2009-06-21T12:19:00.000-07:00

COLLIERS WOOD
SW19

I’ve lived in Colliers Wood since 1998 and
because there is not a lot of local info under
"one roof" on the the internet I thought I’ll put
together a list of everyday bits and pieces
around here.

Colliers Wood is situated in South West
London SW19, between Tooting Broadway
and South Wimbledon.

Colliers Wood is in the
borough of MERTON.

The council website is handy for information
about schools, council tax, parking etc.

A - Z LIST OF SHOPS AND
SERVICES

I’ve used the tube station as the focal
point in all of these instructions.

Please click on the images
to view a larger version.

ACCOMMODATION
ADULT EDUCATION

BANKS
BUREAU DE CHANGE

CAFÉS
CAR BOOT SALES
CASHPOINTS
CHILDCARE
CHURCH
CINEMA
CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU
CITY FARM
COMMUNITY CENTER
CONVENIENCE STORES

DENTIST
DOCTOR
DRY CLEANERS

FAST FOOD
FARMERS (ORGANIC) MARKET
FISH AND CHIPS
FOOTBALL TEAM

GYM

HAIRDRESSERS
HOBBIES & ACTIVITIES
HOSPITAL
HOTELS

JOB CENTRE

LIBRARY

MARKETS
MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT (MP)
MINICAB

NEWSAGENTS

PARKING
PARKS
PETROL STATIONS
PHARMACIES
POST OFFICE
POOL
PUBS & BARS

RESTAURANTS
RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION
RIVER

SCHOOLS
SHOPS
SPORTS FACILITIES

TRAVEL CONNECTIONS

VETS

* * *

ACCOMMODATION

Best way to see accommodation for rent
and for sale is to use one of
the search pages like

http://www.findaproperty.com
http://www.primelocation.com
http://www.rightmove.co.uk

Shared accommodation

http://www.gumtree.com
http://www.intolondon.com
www.loot.com

* * *

ADULT
EDUCATION

The nearest adult education colleges
are in Tooting Broadway and Morden.

They have various venues for the classes
all over the surrounding areas.

* * *

BANKS

Nearest banks are in

Tooting Broadway
(HSBC, Lloyds, Halifax,
Nationwide,
Natwest, Abbey)

South Wimbledon
(Barclays)

and

Wimbledon
(HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds,
Abbey, Halifax, Natwest)

* * *

BUREAU DE
CHANGE

There are four places within a walking distance
from the tube station where you
can exchange currency.

The nearest one is the Post Office inside the Costcutter
shop. Come out of the tube station and turn left.
Costcutter is on your left after the betting shop.

Second place is inside the Sainsbury's
superstore. See SHOPS for details.

The exchange booth is on the second floor. As you enter
the shop from the High Street go up the escalator and
turn left towards the toilets. The booth is just
before the corridor to the toilets.

Third place is within the Marks & Spencer
superstore on the second floor which is in
the same building as the Sainsbury's
superstore (see above) Follow
in-store instructions.

Fourth place is inside the First Choice
Holiday Hypermarket in Tandem
Centre Retail Park.

Come out of the tube station and turn left. Walk for
about 5-10 minutes and you'll come to the shopping
centre on your left. First Choice is located in a building
directly behind the junction from the main road
into the retail park, next door to Frankie &
Bennys/Nando's restaurants.

* * *

CAFÉS

42nd Cafe & Restaurant (map) on the
High Street (five minutes from the
tube towards Tooting) do a
nice all day breakfast.

Ark Cafe

B's Snack Bar & Bakery

Merton Abbey Mills cafes

Starbucks at the Tandem
Centre Retail Park.

There are also cafes inside the Sainsbury's
Superstore and Marks & Spencer
Superstore in the same building.
See SHOPS for details.

