2017

TQ2972 : Tooting Bec Common Café

taken 6 years ago, near to Upper Tooting, Wandsworth, England

This is 1 of 2 images, with title Tooting Bec Common Café in this square
Tooting Bec Common Café
Tooting Bec Common Café
This charming Victorian building dispenses refreshments all year round, although in December it closes at dusk. It is currently operated by San Remo Catering, but despite the slightly exotic name the menu is pretty down to earth.
Tooting Common

There is some confusion about the name of this substantial south London open space. There were originally two commons: Tooting Bec Common (at one time known as Tooting Heath) and the smaller Tooting Graveney Common which was in the old parish of Tooting Graveney. The latter occupied the area to the south west of Doctor Johnson Avenue. These came into public ownership when they were purchased by the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1873 and 1875 respectively. In modern times local usage tends to refer to Tooting Common, the name used both by Wandsworth Borough Council and the Friends of Tooting Common, although maps still distinguish between the two areas; the plural ‘Tooting Commons’ is also used.
In the late 19th century the Tooting area was rapidly expanding as an outer suburb following the arrival of the railways. The common changed from being essentially agricultural to providing a leisure facility for the growing population. Tennis courts, a putting green, changing rooms and a tea room were built. The pond was also dug at this time for sailing model boats. Most notably, the lido opened in 1906, an enterprise championed by John Hendry Anderson, Rector of Tooting, to provide work for unemployed men. The lido continues to be a popular local attraction as does the rest of the common. The common is managed by Wandsworth Borough Council supported by an active ‘friends’ organisation.


Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Stephen McKay and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Geographical Context: Park and Public Gardens Business, Retail, Services Primary Subject: Cafe
This photo is linked from: Automatic Clusters: · Victorian [3] Title Clusters: · Tooting Bec Common Café [2] ·
1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
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1:50,000 Modern Day Landranger(TM) Map © Crown Copyright
TIP: Click the map for more Large scale mapping
Grid Square
TQ2972, 133 images   (more nearby 🔍)
Photographer
Stephen McKay   (more nearby)
Date Taken
Thursday, 14 December, 2017   (more nearby)
Submitted
Tuesday, 19 December, 2017
Subject Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TQ 2902 7232 [10m precision]
WGS84: 51:26.1118N 0:8.7160W
Camera Location
OSGB36: geotagged! TQ 2907 7231
View Direction
WEST (about 270 degrees)
Clickable map
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Image Type (about): geograph 
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