About
This verdant oasis on the outskirts of London boasts a range of agricultural and industrial history. Currently a peaceful deer park, Morden Hall is one of the few remaining country estates bordering the River Wandle as it approaches the conurbation. Lots of wildlife claim the gardens as their home, and you can admire the snuff mills which were integral to the economic stability of the estate during its heyday. Despite its location next to the hustle and bustle of London, the setting of the park feels completely rural.
Morden Hall was originally owned by Westminster Abbey, and there is evidence of at least one earlier manorial house on the site. The surviving Morden Hall dates back to the 1770s, when it was owned by the Garth family and subsequently occupied as a school for young gentlemen. It served as a military infirmary in WWI, and was left to the National Trust when the last owner died.