Morden

This is the first station for me to visit on the Northern Line. The Northern Line is the amalgamation of  two separate railway companies - The City and South London Railway and the Hampstead Tube. 

Here is a map of the line showing all 52 stations. I have already visited 9 where the stations are serviced by other underground lines. It still leaves me with 43 to explore. Today I am starting at the Undergound's  most southerly station which is Morden on the Northern line. I know you will be saying I have that wrong as the map shows the station at the top which surely means it is the most northern station but no these maps always have the station you are at shown at the top. Compared to North London i.e. north of the Thames, there are very few stations south of the River Thames. It just so happens that the last three underground lines I have to visit all have stations in South or South-West London.

The station has 5 platforms which surprised me as the station is only used by the Northern Line. Three tracks run through the station to the depot and there are two platform islands.

The octagonal ticket hall has a large octagonal raised window flooding the hall with natural light.

The station was one of the first stations to be built in a more modern style for London Underground by Charles Holden. The architect Charles Holden (1875-1960) was commissioned by the Underground's Managing Director, Frank Pick to design a series of new buildings for the ever growing underground. Pick wanted a fresh new look that would transform  tube station buildings into beacons of modernity. Holden introduced the roundel into his designs so that passengers could easily identify the stations at street level.  The prominent roundels, Portland stone and glazed screens were a feature of his earliest designs in the 1920s on the Northern Line. Holden designed over 40 London Underground stations with no two stations alike.

Morden was one of the first stations Holden designed in 1926.

 On the 26th September 1926, London Underground opened the Northern Line extension to Morden. This station was one of seven new ones built on the Underground. The Underground contributed to the increase in the development of the area and an increase in population by nine fold between 1921 and 1931. Until the underground arrived Morden was a sleepy village with a few small shops and a handful of farms

 

With this extension, Morden became a transport hub for south London, with buses going from the station to the suburbs not served by the Underground.

Outside the station was a modern water fountain. There is a big push to have free drinking water accessible and to cut down on the use of plastic water bottles.

The tracks going down to the depot.

This is Merton Civic centre home to the council offices. What I didn't realise until I was doing the research after I had taken the photos, was that the 14 storey building behind  is also part of the Civic centre so you will have to imagine the rest of it.

The High Street seemed to be made up of numerous eating establishments and estate agents. This section had four estate agents in a row.

Art deco shopping parade which was refurbished in 2018 giving it a new lease of life.

Further along the road is one of the biggest mosques in Western Europe. The Baitul Futuh mosque was built on the site of an old diary and covers an area of 5.2 acres. It is a mix of Islamic and modern British architecture and was voted one of the top 50 buildings in the world by the Spectator magazine. Whereas it is impressive, I can't agree that it would be top 50 in the UK let alone in the world. The building can accommodate 1600 worshippers in each of the two prayer halls.

Across the road from the mosque is Morden Park, a hive of activity on a Sunday morning with numerous football matches taking place. I followed the road back to see what was on the other side of the station. A short walk beyond the station brought me to Morden Hall Park.

Morden Hall was built during the 1790s for the Garth family, who owned the manor of Morden for over 200 years. Between 1830 and 1870, the building housed a private academy for the sons of gentry. In 1872 the estate was sold to the Hatfeild family, who had leased the adjacent snuff and tobacco mills since 1831. During the Great War, Morden Hall was converted for use as a military hospital on the instructions of its owner, Gilliat Edward Hatfeild. It remained  an annexe to the London Hospital for several years. Following the death of Mr Hatfeild in 1940, the Morden Hall estate was bequeathed to the National Trust. The Hall was leased as council offices until 1985. It was then converted into a popular restaurant and is now a private wedding venue.

 Morden Hall is set in parkland with the River Wandle running through its meadows. Morden Hall Park is a former deer park owned and managed by the National Trust. One of several estates bordering the River Wandle during the industrial hey day.

This is the original watermill where tobacco was ground into snuff between 1760 and 1922. The snuff was snorted up the nose to induce sneezing and was thought to clear the mind. Each month the watermills ground 3 tons of snuff.

Originally two waterwheels turned in the river, driving the machinery in the Snuff Mills. The river was channelled towards the mills and the flow of the river was controlled by a metal gate.

 This was the Snuff Mill now used for children's workshops. 

A view of the two mills which were built c1750 and c1870.

A couple of the old millstones have been strategically placed to keep people of the grass.

The old stables have been converted into offices and a cafe.

I walked through the park, having a quick look at the wetland area. The National Trust have erected a boardwalk allowing easy access into the bullrushes and reeds making it easier to view the various species that enjoy this habitat. Not that I spotted any wildlife.

I left the park and crossed the tramline. Just missed getting a photo of the tram as it passed by just before I got there.

In the park I had seen signs for a city farm just outside the park so I decided to pay it a visit and maybe stop for lunch if there is a cafe there.

The yarn bombers had been busy decorating this rubbish bin.

Lots of families were enjoying the animals and feeding them. This goat was very disappointed that I had not bought any animal feed to give him. I did stop in the cafe for some lunch but it wasn't great.

The river ran past the farm so I walked beside it until I reached the main road back to the station. A pleasant day's walking and the weather was kind. I look forward to seeing more of the Northern Line in the coming weeks and months.