Inventory Site Record

The Canons was one of the Manors of Mitcham and the site of a grange farm of the Augustinian Canons of St Mary Overie, Southwark, who built the stone dovecote of c.1511 that stands in the gardens. The pond was formerly a fish pond for the priory and was later divided into two 'stew' ponds for carp breeding. It was enlarged and deepened in 1664 by City merchant Robert Cranmer, whose son John built the present house, which once housed Merton Heritage Centre. The property had been purchased in July 1939 by the Corporation of Mitcham intending to use the house as a community centre and the grounds for sports.

Site location:

Madeira Road, Mitcham

Postcode:

CR4 4LD

What 3 Words:

next.finely.taxi

Type of site:

Public Gardens

Borough:

Merton

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

unrestricted

Special conditions:

Facilities:

historic running track; walled garden; play area, bowling green

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Mitcham Junction. Tram: Mitcham. Bus: 93, 470

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Research updated:

01/01/2022

Last minor changes:

06/08/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.merton.gov.uk/environment/openspaces/parks/parks_in_the_mitcham_area

The Canons remained in private occupation until 1939, latterly in the ownership of the Simpson family who let the house to various tenants, the last being E B Homan, a City financier. The gardens are surrounded by walls built through several centuries; the obelisk was erected by the Revd Richard Cranmer to commemorate a spring that appeared during the dry summer of 1822. In July 1939 the Corporation of Mitcham purchased the property for £25,093, intending to use the house as a community centre and the grounds for sports. During WWII the house became an air raid wardens' control centre and Home Guard post and the paddocks between the house and Cricket Green were used for allotments. After the war the gardens had become somewhat derelict, except for the east lawn. Mitcham Borough Council re-constructed plant nurseries, restored the lawn to the west oaf the house, laid out perimeter paths and provided a children's playground. Bowling greens and tennis courts were laid out north of the house and a C19th billiard room that had replaced various outbuildings was demolished in the 1960s to create various facilities for catering, changing rooms, toilets and private rooms.

In 1965 the London Borough of Merton was created and the new authority continued to develop the grounds. It enhanced the features that survived from the original gardens, including cleaning the old carp pond and constructing a new perimeter walk. An arcaded yew walk with flower border was planted to link the pond with an old walled garden, which was restored and replanted. The gardens today include a large pond, and a lawn in front of the house terminated by yew shrubs with yew arches. Adjacent is Canons Recreation Ground and Mitcham Sports Ground.

The Canons was awarded over £4m National Lottery funding invested in the house and landscape in 2021 and 2022.

Sources consulted:

Ben Weinreb & Christopher Hibbert, 'The London Encyclopaedia' (Macmillan, revised ed. 1993); E Montague, 'The Canons, Mitcham', Merton Historical Society, 1999; Ian Yarham, Dave Dawson, Martin Boyle, Rebecca Holliday 'Nature Conservation in Merton, Ecology Handbook 29', London Ecology Unit, 1998, p100. Information from Mitcham Crickeet Green Community & Heritage https://mitchamcricketgreen.org.uk

Grid ref:

TQ279683 (527950,168350)

Size in hectares:

2.53

Site ownership:

LB Merton

Site management:

Leisure and Culture Services

Date(s):

1680

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

LBII*: The Canons. LBII: Obelisk; Dovecote

On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:

No

Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:

No

Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:

No

Local Authority Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

No

In Conservation Area:

Yes

Conservation Area name:

Mitcham Cricket Green

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - Local Importance (Pond and Bellamy's Copse))

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

Yes - Archaeological Priority Zone

Other LA designation:

Public Open Space

The Canons, June 2021. Photograph courtesy of Mitcham Cricket Green Community & Heritage.

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