road linking London toSutton and Epsom, which followed thealignment of the modern London Road,and which crossed the Wandle atMitcham Bridge at approximately thesame location as the modern road. Thearea's development was thereforecharacterised by industrial activityassociated with the river and in closeproximity to the railway, with theindustrial sites interspersed with largehouses and smaller terraces ofcottages close to the site of the station.The larger houses were set withinextensive landscaped grounds.

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENTAND ARCHAEOLOGY

The closure of the Surrey Iron Railwaywas a watershed in Mitcham's fortunesas the town was skirted by the newrailway system linking other suburbswith Central London and as a result itdid not enjoy the suburban expansion

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Rocque’s Map 1741-5

Ordnance Survey 1865

as occurred in neighbouring Wimbledonand Croydon. The arrival of anti-socialindustries such as paint, varnish andlinoleum manufacture coincided with theexodus of the wealthy families thatoccupied the larger houses. It alsomarked the end of major horticulturalenterprise in the area with closure ofPotter and Moore who manufactureslavender and peppermint oils at adistillery located near Figge's Marsh in1886. This prompted the decline andeventual disappearance of Mitcham'srural atmosphere and between 1900 and1910 the population doubled to 29,606.

However most of this expansionoccurred to the north of the Wandle andwas focused on the Upper Green, whichbecame the new centre for the Town ofMitcham. Therefore, little changes areobserved in the area around the stationand the Mitcham mills until after theSecond World War after which thegrounds of the larger houses were

gradually developed for housing.And the1 9 5 3 M a p s h o w s r e s i d e n t i a ldevelopment to the South of MordenRoad and also within the former Groundsof Wandle Grove (Wandle House).

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Ordnance Survey 1896-1899 Ordnance Survey 1953

During the 1960s the London Road waswidened south of its junction with MordenRoad which involved demolition of anumber of buildings on the east side ofthe road behind which was located thePharmaceutical Factory that occupiedthe former Brewery. The Factory appearsto have closed shortly after and thebuildings used for warehousing andfabrication of architectural products. Thesite was sub-divided and the rear

section, No 40 Tramway Path whichcontained the original early 19th CenturyBrewery buildings was redeveloped toprovide a Nursing Home in the mid1990s.

The most recent phase of developmentwas the redevelopment of the Grove andCrown Mill sites for housing in the early2000s. This involved demolition of anumber of buildings on the site.

The sub area is of some importancearchaeologically falling within theWa n d l e Va l l e y A l l u v i u m a n dWandle/Mitcham Archaeological PriorityZones. Mitcham Station and the area tothe east of London Road is within theMitcham Common ArchaeologicalPriority Zone and the properties oppositeincluding 470 - 484 London Road arewithin the Mitcham ArchaeologicalPriority Zone. Of most significance is theexistence of the site of the MitchamSaxon Cemetery close to the junction ofLondon and Morden Roads theexcavation of which also producedRoman finds including a bronze fingerring, a key handle and a coin of

ARCHAEOLOGY

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Grove Mill Site before re development

Constantius II now housed in variousmuseums. Other finds from excavationsin the area include a fragment ofprehistoric pottery, Roman pot andceramic building materials and anearly/middle Saxon pit, possibly a quarrypit for sand backfilled with domesticrefuse found at Tramway Path.

The dredging of the "paper mill cut" atWatermeads National Trust propertyclose to its confluence with the Wandlerevealed a cast-iron wheel of 32 inchesdiameter and a second incompletewheel, lacking part of its rim which ispresently held in the National Trustowned former snuff mill within MordenHall Park. These are believed to be fromthe Surrey Iron Railway and localknowledge suggests that buildings nearGrove Mill were used as workshops forthe railway. There is also a belief that oldwheels from the railway were used toreinforce the banks of the Wandle afterthe railway's closure.

Whilst historically land use within thissub-area was predominantly industrialassociated with the milling on the Wandleand the railway the area is nowpredominantly in residential use withsome more recent commercial activityincluding the tyre and exhaust workshopwithin 472 London Road, at the site of the

former Surrey Brewery now occupied bya removal and storage company and atWandle House which is now used asoffices. The last surviving pocket oftraditional industrial uses was at the sitesof Grove and Crown Mill which supporteda variety of enterprises in an ad hoccollection of buildings until 2003 the sitehas, however, now been redevelopedalso for residential use.

The area to the south of the Grove andCrown Mill site comprising the NationalTrust owned Watermeads is nowmaintained as a Nature Reserve withcontrolled access, the Wandle Trail runsalong the southern boundary to theconservation area and continues alongthe river towards Sutton and Waddon.The areas along the River form part of aGreen Corridor that extends the length ofthe Wandle through Merton and is also aG r e e n C h a i n a n d d e s i g n a t e dMetropolitan Open Land. The naturallandscaping and ecological diversity ofthe area combine to make an importantnatural habitat and provides a significantpassive recreational resource within theBorough of Merton.

The main buildings of significance to thispart of the conservation area are TheStatutory listed buildings around andincluding the former Mitcham Station,Wandle House, the Grove Mill andformer mill workers cottages to the southof Grove Mill. There are some remnantsof the former Surrey Brewery which arealso of historic significance.

The two pairs of semi-detached villascomprising 470-472 and 482-484London Road are two matching, pairs of'Regency' style houses. Built in 1840 byThomas Finden, a local builder, they

LAND USE

BUILDINGS

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comprise two symmetrical 4 storeyblocks, including a semi-basements, withside wings which are set back slightlyfrom the front elevations. The upperfloors to the side wings are enclosedwithin slated mansard roofs set behindparapets to the front; the main roofsbeing concealed behind parapets. Theyhave coursed stucco to the ground andsemi-basement floors with yellow stockbrickwork over with gauged brick, flatarch-headed windows, comprisingdouble-hung sashes with narrow glazingbars. There are cornices above thesecond floor to the main building andabove the first floor to side wings.Number 484 is was extended to the southin 1981. Numbers 482-484 London Roadhave been combined to a single propertyand extended to the rear and is used as aplace of worship. Numbers 470-472 havebeen converted into flats and newhousing has been constructed within thegrounds to the rear. The former coachhouse has been extended is currentlyoccupied by a tyre and exhaust fitter.