* * *

CARBOOT SALES

See MARKETS

* * *

CASHPOINTS

The nearest cashpoints to the tube station are outside
The Post Office (1), Tesco Express (3) on the High
Street and inside the Sainsburys superstore (4).

When entering the store from Merton High Street
they are behind the two travelators coming
down from the shop on the left.

The is also one cash point in
the Tandem Centre.

Please see SHOPS for the details
of the locations.

* * *

CHILDCARE

There are various nurseries
in Merton.

* * *

CHURCH

Is only church in Colliers Wood, Christ Church is
located on Christchurch Road minutes
from the tube station.

Come out of the station and turn left. Keep walking
for about 5 minutes past South Gardens and
Colwood Gardens and you'll see
the church on your left.

* * *

CINEMA

The nearest cinema is in
Wimbledon.

There is also one in
Croydon

(Choose Croydon Purley Way
from the drop down menu)

* * *

CITIZENS ADVICE
BUREAU

The nearest Citizen Advice Bureau to Colliers
Wood is at 326 London Road, Mitcham.

Bus 200 from Colliers Wood tube station
stops right outside the Bureau.

* * *

CITY FARM

A family day out favourite Deen City Farm
(and riding school) is located near Colliers
Wood along the river Wandle in
Morden Hall Park.

* * *

COMMUNITY
CENTER

The Colliers Wood Community Center is on the
High Street a short walk from the tube station.

Turn right and walk towards Tooting, the
center is on the left side of the street
opposite Marlborough Road.

ACTIVITIES

Adult ballet

Adult tap

Ballroom dance lessons

Bingo social club

Capoeria for children

Childminders network

Children's tap

Children's dance classes

Everywomans club

Fun time playgroup

Ladies keep fit

Line dancing

Over fifties club

Photography

Sequence dance

Slimming world

South London Tamil extra school
activities (5 - 12 years)

Streeting dance (6 - 13 years)

Table tennis club

Water based oil painting

Whist drive

Woodcraft folk elfins (6 - 9 years)

Woodcraft folk pioneers (10 - 12 years)

Woodchips (0 - 5 years)

Youth club

* * *

CONVENIENCE
STORES

There are a few Convenience Stores along
the High Street towards Tooting. They
usually sell fresh fruit and veg and
other bits and pieces.

* * *

DENTIST

Use your own postcode or
SW19 2HR‎ to search
on this NHS site

* * *

DOCTOR

There are plenty of GP’s
surgeries to choose from.

Use your own postcode or
SW19 2HR‎ to search.

I’m registered at Merton Medical Practice
which has efficient and friendly staff
and great doctors and nurses.

* * *

DRY CLEANERS

Come of the tube and turn right, it’s
next to the the fish and chip
shop on your left.

Other dry cleaners
in the area.

* * *

FAST FOOD

BURGER KING

Is located in the Priory Retail Park. Come out of
the tube and walk straight on past the big ugly
tower towards Sainsbury’s superstore and
you’ll see Burger King right front of you.

KFC

PIZZ HUT

Both KFC and Pizza Hut are located in
Merton Abbey Mills, behind the
Sainsbury’s superstore.

A shortcut to get there: walk through Sainbury’s car park
and take the pedestrian tunnel under Merantun Way.
When you come out of the tunnel the restaurants are
on your right behind a massive pylon.

There are also various other fast food shops
along the High Street both towards Tooting
Broadway and South Wimbledon.

* * *

FARMERS (ORGANIC)
MARKET

There is a Farmers Market at Merton Abbey Mills
every Saturday & Sunday 10am until 5pm.

Organic produce from local suppliers:
fruit & veg, bread, eggs, meat, fish,
cheese, drinks, cakes and pastries.

* * *

FISH AND CHIPS

The nearest Fish & Chip shop is in the row of
shops just outside the station. Come out of
the tube, turn left and it’s between
Spice Of Raj Indian restaurant
and the dry cleaners.

