News Archive
October 2023
Our 40th Anniversary
In November the Wandle Industrial Museum will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary. We are interested in hearing from anyone who worked at the museum during its early years either as a volunteer or as part of the Manpower Services project. We looking to capture memories of those who did work with us and put into a short film to be shown at our AGM. Please email the museum at office@wandle.com or call 020 8648 0127 to share your memories.
Volunteers Needed
The museum is looking for volunteers to help with our front of house, our archive and with small projects. Could you be looking to fill a few hours of your time a month? Experience and knowledge is not necessary. You would be fully supported by our existing team of volunteers. Interested? Then please call into the museum on a Wednesday between 1-4pm, email us at office@wandle.org, call 020 8648 0127 or complete an application form at here
New Talk on Jane Morris
A new talk is available delivered by our Trustee John Hawks on the life of Jane Morris.
Jane Morris's highly individual beauty was the icon of the Victorian Pre-Raphaelite movement, famous especially from many portraits by her long-time lover Dante Gabriel Rossetti - but in the shadow of her illustrious, multi-talented husband William she has been unfairly neglected by posterity. John Hawks looks at the life and contribution of someone who most certainly was "not just a pretty face".
For details of all the talks available from the museum go to here Talks are free of charge. Donations are welcomed.September 2023
Goat Bridge Wandle Project
Join the South East Rivers Trust and others and learn how lowering the Goat Bridge weir, planned for autumn 2023, will help revitalise a section of the River Wandle. Hear from experts how the project will benefit wildlife, help fish move up and down stream and reduce flood risk in the area.
To find out more about what is happening on Mitcham Heritage Day go to here
Wandle Heritage Walks
Our last Wandle Heritage Walk is on Sunday 17th September from 11am. Starts at Morden Hall Snuff Mills and finishes at The Chapter House of Merton Priory in Colliers Wood. A short walk with a hugh amount of history to find out and learn about.
Free of charge - donations welcomed. To book email john.sheridan08@gmail.com
August 2023
Mitcham Heritage Day
The annual Mitcham Heritage Day is taking place on Saturday 9th September. The museum will be open from 10am until 4pm.
Learn about the way block printing of textiles was done for over 300 years along the Wandle Valley. Talk and printing demonstration at 10:30am, 12pm and 2:30pm. There will be the opportunity to make your own print.
Booking necessary for talk and demo due to limited room. Email office@wandle.org or call 020 8648 0127.
To find out more about what is happening on Mitcham Heritage Day go to here
July 2023
Merton Heritage Discovery Day
The museum will be at this annual event taking place on the 19th August at the Merton Civic Centre, Morden. We will have a stall on the second floor. On the ground floor you can learn about the art of block printing introduded by the Huguenots in the early 1700's. You will have the opportunity to make your own block print in the traditional method used by the likes of Morris & Co and Liberty. Sessions at 11-12 and 1:30-3.
At 2pm our volunteer John Sheridan will be leading a walk from the Civic Centre forecourt around Morden Hall Park highlight the industries of the area.
For a full programme of the day click here
Mitcham Heritage Day
The annual Mitcham Heritage Day is taking place on Saturday 9th September. The museum will be open from 10am until 4pm. We will holding talks and printing demonstrations at 10:30am, 12pm and 2:30pm. Find out how textiles were printed in the 18th and 19th century There will be the opportunity to make your own print. Booking necessary due to limited room. Email office@wandle.org or call 020 8648 0127.
Wandle Inspired Music
At the Wandle Arts Festival we had the pleasure of listening to two pieces of music inspired by the river Wandle. Phil Durrant produced this piece Wandling.
The duo Cinnabar preformed the Wandle Song written by Joe Walinets. Listen to it here.June 2023
Auriel's Skydive for St Raphael's Hospice
Our volunteer Auriel Glanville will be celebrating her 80th birthday by jumping out of a plane at 15,000 ft on 6th July, at Old Sarum Airfield, Salisbury, to raise vital funds for St Raphael's Hospice, Cheam, in memory of her late partner Richard Mackie and friend Dave Lofthouse, who were under the care of the hospice. Dave was Arboricultural Manager at the London Borough of Merton for 33 years. Please support Auriel by going to her Just Giving page.