Mitcham Station dates from about 1800and has a symmetrical front with a centralrecessed carriage entrance archwaythrough the building at ground floor level.It was probably originally residential andconverted to a station ticket office after

the closure of the Surrey Iron Railwaywhen the line was adapted for passengerrailway use as part of the Wandsworth toCroydon branch line. The station ticketoffice closed during the 1980s and in theearly 1990s the building was convertedinto offices and a new office buildingconstructed on the site to the rear.

This is a brick built two-storey buildingwith an attic floor within a gabled pitchedroof of similar, size, scale andproportions to the listed building. Thefacades are rather plain compared to thehistoric building but it does not detractfrom the character of the conservationarea, or setting of the listed building.

These buildings of special architecturalor historic interest form an importantgroup located just north of the old SurreyIron Railway, now the Wimbledon toCroydon branch of the Croydon

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Tramlink, and the junction between theA217 London Road and the A239Morden Road.

Immediately to the north of the station isthe Crown Public House. This is an inter-war building replacing an earlier building,also a public house. It is a three-storey

Also close to the route of the formerrailway, now tramway at the westernboundary to the sub area which isdefined by the route of Baron Walklinking Morden Road with MitchamParish Church is Foundation House, 10Merton Road a much altered early 20thCentury building now used as offices.

This is one of the earliest buildings tohave been constructed at this end ofMorden Road.

Wandle House also a grade II ListedBuilding comprises a surviving section ofa larger building. The building has aprominent bow front and is constructedfrom brown stock brick with a slatemansard roof set behind a parapet whichi n c o r p o r a t e s p a n e l s o f o p e n

“Jacobethan” style building with a loftytiled roof with prominent dormer windowsand timber strapwork to the upper floorelevations. The windows are timbercasements with leaded lights to theupper floors. The building is set backfrom the frontage of the station buildingand the alignment of the original buildingcreating a small forecourt area. Thedormers appear to be more recentadditions and rather detract from theoverall appearance of the building. Thebuilding sits well into the surroundingtownscape and contributes to thecharacter of the conservation area interms of its siting and massing andcontributing to the overall grouping ofbuildings within this part of the sub area.

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balustrading. The building has verticalsliding sash windows set within squaregauged, brick arched openings. Theground floor windows are set with semi-circular arched recesses. The setting ofthe house has been compromised by thesurrounding residential developmentthat was constructed within the formergrounds to the house during the earlypost World War 2 period. The east wingof the house was demolished in the1960s and a new office buildingconstructed adjacent to Wandle house tothe east in 1967 with a two-storey glazedwalkway link to the surviving part of thehouse. The office building is building is ofa modern frame construction with glazedcladding panels. Its design andappearance does not complement that ofthe original building and is detrimental tothe character of the conservation areaand the setting of the listed building.

The site of the Grove Mill was originallyan island surrounded by watercourseson all sides. The original building datingfrom 1871, which was a replacement foran earlier timber building, was threestoreys and straddled a course of theriver. The mill was badly damaged by firein 1907 and was largely re-built but as atwo storey building incorporatingremnants of the fabric of the fire-damaged building. The building'sfootprint was extended to create adouble piled building. The northernwatercourse was back filled after the lossof the Crown Mill also following a fire inthe 1960s and it now simply a riversidesite. Remnants of the mill channel andwaterwheel housing including remnantof the vertical iron channels that held thesluice gates survived until recently on theeastern side of the main building.

The building is of stock brick, which hasbeen painted white. The early 1871building had large industrial style metalwindows with distinctive exposedsandstone lintels with a carved rolldecoration the openings of which,without the windows, survive within theextended building. The 1907 extensionalso had large industrial steel windowsset into segmental arched openings. Afurther extension was added in the 1930sthis was a flat roofed brick and concreteconstruction with large Crittall windows

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s e t b e n e a t hexposed concretelintels. This wasdemolished at thetime of the mill'sconversion asp a r t o f t h er e s i d e n t i a ldevelopment thatwas undertakenin 2003 . Thewindows havebeen replacedw i t h d o u b l e -glazing as part ofthe conversioninto flats.

The Crown Millwas completelydemolished afterit was gutted byfire but remnantsof its footings andan extensive flag

stone floor survived until the site waseventually cleared for development.

The former millworker cottages are allGrade II listed and are of timber frameconstruction finished in white paintedweatherboarding, they date from the

18th Century, although the most westerlyof the three cottages facing at rightangles to the other two is slightly later.

Other buildings within the sub areacomprise the commercial buildings onthe east side of London Road to thesouth of the parade of shops abovewhich occupy the site of the formerSurrey Brewery and which later becamethe site of a pharmaceutical productsfactory. Some remnants of early brewerybuildings are believed to have survived

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Crown Mill Development Chris Heels

on behalf of the National Trust

©

within the site. The site is however largelyconcealed behind advertising hoardings,and a number of large containers areaccommodated on the site which arevisually detrimental to the character ofthe conservation area.

The parade between this site and thetramline comprise a post war terrace ofshops with maisonettes above. They arethree-storeys with the upper floor with alarge mansard roof with a deepprojecting eaves. The building has alarge advertising hoarding affixed to itsflank wall and the windows have beenreplaced with modern windows of non-traditional style and these buildings oflittle architectural or historic significanceand make a neutral contribution to thecharacter of the conservation area.

The most recent buildings within this sub-area comprise the new residentialdevelopment at Taplow Court, behind470-472 London Road and most recentlythe new residential development atGrove Mill.

The Taplow Court development is a fairlytypical late 20th Century housingdevelopment based around a courtyard.The form and design of the developmentdoes not really reflect the intrinsicarchitectural characteristics of the area.The buildings are fairly low key and arecons idered to make a neutra l

contribution to the character andappearance of the conservation area.