There is another Fish & Chip shop called Fish Inn
about a five minute walk away on the corner of
the High Street and Marlborough Road

* * *

FOOTBALL TEAM

Colliers Wood has it's own footie team
Colliers Wood United F.C.

Founded in 1874 they play at Wibbandune
Sports Ground, Lincoln Green, West
Wimbledon, London
SW20 0AA (map)

* * *

GYM

Virgin Active

The gym is in the same building
the Premier Inn hotel.

* * *

HAIRDRESSERS

There are a few hair salons in Colliers
Wood. For a larger selection
head to Wimbledon.

* * *

HOBBIES & ACTIVITIES

Colliers Wood has a group called "Making Colliers
Wood Happy!" who organise all sorts of activities
including Tai Chi, a Reading group, Ballet Classes,
Tap Dance (for adults), Badminton and table
tennis, Rambling, Chorus singing, Ballroom
dancing, Pilates and more.

All the details can be found HERE
or by contacting

info@makingcollierswoodhappy.org.uk

* * *

HOSPITAL

The nearest hospital and A&E department
is St Georges in Tooting, a short walk
from Tooting Broadway tube.

They also have a daily Walk-In Centre if you can’t
get an appointment with your GP. It’s first
come first served basis so get there early.

* * *

HOTELS

Premier Inn
Search with postcode
SW19 2RF

Holiday Inn

* * *

JOB CENTRE

The nearest Job Centres to
Colliers Wood are

in Clapham Common
(Maritime House
Old Town
Clapham Common
London
SW4 0JW)

Wandsworth
(Arndale House
Arndale Walk
Wandsworth
London
SW18 4BU)

and Kingston
(3 Brook Street
Kingston Upon Thames
Surrey
KT1 2EY)

Other handy websites
for job seekers

* * *

LIBRARY

Colliers Wood library is moments from the tube
station on the High Street on same side as
the station, opposite Tesco Express. The
building is called Cavendish House.

The library is closed
on Wednesdays.

* * *

MARKETS

Merton Abbey Mills Arts
and Crafts Market

The weekend market is held every Sat and Sun between
10am and 5pm, with indoor and outdoor stalls and shops
selling an range of hand-crafted goods, gifts,
jewellery and fashion. There are also
various food stalls.

There is a working waterwheel, in fact the only
one in London! The local history is told
on the walls of the wheel house.

They also run pottery classes (and pottery is for sale)
in the wheel house, bookings are on a first
come first served basis. Saturday
and Sunday sessions are from
11am - 3pm hourly.

There are three ways to walk to Abbey
Mills from the tube station.

1. (Red arrows map below) Come out of the tube and turn left.
Keep walking for about 5-10 minutes until you come to a
big junction (of Christchurch Road and Merantun Way)
with the Tandem Centre shopping centre on your
left and Sainsburys on your right.

Cross the junction so that you are on the same side of
the road as the Virgin Gym and Premier Inn hotel on
Merantun Way. Keep walking past the hotel and
you'll come to a pedestrian ramp going down. Walk
down and through the car park towards KFC and
Pizza Hut. Walk past them and you'll
come to the market area.

2. (Blue arrows map below) Come out of the tube
station and carry on straight ahead past the
big ugly tower towards Sainsburys.

When you get to the little bridge that leads from the
High Street to the supermarket, don't cross it but
carry on to your right instead, along the Wandle
river. Keep walking until you come to a crossing
(Merantun Way). Cross the road and you'll see a
little bridge leading to the left. Cross the
bridge and you are in the market area.

3. (First blue then yellow arrows map below) Come out of
the tube station and carry on straight ahead past
the big ugly tower towards Sainsburys.

When you get to the supermarket carry on underneath it
across the car park. Take the underground pedestrian
tunnel (under Merantun Way) signposted Merton
Abbey Mills. It's directly opposite the Marks &
Spencer back entrance. Go through the tunnel and
carry on to your right towards KFC and Pizza Hut.
Walk past them and you'll come to the market area.