Wandle Arts Festival
The museum is hosting the third Wandle Arts Festival on Saturday 8th July between 11am and 5pm on the Lower Green West. Artists and acts are all booked and this year we are involving a number of community groups. Bring your picnic with you and enjoy a day of fun, music and learning.
Sport Along the Wandle Talk
As part of a sporting day at AFC Wimbledon our volunteer Mick Taylor will be giving an illustrated talk "Sport Along the Wandle". Taking place on Saturday 24th June at 5pm in the Silver Lounge at the Cherry Red Records stadium. The entrance is in Plough Lane.
Mitcham Carnival is back
The carnival is returning this year and taking place at Three Kings Piece, Mitcham on Sunday 25th June from 10:30am. We will be there along with many others. The museum will also be opening its doors as usual from 2pm. Visit the carnival then pop over and visit the museum.
New Exhibition "Sport Along The Wandle"
Our new exhibition is now open. The exhibition looks at the relationship between the River Wandle and sporting activities. From stadiums new and old, and sports that may shock people and other surprising sports.
Wandle Heritage Walks
The museum walks programme has kicked off and is up and running. Our next walk is now fully booked. For a full list of our 2023 walks click here
Free of charge - donations welcomed. To book email john.sheridan08@gmail.com
May 2023
Croydon Green Spaces Open Day
This event takes place on Saturday 3rd June 2023 from 11am until 4pm. The museum will be there with a stall along with other heritage and environmental groups. At 2pm our volunteer Mick Taylor will be speaking about the changing face of the River Wandle in the talk "From Industry to Homes".
Wandsworth Heritage Festival
This years festival starts on 20th May and will last until 11th June. There will be a talk from the museum's volunteer Mick Taylor on 29th May at 6:30pm at Earlsfield Library "Apprentices, Children and Labour in the Wandle Mills". Booking is required via heritage@gll.org
For a full list of everything that is happening click here
New Exhibition "Sport Along The Wandle" Opening to the public Sunday 11th June
Our new exhibition looks at the relationship between the River Wandle and sporting activities that have taken place along its banks and in it. From stadiums new and old, from sports that may shock people and other surprising sports.
Wandle Heritage Walks
The museum walks programme has kicked off and is up and running. Our next walk is now fully booked. For a full list of our 2023 walks click here
Free of charge - donations welcomed. To book email john.sheridan08@gmail.com
Join the Participants at Wandle Arts Festival
It's not to late to put your name fto be part of this years Wandle Arts Festival on 8th July 2023. Artists, photographers, potters, poets, bands, orchestras, choirs and dance groups are invited to take part. Interested? Then please email the museum at office@wandle.org to express your interest.
April 2023
William Morris Day 15th April
The museum will be at St Mary's Church, Beddington on the 15th April demonstrating and speaking about the technic of block printing as used by William Morris at the Morris & Co Works. Introduced by the Huguenots in the Late 1600s/Early 1700s Morris brought back this way of printing when he took over the calico works established in 1752 on the banks of the River Wandle at Merton Abbey. You will have the opportunity to make your own print based on a section of a pattern designed by Morris. There will be a display from images associated with the Morris Works.
Join the Participants at Wandle Arts Festival
We are inviting artists, photographers, potters, poets, bands, orchestras, choirs and dance groups to take part in the third Wandle Arts Festival on Saturday 8th July 2023. Open to anyone who works in art form. The event is free of charge to all those who wish to be part of it. Environmental, nature and river groups are also invited to join us. Interested? Then please email the museum at office@wandle.org to express your interest.
Wandle Heritage Walk Saturday 15th April 2023
Our fist Heritage walk of the year is from Mitcham Tram Stop to Morden Hall Snuff Mills. Learn about the hidden history of Ravensbury Park, the mills, our first public railway and much more.