Greater effort has been taken with thedesign of the Grove Mill development toreflect the characteristics of the formerindustrial site with a mix of larger andsmaller scale buildings and bettercontributes to the character of the area.

The area is characterised by twod is t inc t ly d i f fe rent pat te rns ofdevelopment comprising the fairly formalalignment of primarily residentialbuildings along the alignment of LondonRoad to the north of the Stationcontrasting with more informal groupingof industrial buildings on the site of theformer Brewery and the Grove andCrown Mill sites. Buildings arepredominantly two storeys with the semi-detached villas being taller with three

PLOT WIDTHSAND HEIGHTS

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s to rey ' s se t ove r basemen ts .Foundation House, at 10 Morden Roadwas originally two-storey bat had anadditional floor enclosed within aMansard style roof added in the 1990s.

The most predominant traditionalmaterial within this sub-area is yellowand brown stock brick laid mainly inFlemish bond with matching shallowbrick arches over the windows anddoors. The millworker cottages are oftimber frame constructionfinished withbraos feather edged boarding paintedwhite which was of a type that was onceindigenous to the area and nowrepresent a rare survival of the areasformer vernacular.

Roofs are predominantly Welsh slateapart from the former millworkercottages at Watermeads, which haveclay pantile roofs.

Windows to the residential properties,including the listed villas in London Roadand Riverside Drive are predominantlytimber sash windows. The mill workerscottages have the windows arranged inprojecting bays. The former industrialbuildings would have had steel Crittallwindows, however these have nowmainly been replaced with moderndouble glazing. Steel windows aregenerally more appropriate to thecharacter of these type of buildings andre-instatement would be encouarged.

D I S T I N C T I V E A N DT R A D I T I O N A L B U I L D I N GMATERIALS AND LOCALDETAILS

OPEN SPACE

Quality of Open Space and Formof Enclosure

The River Wandle passing through thesub area and the adjacent open spacesform part of a Site of Mertopolitan

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Importance for Nature Conservationwhich extends into the adjacentBorough of Sutton. Parts this area alsoforms part of Bennetts Hole LocalNature Reserve. The area of wetlandbetween the modern route of theWandle and the southerly side channel,former ly the "Paper Mi l l cut" ,"Watermeads" is owned and managedas a nature reserve by the National Trustand this represents a fascinatingwetland and river environment.

The form and quality of the open spacesis very much influenced by the patternsof development and the nature of theplots sizes. The sub area can be dividedinto four distinctive areas.

1. Areas of predominantly riparian andwetland habitat along the Wandle;

2. Predominantly hard landscapedurban areas comprising fairlyinformal spaces and yards of varyingsize and layout between the formerindustrial complexes at Grove milland also the former Brewery site,behind the former station andparking areas to the rear of Nos 470-484 London Road;

3. Very small garden areas associatedmainly with the newer residentialdevelopment behind Nos 470-472London Road and also around theformer millworker cottages by GroveMill; and

4. Area of public open space behindNos 470-484 London Road andextending to the conservation areaboundary along Baron's walk and

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Watermeads Nature Reserve Chris

Heels on behalf of the National Trust

©

forming part of the London RoadPlaying Fields, which occupy theformer grounds of Baron Housewhich used to stand just north of theconservation area on the west side ofLondon Road.

The main forms of enclosure comprise: -

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Natural features such as the Wandleand its various side channels.

High brick walls enclosing the reargarden areas to 470-484 LondonRoad.

Low timber fences that define thefront gardens of the Watermeadscottages

Iron railings and gates to the south ofthe bridge over the Wandle to thearea of Watermeads to the west ofLondon Road with matching panelsincorporated into the western bridgeparapet.

Chainlink fencing on the east side ofthe bridge over the Wandle and alongthe north side of Morden Roadforming the boundary to the tramline.

� high modern, timber fences somesupport ing large advert is ing

hoardings along the north side ofMorden Road and also enclosing thewarehouse site on th east side ofLondon Road.

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Steel railings along the river betweenthe Grove Mill site and theWatermeads Nature Reserve

Rather unattractive anti-intruderfencing and concrete panel wallsalong Barons Walk.

Around the former station are moreurban boundary t rea tmen tscomprising metal railings particularlyin front of 482-484 London Road andthe station itself. Although notoriginal, traditional designs havebeen in t roduced and thesecomplement the character of theconservation area and should ideallybe extended to the front of 470-472London Road.

New steel railings and gates havealso been installed at the entrance to

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National Trust Watermeads Chris

Heels on behalf of the National Trust

©

the new Grove and Crown Millshousing development.

Most of the sub area is urban incharacter and not particularly wellwooded, although adjacent parklandareas are. The only Tree PreservationOrder within this sub-area relates to aYew tree in the front garden of thecentral millworker cottage at 477London Road, Mitcham. Nonethelesstrees make a significant contribution tothe semi-rural character of this part ofthe conservation area particularly withinthe areas to either side of the Wandleand the Watermeads Nature Reserve

The areas to either side of the Wandlerepresent important ecological habitatsand contribute the character of thewaterway and make it attractive forpassive recreational pursuits.

STREETAUDIT

The only highways within this sub areaare London Road and Morden Road thejunction of which is immediately to thesouth of the bridge over the formerrailway, now tramway. There is also theWandle Path which runs down the southside of the River Wandle from MitchamBridge.

London Road and Morden Roads arequite a historic roads linking Londonwith Sutton and Epsom and alsoMorden and Mitcham. These roadswould have originally been of a fairlyrural character with no formalpavements and kerbs.

Kerbs appear to have been installedduring the 19th Century and earlyphotographs of Mitcham Station datingfrom the 1860s show fairly rough kerbswith bare earth road and footways. The

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National Trust Watermeads Chris

Heels on behalf of the National Trust

©

road was widened during the 1950s byincorporating the front gardens to Nos470 to 484 London Road at the timeBaron House site was redeveloped forhousing at which time Baron, Fenningand Gedge Courts were constructedimmediately to the north of theconservation area. The road at that timehad wide tree lined verges which werefurther absorbed into the road when itwas converted into a dual carriagewayin the 1980s.