CARBOOT SALES

There is a Car Boot Sale at Merton Abbey
Mills on the first Sunday of the
Month 10am - 5pm.

There is also a Car Boot Sale every Wednesday,
Saturday and Sunday mornings (and Bank Holiday
Mondays) at the car park of the Wimbledon Stadium
(Greyhound Track) at Plough Lane SW17.

(Advert from a local
paper 25.6.09)

SUNDAY MARKET

A general market is held every Sunday morning at the
same location as the Saturday Car Boot sale at
Wimbledon Stadium car park. Great for
bits and pieces for the home etc.
at cheap prices.

* * *

MEMBER OF
PARLIAMENT

Our MP Siobhain McDonagh is truly a local lady.
She was born in Colliers Wood and has
lived in Merton all her life.

There are various ways of
contacting her:

Write to her at

House of Commons, London
SW1A 0AA

Telephone: 0207 219 4678

Email
mcdonaghs@parliament.uk

Write or visit her
office in Morden

1 Crown Road, Morden
SM4 5DD

Telephone: 020 8542 4835

Email
siobhain@mmlp.org.uk

OR

siobhainmcdonagh.org.uk

www.facebook.com/siobhain.mcdonagh

www.parliament.uk

They Work For You

Write To Them

* * *

MINICAB

The nearest minicab office is on the other side
of the road from the tube station, next
door to the pizza restaurant.

TEL: 020 8287 4444

Other minicab firms nearby

* * *

NEWSAGENTS

Costcutter, Tesco and Sainburys have well
stocked newspaper/magazine sections.

For the biggest selection of magazines
and papers head to WH Smith in
the Tandem Centre.

(See SHOPS for details)

There are various other newsagents on the
High Street towards Tooting.

Search with the term “newsagent”
and the postcode SW192BY

* * *

PARKING

Most of the residential areas in Colliers Wood are
Controlled Parking Zones which means you you must
display a valid residents, visitors or business
permit, a disabled blue badge, or if parking within
a pay and display bay, a valid parking ticket.

There are free carparks (parking limited to a time, check
individually) at the Sainsbury's Superstore (entrance
from Merantun Way), Merton Abbey Mills (below top),
Tandem Centre Retail Park (below middle) and
the Priory Retail Park (below bottom).

See SHOPS for location details.

* * *

PARKS

There are two big parks minutes away
from the tube station.

Wandle Park (above top) is directly opposite
the tube station, entrance gates are next to
The Colliers Tup pub (below)

There are entrances on
Wandle Bank (below)

and Byegrove Road as well.

Photos from the park (below)

Colliers Wood Recreation Ground
is behind the tube station.

There are entrances on
South Gardens (below)

Clarendon Road (below)

And Cavendish Road (below)

Photos from the park (below)

There are plenty of other green spaces within a
short distance from Colliers Wood including
Wimbledon Common, Mitcham Common
and Morden Hall Park.

There is also a 7,434 sq m nature reserve in the
middle of Colliers Wood with entrances from
Myrna Close, Fleming Mead, Victoria Road
and Christchurch Road (see arrows
on photo below)

Photos from the reserve

* * *

PETROL STATIONS

Total
Esso
Sainbury’s

* * *

PHARMACIES

Use the postcode SW19 2HR‎
to search.

There are pharmacies inside the Sainsbury's
Superstore and the Boots Superstore,
see SHOPS for details.

* * *

POST OFFICE

The Colliers Wood Post Office (use postcode SW19 2HR‎
to search) is located inside the Costcutter shop
moments from the tube station.

Come out of the station and turn left. The shop
is on your left after the betting shop.

The Post Office in on your left as you enter the
shop behind the drinks cabinets.

