The Wandle Industrial Museum return to the UK River Summit
Alison and Auriel at the UK River Summit 2024
In 1805 the River Wandle, which flows from Carshalton and Croydon to the Thames at Wandsworth, was described as the hardest working for its size in the world. With 13 mills listed in the Domesday Survey of 1086 by the early 1800’s 100 mills were said to have been recorded along the banks of the river.
The Wandle Industrial Museum based in Mitcham, Surrey is a small independent museum run by a group of volunteers who work to keep alive the history and heritage of the industries and people of the Wandle Valley. Founded in 1983 the museum has on display exhibitions on the industries and the people. These include a relief map of the Wandle Valley showing the location of the mills along with a model of the works used by William Morris for Morris & Co until 1940. Our current exhibition of the leather industries of the Wandle includes a leather skin displayed by J. S. Deeds & Sons at the Great Exhibition of 1851. The museum offers a wide range of talks with diverse subjects such as Sport along the Wandle, Art and Literature of the Wandle, and the brewing and lavender industries along with talks on the mills, textile (calico) people and more. It also offers walks along the Wandle taking in the heritage and viewing what remains from a bygone age. A workshop on the textile industry is also available focused on Morris and Liberty. As well as offering these too organisations they also work with schools and welcome around 400 children to the museum every year.
“Attending the River Summit in 2024 was an opportunity to share what we do at the museum and meet a new audience. We look forward to being part of this year’s event and further River Summit and Festival events this year and next.”
The museum is open to the public twice a week. Wednesday 1-4pm and Sunday 2-5pm (not Bank Holiday Sundays). Website: www.wandle.org it can also be found on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, and FlickR.