Some sections of granite kerb stillsurvive particularly along the easternedge to London Road, either side of thebridge over the Wandle and in MordenRoad. There are also some sections ofm o d e r n c o n s e r v a t i o n k e r b ,incorporating granite aggregate alongthe western edge of London Road, otherwise kerbing is modern concrete.

Paving is mainly tarmac ,with strips oflarge format concrete flags, althoughthis is not necessarily inappropriate tothe character of the area whichprobably never had traditional Yorkstone paving. The appearance oftarmac could, however, be improvedwith the incorporation of some naturalstone gravel bonded into the surface.

There is a variety of street furniture inthe area including cast-iron andconcrete bollards. Street lamps arerather utilitarian with industrial style

lamps on tall galvanised utilitarian lamp-posts that do not really reflect thecharacter of the conservation area,there are lower street lighting alongBarons Walk with industrial style lamps.

Street name signs vary in style andfixings, either fitted on posts or ontoproperty boundaries.

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There are steel directional finger postsassociated with the Wandle Trail whichare in character with the conservationarea.

There are, however, incidences ofclutter, particularly in Morden Roadwhere there would appear to be scopefor combining street furniture.

Other items of street furniture includenew gates along the Wandle Trail to

restrict access for bicycles along thesection to the south of Watermeadswhich has access restricted topedestrians. Constructed galvanisedsteel they are of contemporary design.

There is also the bridge across theWandle which is modern concrete withbrick built parapets with concretecopings. The bridge is not of anyparticular architectural or engineeringmerit.

The bridge over the tramline is of similarconstruction with brick parapets withstone piers and topped with concretecopings.

NEUTRALAREAS

Some of the areas around the buildingsare dominated by car parking. Thedominance of the modern A217 LondonRoad cuts right across this part of the

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conservation area and is of a verydifferent character to the historic roadthat it once was and the associatedvolumes of traffic is also an issue for theconservation area and the way it dividesthe conservation area.

The terrace of shops and maisonettesimmediataly to the south of the tram lineis also represents a different characterof development to this part of theconservation area and is alsoconsidered to be neutral to the characterand appearance of the area.

The large extension to the rear of 482 -484 London Road added toward the endof the 20th Century as part of theconversion of the pair of houses forreligious uses has been designed as aseparate but linked block. It is fairlyfunctional in appearance and whilst thisapproach to extending historic buildingsis appropriate the overall developmentdoes not contribute positively to thecharacter and appearance of theconservation area and is thereforeconsidered to be neutral to the areascharacter.

The enclosure of the new residentialdevelopment around the locally listedGrove Mill and adjacent listed cottagesgives the appearance of a gatedc o m m u n i t y w i t h i n t h e w i d e r

conservation area which does not helpto contribute to greater understandingof the character and history of the area.

The main negative features are thepresence of the large advertisinghoardings enclosing the Warehouse siteoccupying the part of the former site ofthe Surrey Brewery and located almostdirectly opposite the Junction of MordenRoad with London Road.

The 1960s office exention to WandleHouse has been identified as beingdetrimental to the special, character,appearance and setting of the listedbuilding abd also represents a negativefeature within the conservation area.

The prominent security features, poorlydetailed replacement windows and adhoc signage at the site of Foundation

NEGATIVE FEATURES

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House, 10 Morden Road are also prettyunsightly and detrimental to thecharacter of the conservation area.

The site is also dominated by the largetemporary buildings that have beeninstalled within its curtilage.

Barons walk, part of which forms thewesterly boundary to this part of theconservation area is lined with concretepanel fences to the London RoadPlaying Fields and metal palings to theadjacent Waste Recycling depot. This

gives this part of the conservation area arather unattractive appearance,although the path itself is an historicroute towards the Church. The walls andfences along the path has at times beentargeted with Graffiti. The path generallyhas an intimidating atmosphere atpresent .

The tyre and exhaust outlet with itsunsightly gantry and advertisingparaphernalia immediately adjacent toand within the curtilage of a Grade IIlisted building is also detrimental to thecharacter of the area and also the settingof it and adjacent historic buildings.

This part of the conservation area is alsodominated by the power lines that followthe Wandle Valley and which aresupported by large pylons two of whichare located either within of immediatelyadjacent to the conservation area.

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The policies and proposals set out in thisdocument are intended to preserve orenhance the character and appearanceof the conservation area and assist inm a n a g i n g c h a n g e w i t h o u tcompromising the historic environment.The preservation and enhancement ofthe historic integrity of the conservationarea as a whole is a core objective of thedocument. These policies and proposalsseek to preserve the best historic,landscape/townscape and architecturalfeatures that contribute to essentialcharacter and historic interest withoutstifling change. It is intended that thesepolicies and proposals should provide aframework to guide future developmentin the area likely to impact on theconservation area.

In order to secure good qualitydevelopment that enhances thecharacter of the conservation area andaddress problems, appropriate methodsand standards for new development andfor alterations are proposed.

The policies and proposals contained inthis document accord with

The statutory development planapplying to The Mitcham Sub-Area is theLondon Borough of Merton UnitaryDevelopment Plan, adopted in October2003. This plan will eventually bereplaced by the emerging LocalD e v e l o p m e n t F r a m e w o r k a n d

In terms of the application of thosepolicies to this part of the ConservationArea the following supplemental policesare proposed to secure goodmanagement and to help achieve theobject ives of preservat ion andenhancement of the character andappearance of the conservation area.

These policies are informed by theCharacter Appraisal and aim to take itforward as a positive plan for this part ofthe conservation area.

With respect to development proposals,extensions and alterations the followingsupplementary policy is proposed: -

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Government Planning Policy Notes;and

Merton's Unitary Development Plan(UDP) .

supporting Action Plans and associatedplanning documents. The relevant

policies within the adopted UnitaryDevelopment Plan are:

1. In relation to Conservation Areas -polices:

2. In relation to Archaeology:

3. In relation to New Buildings andExtensions:

4. In relation to Streetscape:

BE.1 Conservation Areas,New Development, Change of Use,Alterations and Extensions; BE.2:Conservation Areas Demolition; andBE.3 Development Adjacent to aConservationArea

PoliciesBE.13: Archaeological Protectionand Preservation; and BE.14Archaeological Evaluation.

