River Wandle Walk | London's Industrial River - Carshalton to Wandsworth (4K) 

I love that walking/hiking is 'wandelen' in Dutch, so the River Wandle Walk would be the 'Rivier de Wandle wandeling'. Couldn't be more appropriate of a river for this channel!

After a long hiatus the reconstitued version of Wimbledon FC (AFC Wimbledon) returned to the London Borough of Merton in a newly built stadium in Plough Lane.

Wow! This was a fabulous walk and river explore. Didn't realise that the River Wandle was so wide, nor so clear, through South London. Professor Kate was a knowledgeable walking companion. Glad your leg injury is now healing well. Thanks John.

One dark night, back in the nineties, we made the long trek from Leytonstone and Clapton to see the installation ceremony for that bell. The wonderful arts organisation Platform was involved, who, amongst other things, do great work concerning urban rivers. There were a couple of pints of Youngs afterwards in The Crane, I think.

John, I lived in Earlsfield at one time and often went to Wandsworth, a common site was Youngs horse drawn drays used to deliver beer to local Youngs pubs, I moved to Carshalton from Wanswoth, and the Greyhound was my local for several years, It was almost as common to see cars, vand lorries and on one occasion a double decker Bus in the ponds as ducks. Really enjoyed the walk it brought back some nice memories

John i grew up in merton and Morden 1953-1968.This brought back many memories like going on the boats in ravensbury park to mushroom picking with my dad in Morden hall park.As a footnote our back garden backed on to the Pyl brook which runs into the Beverly brook and on to the Thames.The Pyl brook varied from a couple of inches deep to about 6 feet deep after heavy rain which used to flood the gardens and you would surely drown if you fell in.Look forward to the next walk,wherever that may be.

Thank you John ,my son and daughter in law lived on Penwith Rd just along from the end of your walk and I now understand the name of the pub and so much more about the Wandle River . So many connections made with all your walks.😁

John - another great walk and Kate was a joy. You mention (Paul) Merton and Wandsworth and there is another more obtuse connection. Many years ago my mother worked in a psychiatric hospital in Epsom with a woman who's son was sending jokes to the BBC and famous comedians such as Bob Monkhouse trying to make his way in comedy... that boy was Paul Merton. And to bring Wandsworth into the equation, the hospital was Long Grove - one of five such hospitals in Epsom established by London Boroughs in Victorian times to treat psychiatric patients in a country setting. And the London Borough that set up Long Grove? Wandsworth. Thanks again John - looking forward to the next episode.

Enjoyed this episode on the “Secret” walks series, it was great that you had a distinguished and knowledgeable guest of the prof, She added to the narrative beautifully. Thankyou for taking me back to the river of my youth ❤️

A brilliant walk, John, made even better by your guest, and probably my favourite of your river walks. Thank you!

Lovely and informative walk with you and the Professor with a glorious sunset to finish.Very good for the soul John!!!

Been looking forward to this one! That stretch from Colliers Wood to Morden got me through the first lockdown.

What a wonderful walk, really interesting/fascinating as always, thanks John and Prof. Kate Spencer

The noble tree at 20:45 is a "London Plane", Platanus xhispanica a hybrid between two species, perhaps P. occidentalis and P. orientalis and thus preceded by a multiplication sign. First recorded about 1663 and widely planted as a parkland and street tree on account of its tolerance to atmospheric pollution and severe pruning. A tree often found within city squares.

I watch your vlogs to the end every time because I never know what gem you will drop in at the last minute. This time, it was the Wandsworth shield which I had never heard of. Another great vlog John, come them coming!

