Old Malden
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Old Malden is a ward of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames situated 10 miles (16 km) south west of Charing Cross. Its population in 2001 was 9,012, out of a total of 147,273 for the whole Royal Borough. [1]
The area is informally referred to as Worcester Park, after the post town, although it has a long history as "Malden", which dates back before the development of New Malden, two miles (3 km) to the north in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, which necessitated the addition of the "Old" prefix.
In 1264 Walter de Merton, Bishop of Rochester founded a college here that was later moved to Oxford as Merton College.
At the centre of Old Malden is Plough Green, a traditional village green, surrounded by a 15th century public house, a bakery, a small parade of shops, two Indian restaurants (the Rupali and the Shalimar), an Italian restaurant (the A Roma) and a pond. Old Malden is served by Malden Manor station to the north and Worcester Park to the south, both 25 minutes from Waterloo. Malden Road, joining the green and Worcester Park station is flanked by two rows of over forty mature poplar trees. A minor tributary of the River Thames, the Hogsmill, flows through the west of Old Malden.
St John the Baptist Church, close to the Hogsmill, dates back to Saxon times and is mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book. In 1611 the chancel's old flint walls were repaired and the nave and the tower rebuilt in brick. In 1875 a new nave and chancel were added, and in 2004 a two storey extension completed. [2]
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[edit] Conservation Area
Old Malden Conservation Area was created in March 1971, designating the area as being “of special architectural or historic interest the character or appearance of which it is desirable to preserve or enhance”. (Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990, Section 69). It contains two distinct parts, St Johns’ and Plough Green, whose special character is summarised in the designation as:
St Johns’: A medieval village centre above the Hogsmill River, containing the Saxon Church of St. John the Baptist, the site of its vicarage, the 18th century Manor House and ancient fields.
Plough Green: A village green with a pond, a 15th century public house, and a picturesque group of mainly 19th century cottages.
[edit] Nearby places
- To the west: Ewell, Tolworth
- To the south: Worcester Park
- To the east: Raynes Park, Sutton
- To the north: New Malden, Motspur Park
[edit] Notable residents
- Daley Thompson, British decathlete, lived near "The Plough" public house
[edit] Notable open spaces close by
[edit] External links
- Map of the village in 1871 at oldmaps.co.uk. Accessed March 2007
