Editing Wallington, London

{{Short description|Town in Sutton, London, England}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| static_image_name = Wallington Green - geograph.org.uk - 778467.jpg
| static_image_caption = Wallington Green
| map_type = Greater London
| region = London
| population = 20,850
| population_ref = (2011 Census 2 Wards)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13689077&c=Wallington&d=14&e=62&g=6337770&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1476041851286&enc=1|title=Sutton Ward population (Wallington South)|access-date=9 October 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics |work=Neighbourhood Statistics}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13689076&c=Wallington&d=14&e=62&g=6337735&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1476042241410&enc=1|title=Sutton Ward population(Wallington North)|access-date=9 October 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics |work=Neighbourhood Statistics}}</ref>
| official_name = Wallington
| coordinates = {{coord|51.3584|-0.1483|display=inline,title}}
| os_grid_reference = TQ294645
| london_borough = Sutton
| post_town = WALLINGTON
| postcode_area = SM
| postcode_district = SM6
| dial_code = 020
| constituency_westminster = [[Carshalton and Wallington (UK Parliament constituency)|Carshalton & Wallington]]
}}
'''Wallington''' is a town in the [[London Borough of Sutton]], [[South London]], England, {{convert|9.9|mi|km|1}} south south-west of [[Charing Cross]]. Before the [[Municipal Borough of Beddington and Wallington]] merged into the London Borough of Sutton in [[Greater London]] in 1965, it was part of the county of [[Surrey]]. Wallington is a [[post town]] in the [[SM postcode area]].

== History ==
The name "Wallington" derives from the [[Old English|Anglo Saxon]] "Waletone", meaning "village of the Britons".
Wallington appears in [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 and was held by [[William the Conqueror]]. Its domesday assets were: 11 [[hide (unit)|hide]]s. It had 2 [[Mill (grinding)|mill]]s worth £1 10s 0d, 11 [[plough]]s, {{convert|8|acre|m2}} of [[meadow]]. It rendered £10.<ref>{{Cite book| last=Morris | first=J. | year=1975 | title=Domesday Book Surrey | publisher=Philimore & Co. | isbn=0-85033-132-3 }}</ref> The historic village was situated somewhat to the north of the current town centre around what is now Wallington Bridge over the [[River Wandle]].

At the time of the Domesday book there were two mill ponds. The mill buildings have long been demolished, but the mill pond survives as The Grange boating lake. In the 1860s one Alfred Smee, surgeon to the Bank of England, constructed an elaborate garden on the north side of the Mill Pond, and wrote an illustrated book called "My Garden" in 1872.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sutton.gov.uk/index.php?articleid=1271|title=Sutton Council|website=www.sutton.gov.uk}}</ref>

What was then called "Carshalton" railway station was opened in 1847 in the open fields to the south of Wallington because the owner of [[Carshalton Park]] objected to it being built near to Carshalton village. This acted as a spur to the development of the area and in the 1860s Nathaniel Bridges created a prestigious housing estate of [[gothic revival]] villas (architect E. L. Brock). To provide a church for the estate, Bridges sponsored the construction of Holy Trinity, and Wallington became a separate parish in 1867.  The area around Holy Trinity Church is known as Wallington Old Town. In particular Clifton Road, Belmont Road and Park Road exhibit some imposing Victorian and Edwardian villas. This southward development continued towards Woodcote and by the time of the [[First World War]] the section of Woodcote Road to the south of the station had become the new High Street.

[[Wallington High School for Girls]] was established in 1888 by a collective of nuns.

[[File:P1480456Wallington Methodist Church..Beddington Gardens SM6 OHU...jpg|thumb|left|Wallington Methodist Church]]
Wallington Methodist Church was built in 1908 on a site in Beddington Gardens in the town centre.

