Editing Morden (section)

=== Early history ===
Human activity in Morden dates back to the [[Iron Age]] period when [[Celt]]ic tribes are known to have occupied areas around [[Wimbledon, London|Wimbledon]], but the first significant development in Morden was the construction of the [[Roman road]] called [[Stane Street (Chichester)|Stane Street]] from [[Chichester]] to London.

The route of [[Stane Street (Chichester)|Stane Street]] through Morden followed the current [[A24 road (Great Britain)|A24]], London Road up Stonecot Hill from the south west crossing [[Morden Park]] to the west of the current [[dual carriageway]] road and passing through the pitch and putt golf course and the grounds of [[St Lawrence Church, Morden|St Lawrence's Church]]. The road then descended the other side of the hill towards the town centre passing west of the [[Morden tube station|Underground station]] and crossing the north corner of [[Morden Hall Park]] heading in the direction of [[Colliers Wood]] and [[Tooting]]. Small [[Roman Britain|Roman]] [[artifact (archaeology)|artifacts]], mainly coins and pottery, have been found at various locations within the area although there is no evidence of any settlement.

Ethelstan the Etheling, son of [[Ethelred the Unready]], left "land at Mordune" to the [[abbey]] of Christ and St. Peter in his will of 1015, which became the site of the first [[Anglo-Saxons|Saxon]] parish church of [[St Lawrence]].

In 1086, the [[Domesday Book]] recorded the manor as ''Mordone'', part of [[Wallington (hundred)|Wallington]] [[Hundred (country subdivision)|Hundred]]. It was held by [[Westminster Abbey]] and its assets were: 3 [[hide (unit)|hides]]; 1 [[Mill (grinding)|mill]] worth £2 and 7 [[plough]]s. It rendered £15<ref>[http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm Surrey Domesday Book] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070715015325/http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm |date=15 July 2007 }}</ref> in total. Fourteen people were recorded as living in the area.