I’m so glad you finally done this walk John and with the great knowledgeable Prof Kate spencer. I’m hoping to do this walk after my recovery. So much history along this beautiful river and some real lovely specimen fish in the water as it’s so clean. Thank you for taking us with you. 👍🏻

Hi I’m so pleased to see you went to Carshalton ponds. I have lots of memories there of when I was a child my grandad and nan lived in Mitcham which is close by and you can walk along the river to get to Mitchum. My mum use to take my brother and I for a long stroll with our fishing nets on a bamboo stick and we use to fish for the little fish in the river I recall panicking a lot trying to get them out the net once I’d caught one. My nan and granddad got married at the church at carshalton ponds just after the war not long after my mother was born and she was brought up in the area. Years down the line they got a Victorian house in Mitcham which was defiantly haunted I always would be frightened of a night time to go to bed up the steep stairs worst bit the toilet in the 80’s was still on the outside of the house with just a glass lean-to on the back of the house. Plus the bath was in the kitchen under a board used as the kitchen work top. It was in that house I discovered I could see ghosts when my nan died when I was 10yrs old my nan died would often pick up on her being a round me she was age 50 at the time of dying same age I am now . Ive been sharing my ability of linking with those in the sprit realm for a number of years I now do it professionally now thanks to my experience of my early years. I get to do a lot of mind travel of place’s memories that the spirit person is trying to show me to tell the recipient and I have to be vigilant I get to experience snippets of places that i have to describe quickly. I digress from the topic i first had pop in my mind which was mentioning how lovely the church is I managed to go in one time to have a nose about I took some good photography’s of the elaborate headstones for one of my art degree project last year,oh and my granddad wanted his ashes scattered in the ponds this wasn’t achieved because its against the law to do this ridiculous.I live in wickford in Essex the river crouch runs through the town and use to flood the high st. When i go off on the long distance to demonstrate mediumship at Wimbledon spiritualist church i always stop at carshalton ponds and sit on my favourite and reminisce. Thanks for the walk From Elaine😊

William Morris was also a director of the world’s largest arsenic producer, the Devon Great Consols mine near Tavistock, an open-cast mine/blight on the landscape, from 1871 to 1875,

The parkland was so soothing compared to Wandsworth.. love when you mention film and TV / personalities that I can check out! Enjoyed that thank you!

I used to play in/on the Wandle as a kid, 55 years ago. Also used to play in/ on the river Graveney that joins the Wandle. The River Graveney heads west through parts of Streatham and bits of Tooting, one neighbourhood of which bears the river's name, before entering the River Wandle round the back of Lambeth Cemetery. For a large part of the way it defines the boundary between Wandsworth and Merton, and has been an administrative dividing line since the Domesday Book.

When it started I thought you were going through one of those beautiful villages on the fringe of London and yet it was formerly packed with industry and pollution. Although the loss of jobs is sad, some of those industries have changed for the better and it is great to see the vast improvements made to the area.

Lovely video John. I grew up here, now in Essex, so it was lovely to see my old manor ! Cheers.

LOVE THE MUSIC IN YOUR VIDEOS AS ALWAYS JOHN ITS SO SOOTHING...

I really enjoyed this one John, thank you. I remember watching Wimbledon FC practicing near Roehampton and watching Vinny Jones circa 1995 ish.

Great to see this wandle visit. The stretch from Croydon has interesting urban feel to it. Thanks to you both John and Kate

My gran used to live on Summerley st with the rear of the house backing onto the Wandle where the railway line crossed. Back in the 70's and 80's when I used to visit, the Wandle was a mess, pollution and rubbish everywhere. Glad it looks so good now.

Based in Dubai but being born and bread close to the Youngs Brewery. Lovely little ramble.

I absolutely loved watching this video. Brilliant. Many thanks Roger!!! Its the combo history, etymology, being outside, seeing new things, walking, nature, the interaction of people with land and places. Your videos should be compulsory viewing for all school children, to get our youth back to the roots of the earth, and away from games consoles.

Glad you did this. if you want an even more 'hidden' river that connects with the Wandle perhaps you could try the Graveney (which become Norbury Brook), It flows through my allotment, so happy to show you about, Mitcham is one of the few parishes to still carry on the 'preambulations' which access' our allotments (the only private allotments in Britain I believe), another feature is Roe Bridge which dates back to Roman times. The Graveney is a truly culverted river, with very few natural parts, but its generally above ground and and interesting walk I think. Though I have no idea what its source is, despite having attempted to find out.

I am Carshalton born and bred! I paddled in the Wandle at Wilderness Island as a kid - I fished for sticklebacks and paddled little boats in Ravensbury Park! Lovely video John! So much part of my past!