Current opening times:

Monday 08.30 - 17.30
Tuesday 9.00 - 17.30
Wednesday 9.00 - 19.30
Thursday 9.00 - 17.30
Friday 9.00 - 17.30
Saturday 9.00 - 14:00

* * *

POOL

The nearest public swimming pool is at
Tooting Broadway at a Leisure Centre.

The nearest outdoor pool
is at Tooting Bec (below).

* * *

PUBS & BARS

THE ROYAL STANDARD

An old fashioned local situated over the road from
the tube station. Great for a quiet pint as the
juke box volume is kept at a decent level!

On the various TV screen dotted around the pub
(and even outside in the covered smoking area)
you can follow various sports including
horse racing and football.

The big back garden has picnic style tables and
sun shades. The covered area has seating,
tables and heaters. No food.

THE COLLIERS TUP

A pub directly opposite the tube station
catering for a younger crowd. Gets very lively
and noisy especially at the weekends. They
have TV’s for rugby and footie and a big
back garden bordering with the park.
Food is served.

THE PRINCE

GJ's HAS CLOSED.
It is now called
THE PRINCE

Five minute walk from the tube station
towards Tooting on the High Street.

KISS ME HARDY

This chain pub located in the Priory Retail Park
next to the Sainsbury's superstore is more of a
restaurant than a drinking pub. The eating
area is 3 times the size of the “pub”.

Very popular with families as the food deals are
fairly cheap. Has some seating outside next to the
High Street. Upstairs is dedicated to kids with
Wacky Warehouse playground.

THE WILLIAM MORRIS

A nice riverside setting at Merton Abbey Mills,
you almost forget you’re in London. Has a
nice upstairs balcony for those long
summer nights. Food is served.

Gets super busy Saturdays and Sunday
lunchtimes with the crowd from the
Abbey Mills market next to it.

VENUS

A bar come brasserie situated moments from the
tube (out of the tube, turn right).

The glass wall opens up to make it an all fresco
scene in the summer but the location isn’t
very nice with constant traffic and
buses yards away.

THE NELSON ARMS

This pub is on the Colliers Wood borders, half way
through to South Wimbledon on the High Street.
They have a nice garden away from the
traffic. Food is served.

Other pubs near Colliers Wood are
listed here, here and here

* * *

RESIDENTS
ASSOCIATION

Colliers Wood Residents Association
is run by Keith Spears
(keithaspears@hotmail.com)

The Association produces a regular newsletter
which is distributed to 3000 households
and is also available online at
www.collywood.org.uk

Regular meetings are held at
the Community Centre
on the High Street.

Dates and times in here.

* * *

RESTAURANTS

SPICE OF RAJ
Indian

One of the best Indians I’ve ever had the
pleasure of being a regular customer
of. The food is just divine!

Friendly and fast service plus reasonable
prices.They do take-away and
home deliveries as well.

DELHI HEIGHTS
Indian

This new Indian restaurant popped up in
Colliers Wood (next to the bridge over the river
Wandle on the High Street) in September 2011.

I haven't sampled their food yet so
I'm afraid I can't comment.

FRANKIE & BENNY’S
50's style American/Italian

This chain restaurant located in the Tandem Centre
Retail Park (see SHOPS for details) does reasonable
food and the prices aren’t too bad. Book
ahead at the weekends though,
they get super busy.

NANDO’S
Portuguese

This chain restaurant located in the Tandem
Centre Retail Park (see SHOPS for details)
serves Piri Piri chicken in various
forms. Small portions and quite
expensive for what you get.

MAMMA ROSA

Italian restaurant at Merton Abbey Mills. Nice
riverside setting with outside seating.
Gets busy on market days.

* * *

RIVER

The river Wandle runs through
Colliers Wood.

Photos from along the river
at Merton High Street

EDIT: 30.8.2011: The Wandle, which was
officially declared "a sewer" in the 1960s
is now one of the 10 most-improved
rivers in England and Wales.

