Secret Gardens: Morden Hall Park, South London
Posted by SECRET GARDENER
Exploring Morden Hall Park - a National Trust park
Morden Hall Park was once a country estate with mansion house. It was gifted to the National Trust in 1941, and has since been a public park.
The Rose Garden at Morden Hall Park
A secret garden on the banks of the River Wandle
At its heart flows the River Wandle, a tributary of the Thames which flows from Croydon to Wandsworth. In its prime it powered 90 working mills, producing industrial goods such as gunpowder, textile and copper.
The river was so clear that it attracted well-known artists William Morris and Arthur Liberty to its shores. Morris's textile company and later Liberty's printing textile was conducted at Merton Abbey Mills, just along the river. The conserved waterwheel in Morden Hall Park used to drive machinery in the Snuff Mill.
The River Wandle
The Rose Garden in Morden Hall Park
The Rose Garden is separated into two halves by a stream, and originally connected by cast iron bridges which were covered in climbing roses.
White roses in the Rose Garden
South London's Wetland Boardwalk
The wetland boardwalk provides an opportunity to see wetland species such as heron, snipe and migratory birds up close.
The Wetland Boardwalk
Things to see and do
Morden Hall Park is also home to the National Trust’s first ever garden centre, so you can take a piece of nature home with you.
The Wandle Trail is a 20km walking and cycling route following the river through South London, from its origin in Croydon up to where it meets the Thames in Wandsworth. Highlights along the trail include Deen City Farm, Merton Abbey Mills, and Morden Hall Park. Why not take a weekend wander and see what you discover?
How to get there
Morden Hall Road
Morden
London, SM4 5JD
Travel: Take the District line or Southwestern Railway to Wimbledon Station, and then the Tram to Phipps Bridge. If travelling by Northern Line, exit at Morden then take a 500 yard walk along Aberconway Road.
There is an on-site pay and display car park on the left (second green gate). Spaces are limited so plan to arrive early.
Entry: Free
Opening times: Open Monday-Sunday at varied hours. Rose garden 09:00 - 17:00. Check their website for up to date hours.