Policies BE.15: NewBuildings and Extensions; Daylight,Sunlight, Privacy, Visual Intrusionand Noise; BE.16: Urban Design; B E. 22 : Design of New Development;and Policy BE.23: Alterations andExtensions to Buildings

PolicyBE.33: Street Furni ture andMaterials.

CONSERVATION AREA PROPOSALS AND POLICY

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With respect to development proposalsinvolving demolition of buildings thefollowing supplementary policy will betaken into consideration.

With respect to development adjacent tothe conservation that would have animpact on the conservation area’scharacter or setting, the followingsupplementary policy is proposed.

POLICY WV.M3: DEVELOPMENTADJACENT TO THE CONSERVATIONAREA

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS ADJACENTTO THIS PART OF THE CONSERVATION

P O L I C Y W V . M 1 : N E WDEVELOPMENT, CHANGE OF USE,ALTERATIONS AND EXTENSIONS.

WITHIN THIS PART OF THE CONSERVATIONA R E A P R O P O S A L S F O R N E WDEVELOPMENT, ALTERATIONS OREXTENSIONS OR FOR THE CHANGE OF USEOF LAND OR BUILDINGS WILL BEREQUIRED TO PRESERVE OR ENHANCETHE CHARACTER OR APPEARANCE OFTHE MITCHAM SUB-AREA. PROPOSALSWILL BE EXPECTED TO:

(i) RESPECT OR COMPLEMENT THEDESIGN, SCALE, FORM, LAYOUT ANDMATERIALS OF SURVIVING HISTORICB U I L D I N G S A N D S PA C E S A SIDENTIFIED IN THEAPPRAISAL.

(ii) PRESERVE THE SETTING OF HISTORICBUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES,PARTICULARLY LISTED BUILDINGS;

(iii) R E S P E C T T H E R E L AT I O N S H I PB E T W E E N B U I L D I N G S A N DSURROUNDING LANDSCAPING, TREES,STREET PATTERNS OR OTHERFEATURES CONTRIBUTING TO THECHARACTER, HISTORIC VALUE OR THEPATTERN OF DEVELOPMENT IN THEAREA;

(iv) HAVE REGARD TO VIEWS WITHIN ANDOUT OF THE AREA, PARTICULARLYALONG AND ACROSS THE RIVERWANDLE;

(v) PRESERVE THE AREA’S NATURALHERITAGE AND THE RIPARIANHABITATS ALONG THE RIVER WANDLE;AND

(vi) ENSURE THAT THE LEVEL OF ACTIVITY,TRAFFIC, PARKING SERVICES ORN O I S E G E N E R A T E D B Y T H EDEVELOPMENT WOULD NOT DETRACTF R O M T H E C H A R A C T E R O RAPPEARANCE OF THEAREA

DESIGN STATEMENTS MAY BE REQUIREDIN SUPPORT OF PROPOSALS TODEMONSTRATE HOW THE ABOVECRITERIA WILL BE ADDRESSED AND HOWTHE PROPOSALS WILL CONTRIBUTE TOTHE SPECIAL CHARACTER OF THEAREA.

POLICY WV.M2: DEMOLITIONS.

TOTAL OR SUBSTANTIAL DEMOLITION OFLISTED, LOCALLY LISTED OR UNLISTEDBUILDINGS THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIEDAS MAKING A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TOTHE CHARACTER OR APPEARANCE OFTHIS PART OF THE CONSERVATION AREAWILL NOT BE PERMITTED.

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS INVOLVINGDEMOLITION OF OTHER BUILDINGS WITHINTHIS PART OF THE CONSERVATION AREAWILL BE CONSIDERED ON THE MERITS OFTHE PROPOSED REPLACEMENT BUILDINGAND WILL BE EXPECTED TO PRESERVE ORE N H A N C E T H E C H A R A C T E R A N DAPPEARANCE OF THE CONSERVATIONAREA AND THE SETTINGS OF LISTED ANDLOCALLY LISTED BUILDINGS.

WHERE APPLICATIONS ARE LIKELY TOINVOLVE DEMOLITION OR ALTERATIONSTHAT WOULD IMPACT ON THE SPECIALINTEREST OF BUILDINGS OF INTRINSICHISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICALINTEREST, FOR EXAMPLE ON THE FORMERSURREY BREWERY SITE, ADEQUATEARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE FORRECORDING REMAINS THAT WOULD BEDESTROYED OR DAMAGED IN THECOURSE OF THE WORKS. SUCH WORKMUST BE UNDERTAKEN IN ACCORDANCEW I T H A W R I T T E N S C H E M E O FINVESTIGATION APPROVED BY THECOUNCIL.

A CONDITION WILL BE IMPOSED ON AC O N S E R VAT I O N A R E A C O N S E N TGRANTED, TO ENSURE THAT DEMOLITIONSHALL NOT TAKE PLACE UNTIL ACONTRACT FOR THE CARRYING OUT OFTHE DEVELOPMENT WORKS HAS BEENMADE.

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Grove Mill is included on the Council’snon-statutory local list and any furtherproposals to alter or extend it will besubject to the following supplementalpolicy: -.

In terms of Urban Design the followingsupplementary policy objective hasbeen proposed

Any highway works will be expected toc o m p l y w i t h t h e f o l l o w i n gsupplementary policy.

POLICY WV.M6: STREET FURNITUREAND MATERIALS

WHEN IMPLEMENTING ENVIRONMENTALIMPROVEMENTS THE COUNCIL WILLENDEAVOUR TO:

(i) USE PAVING MATERIALS AND DETAILST H AT C O N T R I B U T E T O T H ECHARACTER OF THIS PART OF THECONSERVATIONAREA;

(ii) RETAIN AND RE-USE GRANITE KERBSAND OTHER DETAILS, WHERE THESESURVIVE;

(iii) REMOVE ALL REDUNDANT STREETFURNITURE, AND SIGNAGE AND, ASPART OF A PLANNED REPLACEMENT,TO INSTALL MORE APPROPRIATESTREET FURNITURE;

DEVELOPMENT AND LANDSCAPE ASIDENTIFIED IN THE CHARACTERAPPRAISAL.

