Wallington’s abandoned Cold War nuclear bunker
*Historical* This small and cramped underground bunker was built to house Royal Observer Corps (ROC) volunteers. Unused for over 30 years, several ‘Urbex’ investigators have visited the site to document it. It’s situated on the Little Woodcote estate at the bend on the Oaks Track (map below). During the Cold War with Russia between 1947 […]
That unusual building on Wallington crossroads
*Historical* This distinctive purpose-built gas showroom (now the British Heart Foundation) is on a busy junction in Wallington on the corner of Woodcote Road and Stanley Park Road. Gas was big business when this showroom opened sometime between the late 1920s and early 1930s. It’s a building reminiscent of warmer climes (architectural style is most […]
Grand Wallington house once owned by Pre-Raphaelite artist Arthur Hughes
*Historical* Hard to believe this is the only one of Wallington’s large houses to survive intact. This is Wandle Bank. The present building dates from the early 1700s though there’s thought to have been a house on this site for much longer. It was once owned by the Pre-Raphaelite painter Arthur Hughes (pictured here aged […]
The River Wandle helped fund this large georgian house in Wallington
This imposing 3-storey home in Wallington, is at 282 London Road next to Wallington Bridge. It sits alongside the River Wandle. The Wandle helped pay for its construction. Bridge House was mentioned in 1789. “a handsome house built with grey stock-bricks… This house was built a few years ago by Mr.Newton of Merton Abbey. It […]
Butter Hill estate and the long-lost country house
If you know of Butter Hill in Wallington you may have often wondered what was there before the 1930s estate was built. Let’s find out more… Butter Hill estate was constructed on the grounds of a large house called Elm Grove. It’s not clear when the lovely old home was built, but it was here […]
The first governor of Sutton’s oldest school was also vicar at All Saints
I finally got to see the fine Victorian building for myself that was purpose built for Wilson’s School in 1883. The school that was in the old building in Camberwell, pictured above, finally moved to new premises in Wallington in 1975. Wilson’s School is a high ranking and multi award winning grammer school and is […]
Tracing the Hamlet of Wallington through its beautiful old buildings
The original hamlet of Wallington was based around Wallington Green, Wrights Row, London Road, Manor Road and Manor Road North. There’s still several charming old buildings that survive from those early days, and we’re going to be gradually discovering more about them on this page, so please check back as we add more. So in […]
The first Coat of Arms to feature a full Aeroplane motif in the UK
The country’s first civic Coat of Arms to display a full aeroplane can still be viewed on the front of the old town hall in Woodcote Road, Wallington. But why is there an aeroplane on it? This refers to the presence of Croydon Aerodrome, London’s first major airport, in the east of the Borough. Beddington […]
Wallington Animal Rescue Tombola whisky turns out to be rare bottle and sells at auction for £1600
A bottle of whisky was one of the many prizes on a bottle Tombola stall belonging to Wallington Animal Rescue, but fortunately it was never won. It was put into storage, and when having a clear-out the bottle was spotted by chance, and recognised as being high value. The auction took place on 5 January […]