Wandle Industrial Museum. Mitcham

Wandle Industrial Museum

The Wandle Industrial Museum in Mitcham is a museum reflecting the rich heritage of the Wandle Valley. The museum displays evidence which establishes that the River Wandle was, in its day, the most industrialised river in Europe.

In 1983 the Wandle Industrial Museum was founded to preserve the history and heritage of the industries and people of the River Wandle. The museum is entirely run by volunteers.

Exhibitions concentrate on the Wandle's better known industries, such as the textile industry, leather, and snuff & tobacco. The ‘Wandle Mills’ exhibition tells the story of mills founded at Croydon, Carshalton, Mitcham, Merton, Wimbledon and Wandsworth. The museum also has a display on the Surrey Iron Railway, a horse-drawn toll railway and first approved by Parliament, which opened in 1803.

History

The River Wandle rises in Croydon and Carshalton, and winds for 12 miles to join the Thames at Wandsworth. The swiftly flowing water made the Wandle perfect to power waterwheels, and as a result the river has been used since the Roman period as a centre for numerous industries. First came corn mills, grinding grain for food, then came fulling mills.

From the 17th century water power was used to make iron, copper, dye, gunpowder, and paper, followed by oils, cloth, and tobacco snuff. At the height of its industrial activity the Wandle supported over 50 mills.

The museum has exhibitions related to other industries such as lavender, grown at Mitcham, and other herbs like peppermint. The museum has a collection of finely crafted snuff boxes and bottles.

Among famous firms to use the Wandle as their base are Liberty of London (the Regent Street store printed silk here), the Surrey Iron Railway, Connolly's Leather, William Morris & Co., and Young's Brewery. The museum has the only known model of the Morris & Co works in Merton.

The Wandle Industrial Museum has helped create 'The Wandle Trail', a walking and cycling trail that follows the river's course past industrial landmarks and other places of interest.