(ii) CLEARLY DISTINGUISHING BETWEENPRIVATE AND PUBLIC AREAS,T H R O U G H R E L AT I O N S H I P T OSTREETS AND THE DESIGN OFENCLOSURE OF SPACES;

(iii) CONTRIBUTE TO THE CREATION OFRECOGNISABLE ROUTES ANDINTERSECTIONS LINKING THEWANDLE AND ASSOCIATED OPENSPACES WITH SURROUNDING AREASTHAT ARE ATTRACTIVE, SAFE ANDACCESSIBLE TO ALL MEMBERS OFTHE COMMUNITY.

(iv) E N H A N C I N G O P E N S P A C E SINCLUDING AREAS ALONG THEWANDLE;AND

(v) CREATING VIABLE PLACES THATOFFER VARIETY AND CHOICE ANDRESPOND TO LOCAL NEEDS.

URBAN DESIGN STATEMENTS WILL BEREQUIRED IN SUPPORT OF ANY MAJORNEW DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS TODEMONSTRATE HOW THE ABOVECRITERIA HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED.

POLICY WV.M4: LOCAL LIST

PROPOSALS TO ALTER, EXTEND ORCHANGE THE USE OF THE LOCALLYLISTED GROVE MILL WILL BE EXPECTEDTO:-

(I) BE SYMPATHETIC TO THE DESIGN,SCALE, PROPORTIONS, CHARACTERAND DETAILING OF THE ORIGINALBUILDING;

(II) RESPECT ITS SETTING;AND

(III) PRESERVE THE LOCAL HISTORICINTEREST OF THE BUILDING.

ADEQUATE ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BEMADE FOR THE RECORDING OF ANYHISTORIC FABRIC OF THE BUILDING,INCLUDING REMNANTS OF OUTBUILDINGSAND EXTENSIONS, THAT WOULD BEDESTROYED OR SIGNIFICANTLY ALTEREDOR DAMAGED IN THE COURSE OF THEWORKS.

POLICY WV.M5: URBAN DESIGN

DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS WILL BEEXPECTED TO ACHIEVE URBAN DESIGNOBJECTIVES FOR THE CONSERVATIONAREABY:

(i) RESPONDING TO AND REINFORCINGLOCALLY DISTINCTIVE PATTERNS OF

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AREA WILL BE EXPECTED TO HAVEREGARD TO THE HISTORIC PATTERN OFDEVELOPMENT WITHIN AND AROUND THECONSERVATION AREA AND PRESERVE ORENHANCE ITS SETTING AND NOT DETRACTFROM VIEWS INTO OR OUT OF THEAREA.

DESIGN STATEMENTS WILL BE REQUIREDIN SUPPORT OF PROPOSALS TODEMONSTRATE HOW THE DEVELOPMENTWILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CHARACTERAND SETTING OF THE ADJACENTCONSERVATIONAREA

The Mitcham sub-area is of somearchaeological significance beingimmediately to the west of the site of theAnglo-Saxon Cemetery excavated nearthe junction of Morden Road andLondon Road, and also falling within theWandle Valley Alluvium, WandleMitcham, Mitcham and MitchamCommon Archaeological Priority Zones.Development proposals involvingexcavation in the area will need to haveregard to the following policy: -

The warehouse site, opposite thejunction of Morden and London Roadsand occupying part of the former SurreyBrewery site is the last area within thissub-area supporting a significantcommercial use. The site is concealedbehind a high fence and advertisinghoardings and is considered to be apossible focus for development at somefuture stage. It is, therefore, suggestedthat if this does become a real prospectthe site should be the subject of adevelopment framework to inform thefuture development of this area.

Key objectives of the framework will beto achieve an appropriate form of mixed-use development that integrates withthe historic character of the area. Keyrequirements will include: -

1. A s t a n d i n g b u i l d i n g a n darchaeological investigation by ar e c o g n i s e d a r c h a e o l o g i c a lorganisation to establish thesignificance of the site and anypossible surviving historic buildings.

2. A form and layout of developmentthat respects the character of thearea and incorporates buildings orstructures of architectural or historicsignificance, which should beretained in the development.

3. Any new buildings to be a form and

The Council will also seek to limit theimpact of large advertising hoardings onthe character of the conservation areaand will only agree them where theywould not be detrimental to the specialcharacter and appearance of the area.

SPECIAL GUIDANCE

POLICY WV.M7: ARCHAEOLOGICALPROTECTIONAND PRESERVATION

THE COUNCIL WILL EXPECT EARLYCONSULTATION WHERE DEVELOPMENT ISP R O P O S E D W I T H I N T H EARCHAEOLOGICAL PRIORITY ZONES ANDM AY R E Q U I R E A P R E L I M I N A R YARCHAEOLOGICALASSESSMENT BEFOREPROPOSALSARE CONSIDERED.

THE COUNCIL WILL SEEK PRESERVATION,IN SITU, OF ANY LOCALLY SIGNIFICANTARCHAEOLOGICAL REMAINS, THROUGHTHE DESIGN AND LAYOUT OF THEP R O P O S E D D E V E L O P M E N T ,PARTICULARLY FOUNDATIONS ANDB E L O W G R O U N D S E RV I C E S A N DDRAINAGE.

ONLY, WHERE REMAINS CANNOT BEPRESERVED IN SITU, WILL THE COUNCILCONSIDER PRESERVATION BY RECORDBEFORE DEVELOPMENT BEGINS. THISSHOULD BE THROUGH AN APPROPRIATEPROGRAMME OF ARCHAEOLOGICALW O R K B Y A R E C O G N I S E DARCHAEOLOGICAL ORGANISATION, INACCORDANCE WITHAPROJECT DESIGN

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iv) WHERE POSSIBLE INTRODUCE GRASSVERGES BETWEEN THE ROAD AND THEFOOTWAY ALONG LONDON ROAD.

