A guided walk through the historic Springfield Park site in Wandsworth – the location of London's first public park since 2012!
Springfield in springtime, golden daffodils along the Wandle Valley. This walk explores the past, present and future of this fascinating location, which was historically 'The Surrey County Pauper Lunatic Asylum' before becoming a hospital in 1841.
Key historical figures associated with the site include pioneer photographer Hugh Welch Diamond and artist Louis Wain. The walk highlights notable contributors like Joan Bicknell, Dr Hamid Ghodse, Mary Seacole, and Hugh Gardiner-Hill – individuals dedicated to vulnerable populations.
The 2-hour circuit begins at Toast café and covers the evolving development, including 449 new homes currently under construction in the southeast corner. A new gateway to Streatham Cemetery will soon open as part of emerging green routes.
Geoff Simmons runs Summerstown182, a community history project in south west London – specialising in walks, talks, tours and putting up plaques. Over ten years, his work has illuminated lesser-known local history along the Wandle Valley.