Inventory Site Record

Sutton Common Park or Recreation Ground is an area of open space subdivided by a fenced path, marked on the 1st edition OS map of 1867 as two open fields. It was purchased by Sutton UDC for a recreation ground in 1927 and laid out by 1933. There are mature trees along the road boundary and the park contains a fountain installed by the Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association.

Previous / Other name:

Sutton Common Recreation Ground

Site location:

Sutton Common Road, Sutton

Postcode:

SM3 9EN

What 3 Words:

elder.noon.motel

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Sutton

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

8am - dusk

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Children’s playground, football pitches, tennis courts, bowls, changing rooms, toilets

Events:

Public transport:

Rail: St Helier, Sutton Common. Bus: 80.

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Research updated:

01/03/2012

Last minor changes:

14/07/2022

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

The 1815 Sutton Parish Map shows the plot in the ownership of 'Churchwardens and Overseers of Sutton Parish', and Sutton UDC Council Minutes also refer to it as glebeland. As such, it was part of the Charity 'Poor's Land (Non-Ecclesiastical)' and was administered by 10 Trustees, among who were the Rectors of St Nicholas Church, Sutton and All Saints Church, Benhilton (q.q.v.), as well as appointments made by Sutton UDC. In 1927 the UDC had approval for a loan of £4000 to buy the plot of land in order to lay out a recreation ground as the area was being developed for housing. A contract was drawn up in April 1927 between the Trustees and UDC, and the land was to be sold subject to a Tithe Rent Charge of 4 guineas a year payable to the Rector of Sutton, with c.16 acres let out on agricultural tenancies. Two footpaths across the site were to remain public rights of way. Council Minutes also record that a tender of £300 15s was accepted for 'levelling, drainage, and grass sowing (16 acres)' in June 1932, and in May 1933 approval was given to purchase 'swings, rocking horses, and light swings', with a site for a children's playground considered in June of the same year. This evidently took place as in September 1933 residents were complaining about noisy children playing on the swings. In May 1936 £109 was paid for a pavilion, which later burnt down in 1976; from here ice creams, cold drinks and teas were sold. The recreation ground had provision for football, cricket, tennis, bowling and pitch and putt in the larger field in the north, in addition to the children's playground. The bowls club is still used by Sutton Common Bowls Club. The Sutton Common Horticultural and Allotment Society held an annual summer fete on August Bank Holiday from the early 1950s, usually opened by the Mayor of Sutton, and among the many activities on offer were model train rides. Friends of Sutton Common Park was formed in 1998 to preserve the park and undertook research into its history.

Sources consulted:

'History of Sutton Common Park' on Friends of Sutton Common Park website (www.foscp.org.uk)

Grid ref:

TQ249667 (524950,166750)

Size in hectares:

6.4

Site ownership:

LB Sutton

Site management:

Parks Service; Friends of Sutton Common Recreation Ground

Date(s):

1930s

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:

Yes

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None