Since 1902 the town has maintained the tradition of an annual crowning of the ''Wallington May Queen''. The event begins with a procession through the town. Girls join the group at the age of three as "fairies", before graduating to "attendants to the May Queen" a year later. They then go on to become crown bearers before taking on the role of banner bearer. The girls then act as "princes", and become eligible to be a May Queen at the age of nine.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/11197566.pictures-wallington-girl-crowned-may-queen-as-part-of-111-year-tradition/|title=PICTURES: Wallington girl crowned May Queen as part of 111 year tradition|website=Your Local Guardian|date=8 May 2014 }}</ref>
 
The [[Municipal Borough of Beddington and Wallington]] was incorporated in 1936 from the former Beddington and Wallington Urban District. [[Wallington Town Hall]] (architect [[Robert Atkinson (Architect)|Robert Atkinson]])
and public library were built in Wallington town centre in the 1930s, as was the fire station in Belmont Road.

[[Wallington County Grammar School]] (for boys) was opened on London Road, close to Beddington Park in 1927.

[[File:English Lavender (Portelli sculpture).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Guy Portelli]]'s 1999 sculpture "English Lavender" in Wallington town centre.]]
Wallington was an important centre for the production of [[lavender]] oil until about the time of the First World War. Lavender and herb growing were very prominent in the area in Victorian times and much earlier, and extensive fields of lavender were to be seen in the Carshalton, Beddington and Wallington areas. Lavender growing was a very prosperous part of the local agriculture hereabouts in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In Wallington the area to the north of the station was chiefly used. The scale of the operation can be understood from the fact that the Daily News in 1914 was able to state that at nearby Carshalton Beeches "In every direction the low hill sides of the farm beyond Beeches Halt are swept with the bloomy pastel tint of the lavender flowers". The importance of lavender is remembered and commemorated in a number of ways, for example:

* There is a large sculpture at the junction of Woodcote Road and Stafford Road representing a lavender plant. Created by sculptor, [[Guy Portelli]], it was installed in 1999 when the new Sainsbury's  store was built.
* The Christmas lights also represent lavender plants.
* One of the local lavender farmers – John Jakson of Little Woodcote Farm – lent his name to a [[public house]] in Woodcote Road.
* Local Scouts use lavender as the logo for the Sutton area on their shoulder badge.

[[File:War Memorial, Wallington Green - geograph.org.uk - 1208900.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Wallington and Beddington War Memorial]]
Many of Wallington's young men served and lost their lives in the [[First World War]], and in 1922 a memorial was unveiled on Wallington Green by General [[Edmund Elles]] to commemorate the fallen. The memorial was altered in 1949 to include the names of the locals who died in the [[Second World War]].

The memorial is in the form of a [[Portland stone]] obelisk on a plinth, with a cross and a [[sunburst]] motif. On the sides are bronze plaques bearing the names of the fallen. It stands on blue Staffordshire engineering bricks and [[York stone]]. In 2005 it was discovered that the memorial was being attacked by [[moss]], and [[English Heritage]] paid for its restoration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.warmemorials.org/search-grants/?gID=630|title=Beddington and Wallington War Memorial|publisher=War Memorials Trust|access-date=5 July 2014}}</ref>

The inscription reads:
{{cquote|1914 – 1918 
To the glorious memory

of the men of Beddington and Wallington

who fell in the Great War.
 
They died that we might live.}}
{{clear}}

==Today==
Since 2007 new retailers have opened in Wallington, including [[Tesco]] Express and [[Caffè Nero]]. These were in addition to existing retailers including [[Sainsbury's]], [[Boots UK|Boots]], [[W.H. Smith]], banks, estate agencies and building societies.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

There have been two developments of luxury flats opposite the railway station, which were completed circa 2010 and 2013 respectively. More town centre flats in Shotfield Road were completed in 2015.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

A '''farmers' market''' is held on the second Saturday of each month. This is usually located outside the old town hall, but occasionally in the car park at Shotfield.{{citation needed|date=March 2024}}

'''Sutton Community Farm''', the only one of its kind in Greater London, is located in Wallington.  A not-for-profit social enterprise, it occupies a 7.5 acre small-holding of a type originally given to ex-servicemen following the First World War.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://suttoncommunityfarm.org.uk/about-us-sutton-community-farm/our-history/|title=Our history}}</ref>

There is a '''public library''' in the centre of Wallington in the "Shotfield" district; it has an outside terrace where coffee and tea are served. Shotfield is also where the former Town Hall, and now a college, is located. In 1980 it was taken over and converted into a Crown Court. The building ceased to be a Court in April 1999, and was later converted to its current use.

