View source for Mitcham Common

{{Short description|Common land in Mitcham, south London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
[[File:Mitcham Common 1.JPG|thumb|View of Mitcham Commons]]
[[Image:Map of mitcham common.JPG|thumb|right|Map of Mitcham Common]]

'''Mitcham Common''' is 182&nbsp;hectares (460&nbsp;acres) of [[common land]] situated in [[south London]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mitchamcommon.org/ |title= Mitcham Common |publisher= Mitcham Common Conservators |access-date=13 March 2010}}</ref>  It is predominantly in the [[London borough]] of [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]], with parts straddling the borders of [[London Borough of Croydon|Croydon]] and [[London Borough of Sutton|Sutton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mitchamcommon.org/index.php |title=Mitcham Common Home Page |access-date=2015-01-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213161209/http://www.mitchamcommon.org/index.php |archive-date=2014-12-13 }}</ref> It is designated a [[Site of Nature Conservation Interest|Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation]].<ref name=GIGL>{{cite web|url=http://www.gigl.org.uk/online/site-Details.aspx?sID=M093&sType=sinc|title=Mitcham Common|publisher=Greenspace Information for Greater London|year=2013|access-date= 27 March 2014}}</ref>

== History ==
In [[Feudal system|feudal]] times, the poorest, least productive soil in a [[parish]] was designated as common land available for parishioners to graze animals and cut turf and timber for fuel.  Members of this community with these rights were known as commoners.  However, in the 19th century when material for road building became a valuable resource, the old grazing land was replaced by a series of pits for gravel extraction.

These works reached such a proportion that public opposition, led by [[George Parker Bidder]] QC, culminated in the protection of the common under the [[Act of Parliament|Metropolitan Commons Act]] and the cost of its maintenance was split between the parish councils of [[Mitcham]], [[Beddington]], [[Wallington, London|Wallington]] and [[Croydon]] according to the proportion of the common within each parish boundary.

Mitcham, now part of the [[London Borough of Merton]] bears the majority of the costs, with the remainder going to the London Boroughs of [[London Borough of Croydon|Croydon]] and [[London Borough of Sutton|Sutton]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mitchamcommon.org/about.php |title=About Mitcham Common |access-date=2015-01-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140310151819/http://www.mitchamcommon.org/about.php |archive-date=2014-03-10 }}</ref> These funds support a warden and three assistants. Each council is represented by four nominated members of The Board, elected every two years.

== Geography and environment ==
[[File:Seven Islands Pond, Mitcham Common - geograph.org.uk - 1219991.jpg|thumb|Seven Islands Pond, on Mitcham Common]]
The course of the Thames has gradually altered, exposing gravels that were initially colonised by [[grass]]es and other [[Flower|Flowering Plant]]s. Over time, woody species slowly overwhelmed these early colonisers, developing a loose scrubby vegetation that became denser until [[woodland]] had developed.  Early humans were responsible for clearing trees and suppressing their regeneration by grazing [[cattle]] and cutting turf and timber for fuel.

In the late 19th Century these practices ceased and woodland was allowed to regenerate.  This process allowed a succession from [[grassland]], through a series of intermediate stages, to woodland.

The river gravels are well drained and strongly [[acidic]], leading to a hostile environment in which plants have to withstand occasional drought and [[Deficiency (medicine)|nutrient deficiency]].  However, considerable areas have acquired foreign [[soil]]s during [[landfill]] programmes, whilst [[ploughing]] for agriculture during [[World War II]] and numerous [[Pipe (material)|pipe laying]] programmes have brought trapped nutrients to the surface. The result is a patchwork of soil types, each providing different plant and animal habitats. As the grassland reverts to woodland, the various stages in this process create further habitats.

The Seven Islands pond is the largest of the ponds on the common, and was created as the result of [[gravel]] extraction during the 19th century.  The most recent pond to be created, Bidder's pond, was created in 1990 and named for [[George Parker Bidder]].

==Buildings==
There are a few buildings on the common.  The buildings comprising the Windmill Trading Estate have existed in one form or another since 1782, when the estate was established as [[workhouse]]s for the poor.  Companies to have utilised the buildings include [[Hooper's Telegraph Works]].  Recently the Estate has been replaced by a mixed-tenure of housing apartments. The Mill House Ecology Centre and the Harvester (formerly the Mill House Pub) are located near the site of an old windmill, the remnants of which still exist.  There also exists upon the common a carved granite stone in commemoration of [[George Parker Bidder]].

== See also ==
*[[List of parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Croydon]]

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
{{commons category|Mitcham Common}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20131228141823/http://mitchamcommon.org/conservators/conservators.php Mitcham Common Conservators homepage]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20170610000945/http://friendsofmitchamcommon.org/ Friends of Mitcham Common homepage]

{{Parks and open spaces in London}}
{{Green Croydon}}
{{London landmarks}}
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[[Category:Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Merton]]
[[Category:Parks and open spaces in the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Common land in London]]