Putney Lower Common

Putney Lower Common is a part of Wimbledon and Putney Commons, lying about 1.5 miles north of the rest, between the Lower Richmond Road and the River Thames.

Putney was probably settled during the Roman occupation. Lower Richmond Road was probably a Roman Road, and the Lower Common was probably an open pasture and farmland.

Land was apparently lost in the 19th century when Elm Lodge was built. This was rebuilt in 1912 as Putney Hospital. Putney Hospital, was closed to services to patients in 1998. It has remained vacant ever since. Wandsworth council has now purchased the Hospital and the Children's Services department is proposing to build a new primary school on the site since July 2010. 24 flats will be built at the northern end of the site (the nurse's quarters will be demolished) to help fund the project.

Planning permission for the development of the proposed school and flats was quashed by the High Court in early 2013, as it was unlawful.

The access to the Hospital site is proving to be problematic, and an application by a local resident for a Judicial Review of the sale of the access by the Commons Conservators will take place in the High Court in early October, 2013. The Conservators of the Common agreed to sell the access to Wandsworth Council for some £350,0000 in defiance of the 1871 Act that created the common. If the sale of the access completes common land will be tarmacked with new private road to the school and the luxury flats.

The dates for the Judicial Review are now set by the High Court and the case will be held on 9 & 10 October in the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Wandsworth Council have confirmed to the Commons Conservators that they intend to Compulsorily Purchase the Common in the event that the Conservators lose the case. The community group, Friends of Putney Common http://www.friendsofputneycommon.org/ continue to oppose the unlawful land grab by Wandsworth Council, which is widely opposed by local residents.

The common also includes Putney Lower Common Cemetery which was established in 1858.

In 1871 the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Act was passed which prevented further building. The Common still provides traditional activities associated with commons before they were overtaken urbanisation and enclosure - cricket is played in the summer and there is a fairground on bank holidays. In the south-east corner lies All Saints' Church, built in 1874. The number 22 bus route begins at the Spencer Arms, at the North East corner of the common.

References

• London parks discovery project