The Wandle Industrial Museum was established by local people in 1983. They were concerned by the decline along the banks of the River Wandle, and determined to ensure that the heritage of the valley was no longer neglected but enhanced for the use of the community.

Merton Priory Gateway, Station Rd Colliers Wood. This was falling into disrepair, and the wooden part of the gate was retrieved by staff in 1983. It is now one of the Museum's exhibits. [Full size image 7.71kb]

Merton Priory Gateway, Station Rd Colliers Wood. This was falling into disrepair, and the wooden part of the gate was retrieved by staff in 1983. It is now one of the Museum's exhibits.The aims of the Museum are to preserve, restore and interpret the Wandle and its industrial heritage, and to establish a working Museum based in a Wandleside property. Sponsored by the Merton Community Trust, the Museum obtained funding from the Manpower Services Commission, and a project group was set up in June 1983. They were initially given a small room in Worsfold House Mitcham, but needing more space they rented a meeting room at St Marks Church Wimbledon. An intense year of research followed. Exhibitions were held at schools and libraries, and a Members Association was formed.

Education became an important part of the work and schools were made aware of what the Museum could offer. Project packs were compiled on various subjects and were sold, Other publications followed.

'Threads - from fibres to fashion'. This textiles exhibition was opened in Jan 1987 by Anita Harris.In March 1985 Merton Social Services agreed to let the Museum use their premises in Wilton Rd Colliers Wood for a limited time. It was a big double fronted Victorian house with plenty of space for all. This was a very busy period. Requests for information were increasing and people were calling in to see the files and books. The Museum's name was beginning to be known.

At the beginning of the next year Merton council allowed the Museum to move into an empty factory in Hartfield Crescent Wimbledon. This needed painting both inside and out and the staff (26 part- timers and three supervisors) all pitched in. The building was transformed into a working museum. The largest exhibit, the edge runners, arrived in February. A concrete and brick base was needed to support the massive stones, and the staff added bricklaying to their skills.

An application was made to Merton Council for the use of Park Lodge in Wandle Park Colliers Wood, and this was granted in April 1984.

The room at the rear was suitable, the front rooms being used as changing rooms by weekend footballers. The kitchen was shared, this fact being made perfectly obvious by the heavy trail of muddy footprints from the front door to the nearby showers which greeted the Museum staff on a Monday morning. There were plans to open up the top floor, but these fell through.

Up to June 1984 there had been exhibitions at Eagle House Mitcham, Sutton Central Library, and Morden Library. Proposals for setting up a Museum at the Liberty site and restoration of the buildings were published.

P.C.Parkinson, a veteran marathon walker for local charities agreed to carry out a walk for the Museum. His sponsored trek to and around the Isle of Wight raised a large sum.

As the staff increased space became an issue especially as there was now a sizable Art Department who had nowhere to set up their drawing boards. A Mitcham headmaster who was also a Museum Trustee came to the rescue and offered the use of an empty classroom. Everybody except the office staff set up shop in the primary school, and as there was constant traffic between the two places all the staff were very fit.

There were many public activities, and guided walks along the river were particularly popular.

These edge runners can now be seen on display in Ravensbury Park.

The Mayor of Merton opened the museum in May 1986 and in the following months there was a steady stream of visitors including many school parties.

‘Threads' Exhibition

'Threads - from fibres to fashion'. This textiles exhibition was opened in Jan 1987 by Anita Harris. [Full size image 16.2kb]

This told the complete story of the textile industries of the River Wandle. Starting with the raw fibres it followed the process to the finished products.

At the end of February there was a fire in the Museum caused by a faulty boiler. Thanks to the fact that a good fire door had been fitted it was contained in the boiler room but extensive smoke and water had damaged the exhibition. The building was uninhabitable and yet another move was made to some empty offices nearby in Hartfield Rd. A programme of displays and guided walks was carried out. A photographic exhibition toured the local libraries.

In 1989 the funding ceased when the government closed down the Community Projects. An application was made to Merton Council for accommodation at Vestry Hall Mitcham, which was granted. The Museum was opened to the public in June 1991.