The town saw the opening of a small '''independent cinema''' in May 2014 at the Brook Cafe and Bar, along with a recording studio.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/11207212.independent-cinema-set-for-its-first-screening-at-the-brook-in-wallington/|title=Independent cinema to open in Wallington|website=Your Local Guardian|date=12 May 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://the-brook.co.uk/|title=Vegan Ready-Made Meals &#124; UK Home Delivery|website=The Brook}}</ref>

The Shotfield area of the town centre gained a modern new [[health centre]] in 2012, replacing smaller existing facilities on the site.
[[File:Former Wallington town hall geograph-3360622-by-Marathon.jpg|thumb|left|Orchard Hill College, Wallington. Previously [[Wallington Town Hall]]]]
[[File:Wallington Library, Shotfield. - geograph.org.uk - 47016.jpg|thumb|Wallington Library]]

==Holy Trinity Church==
[[File:Holy Trinity Church Wallington.jpg|thumb|Holy Trinity Church, Wallington]]
[[File:Holy Trinity Church, Wallington, interior (1) - geograph.org.uk - 1716542.jpg|thumb|Interior of Holy Trinity Church]]
Wallington's parish church is located on Manor Road, and dedicated to the Holy Trinity. It was designed by Habershon and Brock, and completed in 1870. It has been [[Listed building|Grade II listed]] since 1974.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1357582|desc=Church of the Holy Trinity |access-date=11 May 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Cherry, Bridget|author2=Pevsner, Nikolaus|name-list-style=amp|title=Buildings of England: London 2, South|publisher=Yale University Press|edition=2002|page=640}}</ref>

The ancient Chapel of Wallington stood on a site to the north of the London Road, behind the brewery in the grounds of the Elm Grove Estate, and was demolished about the year 1791. A deed dated 1480 gives the information that the dedication of the chapel was to Our Lady of the Moor. The foundations were discovered in 1921, and with them some carved stones which were parts of windows and arches. The remains of the vanished Chapel may be seen in the walls of the Church Hall in Elm Grove and the more recent Church of St. Patrick.<ref name="Holy Trinity">{{cite web|url=http://htchurch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/History-of-HT.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160328055203/http://htchurch.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/History-of-HT.pdf |archive-date=2016-03-28 |url-status=live|title=History of the Church|publisher=Holy Trinity Church Wallington|access-date=9 May 2017}}</ref>

The present Church of Holy Trinity was erected in 1866 by Mr Nathaniel Bridges, Lord of the Manor. The Church was consecrated on 28 September 1867, by Bishop [[Charles Sumner (bishop)|Sumner]] of Winchester. Like the rest of the historic county of Surrey, the parish of Wallington at that time was in the [[Diocese of Winchester]]. It was later transferred to Rochester, and when the current [[Anglican Diocese of Southwark]] was formed, it was transferred to it.<ref name="Holy Trinity"/>

The church was built to resemble the description of the old chapel – after the style of the 14th century. The west window of the south aisle is similar to one in the [[Little St Mary's, Cambridge|Church of Little St. Mary's Cambridge]], which was erected about 1850. Each window has [[tracery]] of a different pattern. The stone used with the flints is [[Bath stone]]. The roof and floor are covered with Broseley tiles. The height of the spire is 110 feet. The interior of the church gives an area of 105 feet long by 75 feet broad, and gives sitting accommodation for 650 persons.<ref name="Holy Trinity"/>

Since the Parish Church was built it has been adorned with several [[stained glass]] windows. Those on the south side are memorials to former worshippers. The central window in the chancel is a memorial to the Rev. John Williams, the first vicar. The north window was presented by the relatives as a memorial to those who fell in [[World War I]], while that in the south side is a gift of the parishioners as a War Memorial.<ref name="Holy Trinity"/>

