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11 May 2004
Countryside Properties Plc is furthering its commitment to preserving the Abbey Mills stretch of the River Wandle, by not only continuing to sponsor archaeological excavations, but also with an orchestrated clean-up of Bennett’s Ditch which lies at the south boundary on the site of historic Bennett’s Mill.
In conjunction with their development of 288 one, two and three bedroom apartments at Abbey Mills, Countryside Properties commissioned The Museum of London Archaeology Service (MoLAS) to conduct a series of archaeological studies of the area. The first of the excavations was undertaken at the end of 2002 with the intention to find out more about the site of Bennett’s Mill, which lies on the site of the Abbey Mills development. The remains of a monastic building, an infirmary cloister, known burials, a slipway and a mill building have been discovered.
Bennett’s Mill dates back to 1802 and formed part of a larger calico printing works known as the ‘Merton Abbey Print Works’. In the same year, John Leach, a calico printer, established new ways to employ his new method of madder dyeing. By 1811 the works had been handed over to his son-in-law, Thomas Bennett.
In 1831 the Merton Abbey Print Works were taken over by Edmund Littler for the production of silks and fine fabrics and two years after that, he acquired Bennett’s Print Works making the site into one large printing factory. In the 1870s the company was approached by Liberty’s of London and by the 1890s Littler’s were producing all of Liberty’s goods. The hand block printed quality that Littler used became synonymous with “Liberty Art Fabrics”. In 1881 William Morris, a competitor of Liberty, acquired a printworks downstream on the River Wandle.
There was no love lost between both gentlemen and Liberty is reported to have said “we send our dirty water downstream to Morris”. Eventually Liberty purchased the Merton printworks in 1904, but shortly after a number of weather-boarded buildings were demolished, including Bennett’s Mill.
As part of their continued commitment to reviving history and this archaeological project Countryside Properties has contributed £300,000 to create a new Merton Abbey Mills heritage project with the intention of showing some of the new finds from these excavations, including Bennett’s Mill, in the new centre.
Countryside Properties has also finalised details of the clean-up of Bennett’s ditch which is due to take place on the 12th June 2004. Countryside Properties is enhancing the areas along Bennett’s Ditch and the River Wandle by creating wetland habitat areas, in the form of a ‘green route’.
The ditch itself is still an existing and functioning feature, performing a drainage function on the site perimeter. However, over many years, existing shrubbery, thicket and trees have developed sporadically along Bennett’s Ditch. Countryside Properties will be improving the character and appearance of the ditch and encouraging the local community to also get actively involved, especially as accessibility has been greatly improved by the incorporation of a new footpath/cycle path as well as a new bridge over the River Wandle, due to open on Sunday 13th June 2004.
Countryside Properties new development Abbey Mills is currently being built next to the River Wandle. The development will comprise one, two and three bedroom contemporary apartments which will all benefit from two new restaurants, a Premier Lodge Hotel, a Virgin Active Health and Fitness Centre with a swimming pool and secure underground parking. This scheme has been specifically designed to provide opportunities for local people and to improve the local environment, creating over 250 new jobs as well as widespread environmental and landscape improvements.
Just 30 minutes away from Central London, Abbey Mills is perfect for the commuter, with excellent transport links to 14 railway stations via the Northern & District Underground lines and trams linking Wimbledon to Croydon and Beckenham. There are also good road links via the A3 to the M25, Heathrow and Gatwick airports and the national motorway network.
For more information please contact the marketing suite, which is open from Thursday to Monday on 020 8543 6377 or take a virtual tour of the development by visiting our dedicated website at www.abbeymills.com<
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Information correct as at 11/05/2004