Forum Topic

old buildings

apart from the local churches, does anyone know which buildings/houses are Putney's oldest? thx

Adam Tripp ● 2752d23 Comments

Parts of the Green Man pub date back to around 1700.

Chantal Blake-Milton ● 2752d

The terrace opposite the Dukes Head are 19th century as are houses in Charlwood which date from 1830-1860 but after St Mary's (obviously), Winchester House dates in part to 1730 (there's a fireplace from the house in the V&A). I think most everything else is other rebuilt or newer.

Freddie Francis ● 2752d

The Montague Pub, which I don't think is now. A builder who demolished was told to replace as an original build. I might be completely wrong.

Barbara Stevens ● 2752d

It rather depends how old you want: the cottages in Coalecroft Avenue and Parkfields date from 1830 I believe.

Lucille Grant ● 2751d

The cottages in Commondale were built in 1862. The plaque above the doors of 26 and 27, slightly obscured by a climbing rose, reads: “Putney Labourers Cottages erected on land belonging to the Pest House Charity, A.D. 1862.Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 2751d

According to the excellent "Puney and Roehampton Through Time" by Simon McNeill-Ritchie and Ron Elam, which I acquired after a reference in another thread, there are a few that predate the 19th Century. For example: ▪ The tower of St Mary's church is generally believed to date from ca. 1500 and Bishop West chapel from the early 16th Century (the rest of the church, where the Putney Debate were held in 1647, was rebuilt in 1836). ▪ Grove House, now part of Roehampton University, was originally built in1777 (it's been modified since but is still recognisable). ▪ Roehampton House, once part of Queen Mary's Hospital (but now sold off to make a quick buck) was built in1710-12. ▪ The King's Head, Roehampton High Street (it was the Bull until the 1770s) dates from at least the 1670s.

Richard Carter ● 2751d

I’ve found a link with more information related to the Pest House Charity and the pesthouses that pre-dated the cottages in Commondale:http://faded-london.blogspot.com/2011/02/putney-pest-houses.htmlNick

Nicholas Evans ● 2751d

it sounds as though there are very few pre-Victorian buildings left (other than churches), I guess most of this area was farmland controlled by a handful of land owners. I have seen some early maps on the internet but they have very little detail. I believe a cottage owned by Oliver Cromwell's father was demolished to make way for the railway, although I have not pinpointed the location.

Adam Tripp ● 2751d

Adam I have a map which shows Putney as being mainly farmland and orchards - I'm not home until  next week but I'll look at the date and detail then.

Lucille Grant ● 2751d

thanks Richard, I have just found a copy on ebay for £6 :)

Adam Tripp ● 2751d

It's really good, Adam: each page has two photos/drawings: one of the building/street as it was and one as it is now/recently.

Richard Carter ● 2751d

This is on the internet...http://www.london-footprints.co.uk/wkputneyroute.htmThe Alms houses in Putney Bridge road date back to about 1663.

Jill Johnson ● 2751d

The King's Head pub in Roehampton was said to be the oldest surviving secular building in the Borough - but that was before its rescue and renovation, and I doubt there's much - if any - of the original remaining. Park Lodge on Putney Bridge Road (next to the alms houses) is also pretty old, as is evident from the fact that, over the years, the pavement has risen almost to the level of the ground floor windowsills!

Philip John Evison ● 2751d

Useful Stanford map (1862):-http://www.mappalondon.com/london/south-west/putney.jpgIf it seems small, click on it.

David Ainsworth ● 2751d

Fish traps are manmade structures, although not habitations:-http://www.wandsworthhistory.org.uk/fishtrap_putney.htmPretty ancient, and still there, D.V.

David Ainsworth ● 2751d

thanks David, I googled fish traps and found that there are many different types ranging from simple to complex, a very clever way to catch your lunch :)

Adam Tripp ● 2750d

Putney Station. Railway Pub, Old White Lion by Putney Bridge. My other half thinks there was an old prison somewhere behind the Library.

Barbara Stevens ● 2749d

"My other half thinks there was an old prison somewhere behind the Library."I don't think that librarians have ever had powers to incarcerate, only to fine. Locally, anyway.

David Ainsworth ● 2749d

Well David I shouldn't have thought the library would have been there then. The Library is a new build that's not the original building.

Barbara Stevens ● 2749d

Barbara, Putney Library is a Grade II listed building and was built in 1899, and the architect was Francis J. Smith. It was paid for by George Newnes, and the balcony is inscribed NEWNES PUBLIC LIBRARY in raised lettering on the front. I believe only the reception area has been refurbished.Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 2748d

Thank you Nick, I remember when it was built. My other half thought he had read as we have books on Putney that there had been a prison at the back. But then thought it might have been Fulham. We have pictures on our wall of Chelverton, Clarendon Drive, also Putney Bridge 1878. Part of Chelverton must have been bombed as now Chelverton Court.

Barbara Stevens ● 2748d

I don't think you could be imprisoned behind Putney Library, but you COULD be booked.

Philip John Evison ● 2748d

Philip Ha, Ha, we drove past today and by the side of the library at the back of the new opticians, there is new buildings down there so don't know what was behind it before.

Barbara Stevens ● 2748d