What a wonderful treat for Fathers Day , a truly magical river borne out of industry but now flowing majestically through a beautiful trail that held my interest throughout. Thanks John and Professor Kate for this walk . Yes thoroughly enjoyed A River called Wandle. 😊👍

Lovely photography. You chose a good day. Very enjoyable.

A great walk for the most part which I did yesterday. I can see why you started from Carshalton Ponds because I struggled to find the route between East Croydon station and Beddington Park. The section from Carshalton to Morden Park was the most satisfying. Thanks for the video which encouraged me to come down for the day from Derby to do the walk. I knew the Wandsworth section well because I was brought up in Summerstown and Earlsfield.

Thanks for the great video which brings back wonderful memories for me as I lived in Carshalton, (which I love) for over fifty years (I'm now in my 70's), and my local pub was 'The Greyhound' opposite Carshalton Ponds which you show. B.P. Chemicals had a factory on the Wandle in Mill Lane, Carshalton, and they regularly poluted the river. On each occasion they were fined by the council to fund the clean ups but it was too late for all the dead fish that were seen floating on the surface - some lovely large trout amongst them. I didn't see a single fish in the river during your walk, though apparently stocks have improved, thankfully.

Have done this walk a few recently times and it also took me by surprise! Great views and very few diversions. The ending at The Spit is a very satisfying place to finish a walk as well.

Looking at this part of London from Slovenia wishing to be able to travel. Thank you.

As an Englishman living in California I really enjoy watching your videos on a Sunday evening even if it makes me feel somewhat homesick.

Watching River walks whilst having lunch. Great combination.

I lived just across the Thames, on the Fulham bank for a couple of years. I used to watch the waters draining from the Wandle mouth, as the tide was going out. What a beautiful part of London.

Morris took over the site of Amery's Copper Mill in Merton High Street (later Reeds Paper Mill), for the printing of textiles mainly. One of my mum's uncles was a pattern cutter (sometimes outworker) and printer I think for Morris, but it might have been for Littler's (later taken over by their main customer , Liberty of London - the works of Liberty became part of the Courtholds textile group I think).

Very beautiful place.

Under the railway bridge on Mead Path that was probably the route of the Surrey Iron Railway. The concrete area at the ex Sewage works should be about where the Graveney joins the Wandle

Thanks for your videos. Loved this Wandle Walk. Used to live in Morden and this brought back lovely memories.

Was born in Carshalton in 1948. The Wandle was my local river but back in the 50s it was very polluted especially around what was Merton Board Mills. Great amount of lather/suds. I think that area has been turned into craft centre. Morden Hall Park had old snuff grinding mills. Ironically the Huguenots, expelled from France, had the sole technology for dyeing the cardinals red cloth, so the French had to buy from them who had their works on the Wandle. I think Paul Merton was a clerk at the Tooting Benefit office before he hit the big time.

Thank you John , (beautiful) x

really good ..

Recently started watching your videos. If you're ever down Coulsdon or Farthing Downs way again, there's still a section of embankment of the Surrey Iron Railway still extant near to Coulsdon South station

Nice seeing you do a walk accompanied by a learned guest, John. Perhaps make this a regular once a month feature event having a guest accompanying you.

Growing up on Garrett Lane between Tooting and Earlsfield this brought back some great memories of the area. Thanx you so much John and Professor Kate Spencer.

I used to live there , I love your Channel , recently discovered it and I’m hooked , currently binge watching all of them xxx

Another superb walk with stunning scenery and unfolding history. Great job John & Kate .AAA+++

Thankyou for doing this walk. I am lucky to live in Carshalton and your walks inspired me to explore the river only recently. I look forward to walking further along this beautiful river.

Magical - what a beautiful sunset at the end

I know that it’s no Mississippi, Nile or even Thames, but the Wandle was the river that I grew up a stones throw away from, on the fringe of the St Helier estate. Thanks for this. Edit…The estate in Hackbridge is called Mill Green.