In 1926 the [[chancel]] was entirely refurbished, with new Communion Hails – the gift of Mrs Bund, in memory of her husband; a new [[pulpit]] – the gift of Mr W. J. Mallinson; a brass eagle [[lectern]] – the gift of Mrs Cleverly; marble and alabaster [[baptismal font]] – the gift of Mrs Page; oak panelling in the chancel and sanctuary and new oak doors and vestibule at the south entrance – the gifts of members of the Landon family and Miss Roche; and new choir stalls (the cost of which was defrayed by subscriptions) were added to the Church.<ref name="Holy Trinity"/>

==Open space==
[[file:3 Beddington Park, London Borough of Sutton - Boating Lake.jpg|thumb|left|230px|Boating lake, Beddington Park]]
Parks in the Wallington area include Mellows Park, Beddington Park and the Grange Gardens.

The latter two, through which the [[River Wandle]] flows, lie in the north-east of the area, on the border with neighbouring [[Beddington]].  Beddington Park is nearly 100 acres in size and is maintained by the [[London Borough of Sutton]]. It was originally part of the Deer Park attached to [[Beddington#Carew Manor|Carew Manor]], a grand country house built in the Tudor period, which stands to this day. It comprises a large area of open grassland with small clumps of trees, with an area of more formal gardens near the Grange restaurant, as well as a lake and pond. The main lake in the south west of the park was originally a mill pond. There are many paths and a number of ornamental bridges, which cross the stream which feeds the lake: this is part of the River Wandle, and the park is on the Wandle Trail. Part of the park is managed as a wildlife site.
{{clear}}

==Transport==

Wallington is served by rail, bus and coach connections.

===Rail===

Services operate from [[Wallington railway station|Wallington]] to [[London Victoria station|Victoria]] and [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]]  via [[West Croydon station|West Croydon]] and to Epsom Downs and Epsom via Sutton and beyond.

===Bus===

Bus services are available from Wallington:
[[File:Lavender sculpture, Wallington crossroads.jpg|thumb|Guy Portelli's 1999 sculpture celebrating local lavender]]
* [[London Buses route 127|127]] – to Purley, Carshalton, Mitcham, Tooting Broadway
* [[London Buses route 151|151]] – to Carshalton, St Helier, Sutton, Cheam, Worcester Park
* [[London Buses route 154|154]] – to Croydon, Carshalton, Sutton, Morden
* [[London Buses route 157|157]] – to Crystal Palace, Croydon, Morden
* [[London Buses route 407|407]] – to Caterham, Purley, Croydon, Sutton
* [[London Buses route 410|410]] – to Crystal Palace, Norwood, Croydon, Beddington
* [[London Buses route 463|463]] – to Coulsdon, Beddington, Mitcham
* [[London Buses route 612|612]] – to Wallington County Grammar School
* [[London Buses route 627|627]] – to Wallington High School for Girls
* [[London Buses route S3|S3]] – to Malden Manor, Belmont, Carshalton Beeches, Wallington North, Sutton Hospital
* [[London Buses route S4|S4]] – to Waddon Marsh, Sutton
* [[London Buses route SL7|SL7]] – to Croydon, Carshalton, Sutton, Kingston, Heathrow

===Coach===

[[National Express Coaches|National Express]] services no longer travel through Wallington.