THE COUNCIL WILL EXPECT CHANGES INTHE STREET ENVIRONMENT TO COMPLYWITH THE GUIDANCE CONTAINED IN ITSG O O D P R A C T I C E O N S T R E E TMANAGEMENT AND DESIGN AND ENGLISHH E R I TA G E ’ S ‘ S T R E E T S F O R A L LDOCUMENT’.

APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL. SUCHPROVISION SHALL ALSO INCLUDE THESUBSEQUENT PUBLICATION OF THERESULTS.

scale that reflect the areas industrialorigins and traditional relationshipsbetween large scale buildings of anindustrial character and smallerdomestic scale buildings.

4. Use of good quality materials thatreflect and complement but notnecessarily copy the palette ofhistoric materials that survive withinthe area.

5. Limited amounts of surface carparking

6. A hierarchy of private and communalfunctional spaces linking Copper MillLane with the River Wandle,including links to the Wandle Trail.

7. High quality landscaped areas usinga combination of traditional materialsand details and good quality largeformat paving slabs.

8. Well designed quality boundarytreatments with particular focus onthe design of the London Roadfrontage/boundary.

Similarly future redevelopment of the1960s office building adjacent andlinked to the Grade II Listed WandleHouse should also be subject todevelopment guidelines to secure anappropriate form of development thatcomplements the setting of the listedbuilding. Key objectives of theguidelines will be to achieve anappropriate scale and form ofdevelopment that is relevant to the sitrescontext within the curtilage of a listedbuilding. Key objectives should include:-

1. Any new building/extension to be of aform and scale that reflect the scaleand character of the existing listedbuilding.

2. Use of good quality materials thatreflect and complement but notnecessarily copy the palette ofhistoric materials that survive withinthe area.

3. Limited amounts of surface carparking.

4. High quality landscaped areas usingquality materials and details.

The River Wandle has been identified inthe Mayor’s London Plan as part of the“Blue Ribbon Network”. This part of theWandle Corridor is also of significantecological importance and provides animportant recreational resource.

The conservation area as a whole has astrong tradition of sustainable energyproduction due to the number of watermills that used to be located on the Riverwhich within this sub-area was focusedon the site of Grove Mill and the nowdemolished Crown Mill and to the eastthe site of Mitcham Mill, a logwood millwhich was eventually converted toleather dressing and combined with aneighbouring corn mill to create theEagle Leather Works which was locatedat the end of Willow Lane immediately tothe east of Bennetts Hole.

The Wandle Valley character appraisal,therefore, recommends that the historicand cultural significance of the Wandleshould be a driver to future economicg rowth and deve lopmen t andrecommends the following areas to betaken into consideration in a futuredevelopment plans/action plans ordevelopment/ planning briefs affectingthis sub area: -

Support for cultural and educational

activities and facilities particularly inMorden Hall Park, Ravensbury Mill

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and Ravensbury Park and improveaccess.

An Urban Design Framework/

Strategy to improve links betweenriverside developments and theWandle environment and explorenew approaches to interpretationthat are more robust to the activitiesof vandals.

Co-ordination between recreational,

educational cultural and leisureactivities along the Wandle with aview to developing a strategicapproach to funding of activities.

Protection and enhancement of the

natural environment particularlyalong the River Wandle.

Should the prospect of majordevelopment in close proximity to thispart of the conservation area become ap o s s i b i l i t y a d e v e l o p m e n tbrief/framework should be to preparedfor the site or area concerned to securean appropriate form of development thatmaintains and enhances the characterof the conservation area includingbuildings and spaces, particularly theparks along the Wandle, and preservesany archaeological remains. Keyrequirements will include: -

1. Buildings of a form and scale thatreinforces the relationship betweenbuilt development and open spaces.

2. Buildings designed of a high qualityand which integrate with thesurrounding pedestrian network andwh ich prov ide over look ing /surveillance of public rights of wayand spaces.

3. Use of good quality materials thatreflect and complement but notnecessarily copy the palette of

historic materials that survive withinthe area.

The majority of buildings within this sub-area are either listed, locally listed orcomprise relatively modern residentialdevelopment. The appraisal hasidentified the negative impact securitymeasures at 10 Morden Road and thisbuilding has also had its original timberwindows replaced with uPVC. Thesesmall scale alterations such as theinstallation of replacement windows canhave a cumulative negative affect on thecharacter of the conservation area.However, an Article 4 Direction in thisinstance is unlikely to be appropriate asmost of the buildings are eitherprotected by listing or comprise eithercommercial property or flats andmaisonnettes which do not benefit fromthe permitted development rightsassociated with single family dwellinghouses.

The existing conservation areaboundary is fairly tightly drawn aroundthe most significant buildings and openspaces either side of the River Wandle.The area was extended to include thebuildings around Mitcham Station inMay 2000.

Areas immediately surrounding theconservation area comprise primarilyresidential development in the form ofindividual houses on the east side ofLondon Road and blocks of flats on thewest of London Road to the north of theStation Cluster.

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NEED FOR ADDIT IONALPLANNING CONTROL

R E V I E W O F T H EC O N S E R V A T I O N A R E ABOUNDARY

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Those on the east side of London Road,Mitcham include a number of buildings

of character many of which date from1890s, and which include someelaborately designed early vernacularand Elizabethan style houses typical ofthis period, particularly No 387 LondonRoad designed by R. M. Chart, who alsodesigned the Vestry Hall in LondonRoad, Mitcham.

These building are set back from themain road frontage with a grass vergeand th have a number of significant treesin their gardens and it is considered thatthese properties do merit conservationarea designation. However, theircharacter accords more with the

character of the Mitcham Cricket Greenconservation area and it is, therefore,recommended that the Mitcham Parkarm of the Mitcham Cricket Greenconservation area should be extendedto include these properties, comprising379, 381, 383, 387, 389, 391 and 393London Road, Mitcham. It is alsorecommended that numbers 379 and387 London Road be added to the non-statutory Local List.

