Merton Abbey Mills Updates

This page has been created because the Merton Abbey Mills Update pages are the most searched on our website, and we hope this collective page will assist searchers.

For those who don't know, Merton Abbey Mills is an idyllic riverside craft village, just down the road in Colliers Wood running along side the river Wandle

Merton Abbey Mills offers a variety of markets on the weekend including craft stalls, a farmers market with free range eggs, organic meat, cheeses, savoury and sweet pies and more, there are also food stalls and a great selection of shops with an endless choice of goods from books and prints to herbs and pottery.

There are many events that take place throughout the year at Merton Abbey Mills, in particular "Abbeyfest" a two month festival taking place in the summer.

All this has been put under threat by the imminence of long-feared development of the car park adjoining the site, which threatens not only the viability of Merton Abbey Mills itself, but the destruction of the heritage site. Merton Priory was foiunded on this site in 1114AD, and flourished there for 450 years before falling to Henry VIII's reformation, and the majority of its structure transported to Cheam for the construction of his Nonsuch Palace. It had an important place in our history, hosting coronations as well as parliaments and state visits.

[News Letter issue 33] A historical guide to Merton Abbey Mills (behind the scenes)
Behind the scenes on the publication of our new booklet on the Merton Abbey Mills site.

[News Letter issue 33] Merton abbey mills plans published
Concerns about the planning process, and its impact on the market even before work starts

[News Letter issue 34] Merton abbey mills Planning Applications
More news about the planning process, and a model of the proposed development

[News Letter issue 35] Merton abbey mills planning application - update
Notes the inherent conflict between the guidelines for intensive development of brownfield sites, and the preservation of historic sites

[News Letter issue 36] Merton Abbey Mills update November 2001
Traffic chaos. On going excavations. Debate over planning and sustainability. Lessons to be learned.

[News Letter issue 37] Merton Abbey Mills update February 2002
John Hawks reports. Architects drawing showing how the new residential blcoks will fit into the William Morris pub car park

[News Letter issue 38] Merton Abbey Mills update May 2002
Dave Saxby's report in the MoLAS newsletter on the evaluation findings at Merton Abbey Mills

[News Letter issue 40] Merton Abbey Mills update November 2002
1: Time Team. 2: Heritage Centre proposals. 3: Bennetts Mill

[News Letter issue 41] Merton Abbey Mills Update February 2002
1: General. 2: Time Team. 3: Bennetts Mill

[News Letter issue 41] Bennetts Mill by Dave Saxby
An article by Dave Saxby of MoLAS on the excavations at Bennetts Mill

[News Letter issue 42] Merton Abbey Mills Update May 2003
Rolling excavation program. Traffic works. No chance of changes to appalling designs. John Viner drawing of Priory

[News Letter issue 43] Merton Abbey Mills Update August 2003
Ongoing excavations whilst building starts. Abbeyfest. Traffic chaos. Heritage centre doubts

[News Letter issue 44] Merton Abbey Mills Update November 2003
New residential blocks now dwarf Liberty buildings

[News Letter issue 44] Archaeology Summary November 2003
Dave Saxby of MoLAS reports on new finds from the final excavations

[News Letter issue 45] Merton Abbey Mills Update February 2004
Photos of work in progress, and a last look upriver before the new bridge blocks the vista forever

[News Letter issue 46] Merton Abbey Mills Update May 2004
Development progresses. Bennets Ditch walk now landscaped. New bridge in place.

[News Letter issue 47] Merton Abbey Mills Update Aug 2004
The first stage of the residentialdevelopment nears completion. Bennets Ditch. What next for Savacentre.

[News Letter issue 48] Merton Abbey Mills Update November 2004
The Priory Trust visit Coventry to see how they handles a similar project.

[News Letter issue 49] Merton Abbey Mills Update February 2005
The editor comments on the latest developments from the site. Priory Trust. The Merton Priory stained glass window at St John Fisher. The Paul Bowness Garden update.

[News Letter issue 50] Merton Abbey Mills Update May 2005.
May 2005. The editor comments on the latest developments from the site.The hotel opens, resdients move in but the market still suffers.

[News Letter issue 51] Merton Abbey Mills Update August 2005.
August 2005. The editor comments on the latest developments from the site.Ownership fragments; landscaping deteriorates; and Savacentre activity.