===Bicycle===

[[National Cycle Route 20]] travels in a north–south direction on the edge of Wallington connecting cyclists with Wandsworth on the River Thames and [[Brighton]] on the South Coast

{{Geographic location
|title     = '''Neighbouring areas'''
|Northwest = [[Rose Hill, London|Rose Hill]]
|North     = [[Hackbridge]]
|West      = [[Carshalton]], [[Sutton, London|Sutton]]
|Centre    = Wallington
|Northeast = [[Mitcham Common]]
|East      = [[Beddington]]
|Southwest = [[Little Woodcote]], [[Woodmansterne]]
|South     = [[Coulsdon]]
|Southeast = [[Purley, London|Purley]]
}}

==Notable people==
[[File:Early Jeff Beck.jpg|thumb|Jeff Beck in 1973|upright]]
{{more citations needed|section|date=September 2017}}
*[[Neil Ardley]] (1937–2004), jazz pianist and composer, was born in Wallington
*[[Jeff Beck]] (1944–2023), rock guitarist, was born in Wallington and lived on Demesne Road
*[[Helen Clare (singer)|Helen Clare]] (1916–2018), singer, lived in Cranley Gardens<ref name="sutton">{{cite web |last1=Neal |first1=Tessa |title=Wartime star from Sutton planning to release 'fascinating' autobiography after she turns 100 |url=https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/14834531.wartime-star-helen-riddle-aka-helen-clare-from-sutton-planning-to-release-fascinating-autobiography-after-she-turns-100/ |website=Your Local Guardian |date=31 October 2016 |access-date=21 March 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Gary Mason (boxer)|Gary Mason]], British Heavyweight Champion boxer, lived in Wallington before his death on Sandy Lane South whilst riding his bicycle, in 2011
*[[Linsey Dawn McKenzie]], glamour model and pornographic actress
*[[Phyllis King (tennis)|Phyllis Mudford]] (1906–2006), Wimbledon ladies doubles winner 1931<ref>{{cite news | newspaper=The Times | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article724497.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524035956/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article724497.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=24 May 2011 | date=2 February 2006|title=Phyllis King: Hard-hitting ladies doubles champion at Wimbledon in 1931 | access-date=24 October 2007}}</ref>
*[[Mervyn Peake]] lived there for five years when he inherited his father's house in 1953, but sold the house for development when he moved to [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mervynpeake.org/biography.html|title=Mervyn Peake biography - 1911-1968|website=www.mervynpeake.org}}</ref>
*[[Wilfrid Reay]] (1891–1915), cricketer
*[[Nick Ross]], television presenter
*[[Eileen Shanahan (Irish poet)|Eileen Shanahan]] (1901–1979), Irish poet, lived with her family in Blenheim Gardens
*[[John Debenham Taylor]] (1920&ndash;2016), [[Secret Intelligence Service]] officer, born in Wallington<ref>{{cite news |title=Obituary: John Debenham Taylor, intelligence officer |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituary-john-debenham-taylor-intelligence-officer-1481111 |access-date=29 July 2021 |work=The Scotsman |date=7 March 2016}}</ref>
*[[David Walliams]] (actor) had his primary education at Collingwood Boys' School in Wallington, London, (Surrey), (now Collingwood School)
*[[David Weir (athlete)|David Weir]], [[Paralympic]] gold medalist lives on the [[Roundshaw]] estate
*[[Elsie Widdowson]], dietitian and nutritionist, born in Wallington

==Sport and leisure==
Wallington has a [[Non-League football]] club called Carshalton Athletic and many social clubs.The town has four gold post boxes commemorating local resident [[David Weir (athlete)|David Weir]]'s four gold medals at the [[2012 Summer Paralympics]].

== Education ==
[[File:Entrance of Wallington Grammar School - geograph.org.uk - 796298.jpg|thumb|Wallington County Grammar School]]
'''Primary education'''
*Bandon Hill Primary School
*Beddington Infants School
*Collingwood School (Fee Paying)
*Foresters Primary School
*Highview Primary School
*Holy Trinity C of E Junior School
*St Elphege's School
*Wallington Primary Academy (Formerly Amy Johnson Primary School)

'''Secondary education'''
* [[Wallington County Grammar School]]
* [[Wallington High School for Girls]]
* [[Wilson's School]]

All three secondary schools are highly rated grammar schools, with one (Wilson's School) being one of the highest achieving state schools – including all state grammars – in Britain.{{Citation needed|date=April 2016}} See the [[London Borough of Sutton]] article for further details of education in the borough.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{LB Sutton}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Sutton]]
[[Category:District centres of London]]