Inventory Site Record

In 1914 Sutton UDC acquired Manor Park House, a C19th house, and converted its grounds, then neglected and overgrown, into a public park; the house was used as a school then from 1937 as Sutton Public Library until it was demolished in the 1970s. Manor Park's original bandstand was replaced by a new one in 1923, its site now that of sports pitches. The park was created to its current extent over a period of time as land from neighbouring properties was added. In 1921 Sutton's War Memorial was erected on the site of two houses to the east, purchased for the purpose. The park is on sloping land, sub-divided into areas by hedges, fences and trees, which include fine mature and semi-mature evergreen and deciduous trees. A fountain, now surrounded by formal planting, was donated by the Chairman of Sutton UDC in 1924-5.

Site location:

Throwley Road/Carshalton Road/Manor Park Road, Sutton

Postcode:

SM1 4AF

What 3 Words:

feared.stole.tried

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Sutton

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

8am - dusk

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Café, children’s playground, toilets (including disabled)

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: Sutton. Bus: 407, 726

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Research updated:

01/10/2010

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.sutton.gov.uk

An important site near the centre of Sutton and visible from the main road, Manor Park was created to its current extent over a period of time, with land taken from the grounds of a number of neighbouring houses, three along Carshalton Road and a fourth along Manor Park Road, Manor Park House, which gave the park its name. In 1914 Sutton Urban District Council acquired Manor Park House and grounds, then neglected and overgrown, converting it into a public park that was opened by the Chairman of the UDC on 25 May 1914. At that time it had a bandstand but this appears to have disappeared by the early 1920s and a new one was installed in 1923 in the north of the park where there are now sports pitches. In 1921 the War Memorial Committee wanted to site Sutton's memorial in Manor Park close to Carshalton Road, but the Council felt there was insufficient space and it would necessitate tree-felling on the road front. The War Memorial Committee subsequently purchased and demolished two houses east of the park and erected the war memorial on the land. The Portland stone memorial, designed by J S W Burmester, was unveiled in June 1921 by Sir Ralph Forster, a wealthy local resident and donor to the park and other local causes, whose son had died in WWI. In accepting the War Memorial the Council agreed to 'maintain the ground for the benefit of the inhabitants in perpetuity'. In December 1921, a third house, east of the War Memorial was presented to the UDC by Sir Ralph, Charles Wright and Thomas Wall, after whom Thomas Wall Park (q.v.) is named. In 1924 Nos. 6 and 8 Throwley Road were added to the park, and in 1931 No.10 Throwley Road.

The park is pleasantly laid out on a sloping site with the War Memorial at the entrance on Carshalton Road. Manor Park House was used as a school in the 1920s, then as Sutton Public Library from 1937, but was finally demolished in mid 1970s when Central Library was relocated. The park is sub-divided into areas by hedges, fences and trees, which include firs and deciduous trees, many of them mature or semi-mature specimens. In the south is a fountain that was given to the park in 1924-5 by Cllr Charles Yates, Chairman of Sutton UDC. It is enclosed within simple iron rails and gates.

Sources consulted:

Bridget Cherry & Nikolaus Pevsner, London 2: South, 1983; LB Sutton Heritage notes (John Phillips)

Grid ref:

TQ260642 (526050,164250)

Size in hectares:

2.33

Site ownership:

LB Sutton

Site management:

Parks Service

Date(s):

1914, 1921

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

None

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:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

No

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

No

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

B2230 Throwley Way, A232, Carshalton Road

Manor Park - Photo: Colin Wing
Date taken: 09/06/21 13:58

Click a photo to enlarge.

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