* * *

SCHOOLS

Merton has 43 primary schools with a nursery
attached to each, 8 secondary schools, including
two academies, and 3 special schools.
All the info on the council website.

* * *

SHOPS

The links will take you directly to the Colliers Wood
branch page. Where no direct link is available I've
provided a postcode to search with
on the store locator page.

HIGH STREET SHOPS 1

HIGH STREET SHOPS 2

COSTCUTTER

A very well stocked general store/newsagents
moments from Colliers Wood tube.
Come out of the station and turn left.
The Post Office in inside this shop.

TESCO

A well stocked Tesco Express inside the Esso petrol
station moments from Colliers Wood tube. Come
out of the station and cross the road to the right
and carry on walking towards Tooting. The
petrol station is on your left after
The Royal Standard pub.

SAINSBURY'S
SUPERSTORE

The Sainsburys supermarket is also known as
the Sava Center. It has a large food section
plus clothing and homewares.

MARKS AND SPENCER
SUPERSTORE

Clothing, shoes, accessories, homewares and
food on two floors. Situated in the same
building with Sainsbury's (see above) this
branch of the High Street favourite is
one of the biggest in London.

TANDEM CENTRE
RETAIL PARK

NEXT
Clothing, shoes, accessories,
homewares

CLARKS
Shoes and accessories

WH SMITH
Stationary & books

JD SPORTS
Sports clothing and footwear

TKMAXX
Discount clothing superstore
plus homewares

MAMAS AND PAPAS
Baby superstore

NEW LOOK
Trendy teens clothing store

ARGOS
Multi-purpose superstore, everything for
the home & garden etc under one roof.
This is one of their "Extra" shops
which stocks most of the things
listed in their catalogue.

SPORTS DIRECT
Sports and leisure wear
discount superstore

BOOTS
A superstore branch of this
chemists chain

GAME
Computer games

FIRST CHOICE
Travel agents

CORAL
Betting shop

JESSOPS
Photography specialists

PRIORY RETAIL PARK

CURRYS / PC WORLD
Electric and white
goods superstore /
computer specialists
Search with postcode
SW19 2NX

MOTHERCARE
Childcare superstore
Includes an "Early
Learning Centre"

TOYS R US
Toy superstore
Search with postcode
SW19 2NX

CARPHONE WAREHOUSE
Mobile phone shop

SHOPS ON THE BORDERS
OF COLLIERS WOOD

LIDL
Continental
supermarket

HOMEBASE
Everything for the
house and garden
Search with postcode
SW19 3XD

WICKES
A DIY (Do It Yourself)
builders merchants
Search with postcode
SW19 3XD

STAPLES
Stationary superstore
Search with postcode
SW19 3BL

MORDEN HALL
GARDEN CENTER
A garden supplies superstore in a
National Trust property and park

BIG YELLOW STORAGE
Self-storage unit

The nearest IKEA is about half an hour on the
tram in Croydon. Tram stop Ampere Way.

The nearest major shopping areas
to Colliers Wood are

WIMBLEDON (ten minutes on the bus)

CROYDON (app. 40 minutes bus and tram)

KINGSTON (app. 45 minutes bus)

And of course Central London, app.
25 minutes on the tube.

* * *

SPORTS FACILITIES

There are several sports facilities in Colliers
Wood and surrounding areas. Please see
the council website for details.

* * *

SWIMMING POOL

See POOL

* * *

TRAVEL
CONNECTIONS

Colliers Wood is on the Northern Line underground
line, it’s the third stop from the south end of the line
which terminates at Morden. It is on Zone 3.

The nearest overground stations are
Tooting ,Haydons Road, Mitcham Eastfields
and Wimbledon

Colliers Wood is served by buses
57, 131, 152, 200, 219 and 470

57 runs between Kingston and
Clapham Park

131 runs between Kingston
and Tooting

152 runs between New Malden
and Pollards Hill

200 runs between Raynes Park
and Mitcham.