John and Kate thank you again for another lovely walk. Happy Fathers Day from the U.S.A. Phoenix,AZ. Also Happy Summer Solstice.🌞

Wonderful Wandle! Such an amazing walk and as you noted because it is within London just makes this video so special. Very scenic and beautiful landscape, the reclamation from industry has been well done. In many spots it looks as though the river was always as it is today. Thanks for all the history and local knowledge.

The white building you filmed at Butter hill near wilderness island was a snuff mill i believe. Wilderness island i believe has never been built on & opposite the island is strawberry lodge which is an original wandle mansion. The river from Beddington to wilderness island has alot of Kingfishers little egret & Herons.

WHAT A LOVELY WALK!

Another gem for your collection.

What a nice walk of discovery

Brilliant. Looking forward to exploring this area myself soon.

Another fascinating episode!

Another great episode.

Wonderful.... Thank you😉🙏

Loved every yard …thank you

Done this walk several times. Always enjoyable and remarkably cleaner than it was in the 70/80"s

Thanks John top walk

Its very varied scenery. Beautiful.

Wonderful.

Great to have Kate along and all her insights.

Very enjoyable, thanks, Bill.

Thanks John I lived near the Wandle in Morden but moved 32 years ago. Great to see it again

Another cracking video John. A perfect way to end a weekend!

Home sweet home. I miss it

The mention of Young's Brewery & the Horse-drawn deliveries brought back memories of my old school located opposite a young's run pub on Clapham Common & our old Geography teacher coming back from lunch after several pints of Young's special Bitter. He used to tell us to open our books at a particular page & begin reading while he had 40 winks. Happy Days.

Lovely stuff as ever sir...good info from the prof. too!

What an absolute treat as usual ,John,Thankyou to both of you.

I thoroughly enjoyed this episode. Thank you.

Enjoyed the video reliving sights from 2018 when I cycled from Paris to London and came into London along Wandel before heading onto Clapham Common

Absolutely fabulous video. As a child l traveled around London with my bus pass, and do London walks. This is so in depth.Thank you again for pointing out how rich we really are.

nice one, I enjoy going wandling myself :)

Right on the Scorpio Effigy of the Kingston Zodiac!

In a word, Brilliant!!! Thanks to both of you. Carmen

Epic walk... thanks for taking us :)

Wonderful, thankyou!

Thx for video John!

Really surprised how beautiful places I'll be heading down there thank you for showing it great video 🙂

Great history and video

Fascinating walk and history!

How extraordinarily bucolic. Real nice film thanks both!

Always a pleasure, especially this one. Cheers

Fascinating, thank for a great Sunday evening watch. 😀

Really enjoyed this video. Coming from Mitcham, it brought back a lot of happy memories.

Enjoyed it! AWESOME! Great Virtual Tour! 😊👍😊👍 Big Like!

great continues walk very interesting good to have prof kate on walk as added knowledge

Great walk John really enjoyed it and what interesting and knowledgable company.

Lovely video thank you. I'm planning to do similar shortly as I live 10 minute walk from Morden Hall Park

Well done John and Kate on a fantastic walk along the wandle , enjoyed very much as always some interesting facts

From South Africa. Thank you for this fascinating video. A really nostalgic trip to childhood haunts: Ravensbury Park and Morden Hall Park. In those days cows grazed in Morden Hall Park, while we could hire a boat on the Wandle at Ravensbury. Sixpence for about half an hour - number so and so come in. Time’s up. Mitcham was famous for its lavender fields - Potter and Moore. Also more towards the Carshalton end of town were Meads - ponds in which flax was soaked to rot the soft material, leaving the harder fibres from which linen was processed. The smell of rotting vegetation was apparently dreadful. The Eau de Wandle was known colloquially as a pong. Mitcham had (has?) a well known cricket club, and weekend matches were played on Cranmer Green, so named for Cardinal Cranmer who had a mansion there. Yes, Nelson and his lady love also had a country retreat there, and towards Tooting the writer and poet Thomas Hardy had a house. I was very pleasantly surprised by how clean the environment was. Thank you again for a fascinating video.

Very nicely done. My streach of the woods.