Summerstown, London

Summerstown is a district of south-west London located on the boundary between the London Borough of Wandsworth and the London Borough of Merton. It is an area on the north eastern edge of Wimbledon, south of Earlsfield, west of Tooting and north of Collier's Wood. The district is bisected by the A217 and bordered by the River Wandle.[1]

Not to be confused with Somers Town, London.

Summerstown
Summerstown
Location within Greater London
London borough
Ceremonial countyGreater London
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townLONDON
Postcode districtSW17
Dialling code020
PoliceMetropolitan
FireLondon
AmbulanceLondon
London Assembly

History

Evidence of settlement in the area of Summerstown first appears in the late Middle Ages, when the River Wandle was bordered by mills in this area, worked by villagers from the nearby hamlet of Garratt (which gives its name to 'Garratt Lane', the local stretch of the A217).[2] By 1631, ‘Dutchmen’ are recorded as manufacturing kettles and frying pans here, while other Huguenot refugees are thought to have engaged in silk weaving and wig making here.[3]

By the mid-nineteenth century, this area was becoming increasingly populated, with many of the present day properties being built in the area at this time, notably the St Clement Danes almshouses in 1848–9, which have now become council housing.[4]

The nineteenth century also saw the construction of Summerstown's parish church, with a chapel being built in 1836, and extended in 1861 and 1870.[5] By 1903, it was apparent that a yet larger church was needed, so the present day St Mary's Church was constructed just off Garratt Lane, where it remains little altered to this day.

The early twentieth century was a turbulent time for the parish, with the Great War costing the lives of 182 men in the parish, who were memorialised by Summerstown's war memorial, which is located just inside St Mary's Church. In the Second World War, Summerstown was also affected by bombing, particularly in 1944, when a V2 rocket struck Hazelhurst Road, killing 35 and injuring over a hundred. After the war, this presented the council with the opportunity to construct the Hazelhurst estate in 1969–73.

Present Day

The parish church, St Mary's Church, is still open and active in the parish, hosting a service at 10:30 each Sunday morning, and holds a range of services include singing, prayers and a talks from the Bible as well as activities for children.

It is home to the By The Horns Brewing Co.[6] The area was also home to Wimbledon Stadium, a dog racing track that also hosted speedway, stock car and other racing events, which closed in 2017.

References
  1. http://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/summerstown/
  2. http://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/summerstown/
  3. http://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/summerstown/
  4. http://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/summerstown/
  5. "Former places of worship in the Diocese of Southwark" (PDF). Southwark.anglican.org. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  6. "About us". By The Horns. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.


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