219 runs between Wimbledon
and Clapham Junction.

470 runs between Epsom and Colliers Wood
(no evening or Sunday service)

NIGHT BUSES

There is only one night bus that runs
between central London and
Colliers Wood, number 155.

It runs between Aldwych (Trafalgal Square) and
Morden stopping at all of the Northern Line
tube stations from Elephant &
Castle southwards.

(Please note during the day it terminates
at St Georges Hospital in Tooting.)

The rest of the night buses from central
London to South West London
are listed here

TRAM

The nearest tram stops to Colliers Wood are
Phipps Bridge (bus 200 from Colliers Wood tube
station towards Mitcham) and Merton Park
(bus 152 from Collies Wood tube towards
New Malden) (See maps below).

The tram terminates at Wimbledon. The tram stop is at
the tube/overland train station. Buses 57, 131,
219 from Colliers Wood tube station
towards South Wimbledon.

The tram runs between Wimbledon and New
Addington, Beckenham Junction and
Elmers End to the east.

The bus stops at Colliers Wood are just
outside the tube station.

For the 57, 131 and 219 towards WIMBLEDON
come out of the station and turn RIGHT, walk for
about 30 meters. The stop is on the same side of
the road as the tube station outside the library
building (Cavendish House) opposite
the Esso petrol station.

Towards TOOTING the stop is on the same side
of the road as the petrol station.

For the 152, 200 and 470 towards MITCHAM come
out of the tube station and turn LEFT. The stop is
right in front of you outside Spice Of Raj Indian
restaurant. The stop towards WIMBLEDON is
on the other side of the street
directly opposite.

CONNECTIONS TO THE
NEAREST AIRPORTS

HEATHROW
Buses 57, 131, 200 or 219 to Wimbledon, then the
District Line tube to Earls Court. Change
there to the Piccadilly Line eastbound
all the way to Heathrow.

If you want to take the tube all the way get the
Northern Line from Colliers Wood to Stockwell,
change there to the Victoria Line northbound to
Green Park, change there to the Piccadilly
Line eastbound all the way to Heathrow.

GATWICK
Take the bus 200 from Colliers Wood tube station
(towards Mitcham) to Phipps Bridge tram stop.
Get the tram to East Croydon and catch an
overland train to Gatwick. The train
takes about 15 minutes.

Or get the bus 152 from Colliers Wood tube
station (towards Wimbledon) to Merton Park
tram stop. Get the tram to East Croydon and
catch and overland train to Gatwick.

* * *

VETS

There a plenty of vetenary surgeries to
choose from in and around
Colliers Wood.

The Blue Cross Animal Hospital (above) is on the
High Street between Colliers Wood
and South Wimbledon.

Personally I've used 4 Paws and IC Winter
and they both have friendly and
knowledgeable staff.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A BIT OF
HISTORY

The village of Merton was located on
the Roman road Stane Street which
connected London to Chichester.

Locally, the road ran in a direct line from the current
Colliers Wood High Street to London Road, Morden,
crossing the site of Sainsbury's. The name dates
back to least to the 7th century when
documents record its use.

The translation of the name is usually given as
Farm by the Pond" or "Maera's homestead".

Merton appears in Domesday Book of
1086 as Meretone. It was held by
William the Conqueror.

Merton Priory (or Abbey) was founded
by Gilbert Norman in 1114 on a site
close to the Sainsbury's store.

In 1117 it became an Augustinian establishment and
developed a high reputation for scholarship. It is
believed to have been the birthplace of Walter
de Merton, founder of Merton College, Oxford.

In 1235, it was the location of Henry III's negotiations
with his Barons for the Statute of Merton. The Abbey
was also responsible for the educations of St.
Thomas Becket and Nicholas Breakspear,
the only English Pope.

Merton Abbey was closed in 1538 during the
Dissolution of the Monasteries. Its buildings
were dismantled and the materials
removed for re-use elsewhere.

