[The Times: Search: "Wandsworth Common"].
[BNA: Buckmaster Battersea 1911]
[BNA: Buckmaster Wandsworth 1911]
[London Evening Standard: Buckmaster Wandsworth 1911]
WANDSWORTH COMMON.
Possibility of Sale being Averted.
The prospect of a twenty-acre strip of ground in the middle of Wandsworth Common being sold on a building lease has caused considerable local apprehension. The ground in question is part of 55 acres bought ,n 1557 by tne Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation for the purpose of founding a boys 'and girls' institution for the orphans of soldiers and sailors. On July 11th of that year the late Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone of the institution, and the girls' school was opened on July let. 1859, the boyis' school not being opened till October. 1872. In 1881 it was found that the endowment fund was insufficient to maintain the boys' school, and this portion of the property, representing about 11 acres, was $01(1 to the United West minster Schools Committee for upwards of L 35,000. A. portion of the remainder. the twenty-acre strip now in question, was let as a farm on a 21 yews' lease, which will expire in March next.
Sir Henry Kimber's statement as to the intention c, the Fund Corporation to dispose of this property has attracted the attention of the London County Council, the Wandsworth and Battersea Borough Councils, the 0011 1110116. and Footpaths Preservation Society, and other bodies interested in the preservation of London's open spaces. Steps were at once taken to ea v e the property from the builder, and negotiations between the London County Council and the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation began about two weeks ago, and are still going on. It was urged on behalf of the council that the property should he restored to the common. seeing that it was no longer needed for the putpose for which it was originally acquired. The Fund Corporation Committee expressed their willingness to afford every reasonable opportunity for the land to be saved as a public space. They .had, they contended, purchased the property under a clear title from Lord Spencer, lord of the manor, in 1857. At that time they could have bought land for their purpose in other parts of Lindon at a fair price.
"The Patriotic Fund Corporation." remarked the secretary. Major Stanton, "are most anxious that this land should be preserved as an open spew, and if the Wandsworth Council or any other body will help to accomplish this, we stall be only too pleased. The position is simply that in 1859 0140.000 was set aside as an endowment fund, and invested at 51 to 6 per cent. In November, IWO, the then actuary of the Royal Commissioners estimated that the liabilities in respect of allowance@ to widows on the Patriotic Fund exceeded the reasonable assets by over £60,000. This report caused considerable stir at the time, and resulted in lengthy correspondence between the-Secretary of State for War and the Royal Commissinners. It was consequently decided in 1881 to sell the boys' school, the farm—then no required—lieing leased off.
"We are now faced by the fact that the income from the fund. originally invested in 6 to 8 per cent. stocks. has of late years shrunk to .11 nr 4 par cent., and this rednetiers is not vet at an end. The present income. therefore, is only sufficient to maintain the school without any extensive repairs to the fabric, and it is to 'meet the latter that we have to reconsider our finarie!al position. Tree, the increase of the income from the endenvir-ent fund has been counterbalanced Sri of the increment value of the land et Wandsworth. The committee, however. is nut appreaching any of the public in a purely mercenary spirit. Wha• they want to do is to see to the permanent manila of the girls' institution, which is otherwise PeE-supporting, and if any of the nehlie bodies are prepared to meet the renewatien expenses nre eoneonms9 aboet. I feel mite sere that the ittee would be fayoorahly disposed towards handier over the 20 acres in question with',lit fertiles rest on the understanding that the ground was to be preserved a an open grace. The committee. meanwhile, are in weenemication with the London County Creineil with a view to this land being purchased for nubile recreation groueds. and they sincerely hone that the council will Instil@ t,, rive nn nctecyuste sum to enable the committee to niece the endowment fund that will the necessity of selling Harland for building purposes."
[BNA: Link.]
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A threatened open space
Some needless but excusable alarm has been experienced by the dwellers about Wandsworth Common at the circulation of a rumour that the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation contemplated the sale of twenty acres of their grounds for building purposes, in order to increase the endowment of the Royal Victoria Patriotic School.
Such a calamity would be viewed with dismay by the whole of the inhabitants of Wandsworth, Clapham, Battersea, and the districts beyond, for the loss of so large a slice of this incomparable breathing-space would be grievous and irreparable.
Mr. Hayes Fisher, the Vice-Chairman, reassures us this morning. The Corporation would only entertain such sale as the very last extremity.
At present they are offering the land as an open space, and if the London County Council do not entertain the offer, no doubt the London Playing Fields Society or some other body in search of recreation ground will. The land can be had for this purpose at a reasonable figure, and it is good to that the Corporation are so mindful of their obligation to the public as to use their utmost endeavours to preserve the amenities of the Common in the way the public would approve.
WANDSWORTH COMMON PROTEST MEETING.
At the Wandsworth Town Hall. on ) Thursday evening of last week,a protest meeting was held against selling 20 acres of land which once formed part of Wandsworth Common. The land for a long number of years has been owned by the Royal Victoria Patriotic Corporation, but that body, now being in need of funds, proposes 1o obtain them by the disposal of the land.
The Mayor of Wandsworth (Alderman Archibald D. Dawnay) presided. supported by the Mayor of Battersea (Mr. Johm Astill) and other well-known public men in the boroughs of Wandsworth and Battersea.
Among the many letters of sympathy with the objects of the gathering was one from Sir Henry Kimber, M.P. for Wandsworth. Mr. Haves Fisher, M.P... who is chairman of the Patriotic Corporation, and also a member of the London County Council, wrote intimating that arrangements were being made with a view to the County Council taking over the land. Alderman Ennis referred to the huge sum—over one and a-half million pounds once possessed by the Patriot i Corporation, who, in spite of their past wealth, were now in need of an endowment. They did not wish to act in an unfriendly spirit.and hoped that the 20 acres would be restored to Wandsworth without their having to appeal to Parliament or to the Charity Commissioners.
Mr G. D. Faber, M.P. for Clapham. supported the general demand, but added that they must be perfectly fair in considering the position of the corporation. They were all agreed, he said, that it was vital to them that the 20 acres should be preserved to them in perpetuity.
A resolution deploring the proposal of the Patriotic Corporation was passed.