Free of charge - donations welcomed. To book email john.sheridan08@gmail.com
For a full list of our 2023 walks programme click here
New booklet on Fry's Metal Founderies and Tandem Works
Written by former employee Mike Finch this booklet looks at the history of Fry's who were located in the Tandem Works in Christchurch Road, Colliers Wood. Now the home to the Tandem Shopping Centre. The book is available from the museum shop or Merton Historical Society. Cost £5.00.
March 2023
Call out for Wandle Arts Festival
The museum is hosting the third Wandle Arts Festival on Saturday 8th July 2023. The festival is open to anyone in the arts who would like to display and show their passion for their personal art. The event is free of charge to all those who wish to be part of it. Dance groups, bands, musicians, artists, photographers, film makers, poets, potters, etc are welcome to join in. Environmental, nature and river groups are also invited to join us. Interested? Then please email the museum at office@wandle.org to express your interest.
Wandle Heritage Walk Saturday 15th April 2023
We will be hosting our first Wandle Heritage Walk of on the 15th April starting at 2pm. The walk will be from Mitcham Tram Stop to Morden Hall Snuff Mills. With a rich history along this route there is much to learn about and to see. From the hidden delights of Ravensbury Park to the families of the mills you will find out about the wonderful heritage of this part of the River Wandle.
Free of charge - donations welcomed. To book email john.sheridan08@gmail.com
For a full list of our 2023 walks programme click here
February 2023
Walks Programme 2023
The museum is pleased to announce its walks programme. There are five walks planned:
15th April Mitcham Tram Stop to Morden Hall Park.
1st June Earlsfield Station to the Thames at Wandsworth.
16th July Colliers Wood Station to The Chapter House, Merton Abbey.
19th August Merton Civic Centre to Morden Hall Park circular tour. Option to continue to Merton Abbey Mills.
17th September Morden Hall Park to The Chapter House, Merton Abbey.
All walks start at 2pm except 17th September which starts at 11am. Further details and to book your place email john.sheridan08@gmail.com
Walks are free but donations to the museum are welcome.
New Talk Available: Papermaking on the Wandle
This new talk looks at the paper industry that existed along the River Wandle. With its royal links, surprising processes and much more there is lots to find out and listen to.
All our talks are offered free of charges. Donations are welcomed. To book email the museum at office@wandle.org
December 2022/January 2023
Christmas and New Year Opening
The museum is now closed for the Christmas and New Year period. We will reopen at 2pm on Sunday 15th January 2023. We would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
New Talk Available: Sport Along The Wandle
This new talk takes you along the River Wandle looking at sports old, new and some which today we may find distasteful. From the hunting grounds of old to new modern stadiums there may well be something that will surprise you. All our talks are offered free of charges. Donations are welcomed.
November 2022
Annual General Meeting
This is taking place on Thursday 17th November from 7:30am in the Vestry Hall, London Road, Mitcham, Surrey CR4 3UD. All members and Volunteers are invited to attend.
We are delighted to announce that our guest speaker this year is Elly Platt known as 'Take It Up Wear It Out' who will be presenting her Wandle Wardrobe. Learn more about Elly on her blog
Christmas and New Year Opening
Our final day for opening in 2022 will be Sunday 18th December 2022. We will reopen in the New Year on Sunday 15th January 2023.
New Talk Available: Sport Along The Wandle
This new talk takes you along the River Wandle looking at sports old, new and some which today we may find distasteful. From the hunting grounds of old to new modern stadiums there may well be something that will surprise you. All our talks are offered free of charges. Donations are welcomed.
Oral History Project
The museum would like to capture the memories of those who worked in the industries along the River Wandle. Did you work in one or have a relation who did? If you would like to share what you remember we would like to hear from you. Please call the museum (020 8648 0127) or send us an email (office@wandle.org) and we will get back to you to make arrangements to capture your part in history.