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"The joy that is Merton Abbey Mills" DAILY TELEGRAPH
| Merton Abbey Mills Formerly Liberty's silk printing works and a centre of William Morris' Arts and Crafts Movement, Merton Abbey Mills on the River Wandle was reborn in 1989 as a visitor and craft centre. It's become famous throughout South London for its colourful weekend market, but it's also a charming tranquil place to shop, meet and eat during the week, and a busy focus for local cultural and community activities, including the popular 'Abbeyfest' free open air jazz evenings every July and August. | |
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Merton Priory For over 400 years before 1538 the huge Merton Priory stood next door, one of the major Augustinian houses in the land. The church was as long as Westminster Abbey, and the artist's impression shows how it might have looked alongside Merantun Way and Sainsbury's! The foundations of the Priory’s Chapter House are preserved under the road; but only two relics remain above ground, a good length of the precinct wall (seen from the retail park east of Sainsbury’s), and the much altered but still genuine Colour House. |
| The Colour House For centuries used as an industrial building (Liberty mixed his dyes here, hence the name), this precious little building became a miniature theatre in 1995, since when it has seen over 2500 drama performances, 250 blues and world music evenings, and to date over 160 chamber concerts in this monthly series in which over 250 artists have performed over 700 works. The Colour House seats just 70, and is the ideal venue for intimate music and chamber opera. It is also a children's theatre every weekend afternoon. |  |
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The
Wheelhouse
In the concert interval, a
free glass of wine or soft drink
is
provided in the Wheelhouse immediately opposite the theatre.
This
historic building houses South London's only fully operational working
waterwheel, which once turned the spools |
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How to get there Merton Abbey Mills is opposite Sainsbury's on the A24 Merantun Way, where it crosses the River Wandle. It's just a mile from Wimbledon Broadway, five minutes walk from Merton bus garage, and ten from Colliers Wood tube. There's a car park immediately adjacent, and an attractive riverside pub and restaurant (open on Sunday evenings provided orders are placed before 9pm). Click here to find a map. Abbeyfest's free open-air jazz concerts on Friday evenings during July and August are now something of a South London institution |
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