Raynes Park

Raynes Park is a primarily residential area within the London Borough of Merton. It is a suburb of London situated between Wimbledon and New Malden and 8.2 miles (13.2 km) south west of Charing Cross.

Geography

Raynes Park is basically divided into two sections by the railway. Indeed, it grew up because of the expansion of the railway. 'The permanent way' dominates the suburb's centre, with fast lines to London one way and the south coast the other. The land on which the railway runs was owned by a local landlord, Lord Cottenham.^{[citation needed]} Cottenham is remembered by the small localised area between Raynes Park and what is referred to as 'West Wimbledon' (close to the A3 and the borough boundary with Kingston-upon-Thames), Cottenham Park.

It is a typical commuter dormitory suburb in that it's relatively prosperous, stable and residents are mostly white and middle class. Towards the west are the upper class enclaves of Copse Hill and Coombe with their large detached houses, golf courses and gated lands. Between Raynes Park and nearby Wimbledon is a sprawl of bedsitters and terraced housing, most built between the two world wars in the 1930s when Raynes Park was developing as a suburb. Between the railway and the A3 spur Bushey Road lies a grid of twelve parallel roads known locally as the 'Apostles'. These roads contain residential Victorian style homes.

The area is significantly under-populated by pubs, counting just four close to the railway embankment. There are few major retail chains — nearby Wimbledon has many which is convenient for anyone living in Raynes Park. Like its near neighbour New Malden, it's not a place one would associate with having a busy nightlife, but residents can easily travel to nearby Wimbledon, Wimbledon village, Kingston, Sutton or Croydon.

Transport and amenities

Raynes Park has a station on the National Rail network. The station has four platforms, and trains run north-east towards London Waterloo. At the station there is a junction; here the branch towards Epsom and Dorking diverges from the main line which continues towards Surbiton and Kingston on Thames. A distinctive local landmark is the station footbridge which spans all four main running lines at an angle of about 45 degrees and links the up platforms (1 & 2, for London) with the down (3 & 4). The south-side (down) entrance to Raynes Park station, at the junction of Approach Road with Grand Drive

Raynes Park also benefits from London bus services running to Streatham, Wimbledon, New Malden, Kingston on Thames, Colliers Wood and more.

The A238 (Bushey Road), a fast dual carriageway leading off the A3 road, runs through Raynes Park in the direction of central London. That dual carriageway travels past the local branch of the David Lloyd Club, and also past a Tesco Extra. The David Lloyd Tennis club is situated on St. Georges playing field, which homes Raynes Park Vale F.C and plays host to Sunday league football. The field also has other purposes and has in the past held fun fairs and Hindu festival celebrations.

The new public library, which is on Kingston Road, opened in 2006, and is close to Raynes Park railway station.

Nearest Tube Station: Wimbledon

Other information

Raynes Park Secondary school, the local mixed secondary school, is away from the town centre at Shannon Corner and the A3 flyover. Famous people who went to this school include: Dave Benson-Phillips, Chris Powell, Graham Stuart and Indie Rock band Good Shoes

Wimbledon College, which Paul Merton attended, is situated nearby as is the Edge Hill Explorer scout unit, part of the Ninth Wimbledon Scout Group.

It is where the actor Richard Briers lived as a child.

Jazz musician Tubby Hayes was originally from Raynes Park, and the publicist Max Clifford lived there for many years.

There is an active Residents' Association which spends much of its time dealing with traffic and planning issues. The new owners of the old London Electricity Board Sports and Social Club (LESSA) playing fields have been refused planning permission for a large housing development partly due the fact the area is marginally on a flood plain.

External links

Photo Gallery

Coombe Lane
Looking up Lambton Road from the Station
Looking down Grand Drive from the Station
Approach Road

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