Linden Place, which is a moderndevelopment on the site of the former

Methodist Church does not contribute tothe character of the conservation areaas such but is suggested that 381 and 3Linden Place are included to maintaincontinuity along the London Road

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f r o n t a g e . I t i s n o t h o w e v e rrecommended that the remainingproperties in Linden Place be included.

The short parade of shops betweenMitcham and the Crown are a bit of an adhoc mix of building ranging from single tothree storeys with a mix of roof types.The terrace lacks a consistent characterthat accords with either the WandleValley or the Mitcham Cricket Greenconservation areas and it is nottherefore recommended that theseproperties be aincorporated into eitherarea.

To the east of the conservation areaalong the river are further historic millingsites, including the site of Mitcham Mill,later the Eagle Leather Works. Howeverlittle survives of the historic buildingsabove ground and there would be littlejus t i f i ca t ion for extend ing theconservation area to include this site.

To the south of the tram line theproperties comprise late 20th Century

residential developments which are notof any particular architectural merit.Those on the west side of London Roadcomprise mainly short terraces and semidetached houses which are fairly typicalof their period and do not really reflectthe character of the conservation area itis not therefore suggested that there beany extensions to the conservation areahere.

The areas to the south of the Wandlecomprise the sports development, TheHub.

Whilst on the east side of BishopsfordRoad opposite side The Hub are ratherfeatureless modern residential blocksadjacent to a petrol station.

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Wandle ValleyConservation Area

Wandle ValleyConservation Area

Mitcham CricketGreen

ConservationArea

Mitcham CricketGreen

ConservationArea

There are, therefore, no proposals torecommend boundary changes in thispart of the conservation area as a resultof this appraisal.

The boundary changes that arerecommended as a consequence of thischaracter appraisal are shown on themap below.

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ADDITIONAL READING, REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lower Mitcham - Eric Montague

The History of the County of Surrey: Volume 4 (1912) - see http://www.british-history.ac.uk.

Reminiscences of Old Merton - Chamberlain - 1925

AHistory of Merton and Morden - Evelyn Jowett MA(Oxon) - 1951

Merton Priory - Penny Bruce, Simon Mason - MoLAS publications 1993

TheArchaeology of Greater London - Museum of London 2000

ABrief History of Merton - John Precedo

Derek Bayliss, Retracing the First Public Railway (2nd edn., 1985)

History and Heroes of Old Merton - Kathleen Denbigh 1975

An Archaeological and Standing Buildings Desk Based Assessment of a ProposedDevelopment at Grove Mill and Former Crown Mill, London Road, Mitcham -CompassArchaeology 15th July 2002.

Archaeological reports by Museum of London Archaeology Service and otherArchaeological Organisations copies of which are held in the Merton Local StudiesCentre at Morden Library

Eric Montague - Historical notes on Mitcham and Colliers Wood

- Mitcham Histories - No 4: Lower Mitcham- Trouble at Mill (Textile Printing at Liberty Print Works and Merton Printers Ltd)- Daughter Houses of Merton Priory- The Bridges and Roads of Mitcham- Copper Milling on the Wandle- Phipps Bridge, Phipps Mill and Bunce’s Meadow- The Railways of Merton- AHistory of Lord nelson’s Merton Place- The Patent Steam Washing Factory at Phipp’s Bridge, Mitcham- Morden Hall- TheAmery Mills of Merton Priory, the Copper Mills and the Board Mills- The Ravensbury Mills- Ravensbury Manor House and Park

Merton Historical Society Publications

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- Some Memories of Merton- The Historic River Wandle

- No 1The Merton Section- No 2 Phipps Bridge to Morden Hall- No 3 Ravensbury to Mill Green

- Town Trails- No 6 Mitcham, Ravensbury- No 8 Morden Town Centre and Morden Hall- No 9 Wandle Park to MertonAbbey MillsLocal History Notes- No3 Stane Street in Upper Morden- No 8 Liberty Print Works - Wartime Reminiscences- No 12 The Parish of Merton 1844 - The TitheApportionment Map- No 13 Morden in 1838 - The TitheApprtionment Map- No 15 Recollections of an Edwardian Childhood in Colliers WoodStudies in Merton History- Archaeology of Mitcham- Textile Bleaching & Printing in Mitcham & Merton 1590-1870

Merton Priory Trust web Site

Wandle Industrial Museum Web Site:

Croydon Online History:

London Borough of Croydon History web pages

The Croydon Caving Club website has some Historic Notes on the Surrey IronRailway byAllan Ockenden.

http://www.mertonpriory.org

http://www.wandle.org

http://www.croydononline.org/History/

http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/artsentertainmentculture/culture/localhistoryheritage/

There are a number of web sites containing historical informationrelevant to the Wandle Valley

All Maps are produced in this document are subject to CrownCopyright.All rights reserved.

London Borough of Merton 100019259. 2005

40

41

APPENDIX A:LIST OF BUILDINGS OF SPECIAL ARCHITECTURAL

OR HISTORIC INTEREST STATUTORY GRADE II

409 and 411 London Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 (Mitcham Station)

470 - 472 London Road, Mitcham, Surrey CR4

475 - 479 London Road, Mitcham, Surrey, CR4 (Mill Cottages)

482 - 484 London Road, Mitcham, Surrey CR4

42

APPENDIX B:NON-STATUTORY LIST OF BUILDINGS OF HISTORIC

OR ARCHITECTURAL INTEREST

SUGGESTED ADDITIONS TO THE NON-STATUTORYLIST OF BUILDINGS OF HISTORIC OR

ARCHITECTURAL INTEREST

Grove Mill, adjacemt to 473 London Road Mitcham, Surrey

379 London, Mitcham, Surrey

387 London Road, Mitcham, Surrey

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Wandle Valley Conservation AreaCharacter Appraisal

Mitcham Sub Area

Post-Consultation Draft

February 2007