It is believed that in 1496 a hospice for travellers was
erected opposite the site of Sainsbury's store (above).
An inn was built there in 1594 and beer was sold there
from that date until 2004, when the King's
Head, Merton was finally closed.

The existing building dates only from
1931, but it has been designated as a
Local Listed Building.

In 1802, Merton's most famous resident, Admiral
Horatio Nelson (above middle with Thomas Becket
(left) and William Morris (right)), purchased Merton
Place from the widow of Charles Greaves with
its large estate, for £9,000.

Nelson expanded the estate with the purchase of
additional land and south of his house until his
Merton property covered most of the area west of the
Wandle and north of Morden Hall Park and also
included the whole of the area between
Merton Road, South Park Road
and Haydons Road.

Between trips to sea, Nelson lived at Merton Place with
his mistress Emma Hamilton (below) and her husband
Sir William Hamilton, although Sir William
died at his London house in 1803.

Unfortunately, Nelson had only a short time to
enjoy his new home before his death at the
Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805.

Continuing the long association of Merton with textile
printing, Arts and Crafts designer William Morris
opened a works at Merton Abbey Mills in 1881.

Close by, the firm of Edmund Littler was known for
its high quality printing and was by the 1890s
sending its entire production to Liberty & Co. in
Regent Street. Liberty & Co. subsequently took
over the production at Merton from Littler.

Further industrialisation followed the extension
of the railways and the underground.
(Above: the station in 1927)

The last of the water-powered industries survived into
the mid-20th century, and the character of the
area is now predominantly residential, with
a strong retail component.

A book on the history of Colliers Wood is
available from Merton Historical Society.

14.7.2010: An article in The Evening Standard
about Merton Priory which was listed
as a candidate to become a World
Heritage Site: Hidden history under
Sainsbury’s car park

3.11.2011: Historic site Merton Priory
gets £400k for redevelopment

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

A PLOT ON THE
LANDSCAPE

The best landmark in Colliers Wood is the butt ugly
brown high rise building right in front of the tube
station known as the Brown and Root Tower
(or simply Colliers Wood Tower).

If you've lost your bearings just look for
it and you'll find your way!

It was voted the ugliest building in London in a
BBC poll in 2006 and one of the 12 ugliest in the
whole country in a 2005 Channel 4 poll for its
programme "Demolition".

There has been plenty of plans to develop it over
the years ... but we're still waiting for
something to happen!

There is a Facebook Action Group dedicated to
"working to improve the state of The Tower"
and an another group which simply
wants to blow it up!

Amazingly the latter has
more members than the
action group!

The latest news on the
Tower (April 2010)

* * *

A BIT OF TRIVIA

The ITV1 TV series The Bill was filmed
in and around Colliers Wood.

The fake police station, Sun Hill (below)
was on Windsor Avenue.

Unfortunately ITV decided to
stop making the series
after 27 years!

Hollywood came to
Colliers Wood!

Sequences for "The Iron Lady", a film
starring Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep
as Margaret Thatcher (below) were
shot at the re-opened Merton
Studios in March 2011.

The facility, formerly the home of The Bill,
has been refurbished and relaunched
with state-of-the-art 3D filming equipment
but it was an old House of Commons set
at the Deer Park Road complex that
drew in its biggest name to date.

* * *

COLLIERS WOOD
WEB PAGES

Making Colliers Wood Happy

Making Colliers Wood Happy on Facebook

Colliers Wood Residents' Association

Colliers Wood News & Views (Facebook)

Colliers Wood, the only town for me (Facebook)

Colliers Wood Tower Action Group (Facebook)

* * *

PS: I've tried to include everything useful in
this site but if I have overlooked anything,
please email me at

itsalarwilife@googlemail.com

Thanks!

ALL INFORMATION IS
CORRECT ON
9.11.2011

COLLIERS WOOD SW19 INFORMATION