Thread by @cornish_jack, A 13.5 mile walking journey through South West London*THREAD THREAD THREAD Starting [...]

A 13.5 mile walking journey through South West London*
THREAD THREAD THREAD

Starting at New Malden and the two towers (CI & Apex) looming over.
*thread contains lots of suburban architecture, green spaces and little rivers.
#LoveLondonWalkLondon #EveryStreetInLondon #NewMalden

Urban footpaths are always intriguing...

This one takes me out onto The Green - part of an early Addison council housing scheme (thanks to @MunicipalDreams for the help with identification). We think that the crest in the third photo is for Malden and Coombe Urban District Council - can any local historians confirm?

The Britain from Above site has an aerial photograph taken in 1926 - not long after the site was developed. You can see the suburbs slowly swallowing up farmland.
https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW016632

Having gone under the railway line I then cross the Hogsmill River (and the path of the London Loop). Have you walked this Thames Tributary yet @walkngclasshero @Ramblers_London?

Along Grand Avenue in Berrylands - some rather fine modernist housing (sold for around £950 freehold in 1934 - plus £40 if you wanted a garage). Built by the Bell Property Trust.
@modernistestate

More grand Grand Avenue houses

Berrylands Nature Reserve - no golf and no cycling. A tributary of a tributary here.

Maybe start a typology of suburban garden front walls?

Approaching Worcester Park station.
A bleak future or a bright future. So wider pavements and more cycle lanes?

Clouds gather over Malden Green, common land chipped away over time. In 1844 a Cheam tea-dealer tried to enclose 1/4 acre; a butcher had his hut removed in 1925 and Barrett Homes successfully got a chunk for their executive housing
https://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/malden-green/
Map from @natlibscotmaps

Ugh - private road with no pavement....

Any idea what makes a silver birch do the twist? @TheStreetTree @GregPackman

Let's go crazy with the mock Tudor

I feel that this #mcdonaldsmess is mocking the sign @mikelondonse

Hamilton Avenue Recreation Ground and the Pym Brook. A remnant of Sutton Common.

A fine boundary marker @running_past!

The St Helier estate - interwar garden city inspired, overspill housing from the London County Council (Lewisham residents will see parallels with estates in Grove Park and Downham).

The estate was built on the last of the famour Mitcham Lavender fields and is named after Mary Jeune (Baroness St Helier) an LCC alderman.
https://summerstown182.wordpress.com/2015/09/18/lavender-and-gunpowder/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Jeune,_Baroness_St_Helier

Spot the urban fox playing in builders sand.

I'm all in favour of a national ban on pavement parking (you can contribute to the consultation here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/managing-pavement-parking) but we need proper enforcement.

Getting towards Mitcham, walking next to the Wandle. I think the Wandle Trail features on your most recent Greenground Map @HelenIlus?
You can order the fantastic Greenground Map here: https://helenilus.com/greengroundmap/

Is there actually water under here????

Watermeads Estate - recommendation from @MunicipalDreams. Looking forward to reading more in his chapter on Merton in the upcoming Open House Alternative Guide to the London Boroughs (+ excited to read @EwanMHarrison on Brent, @Rosamund_Lil on Greenwich!). https://shop.openhouselondon.org.uk/products/pre-order-open-house-london-guide-2020