An oasis in Morden Hall Park

Morden Hall Park is fittingly described in the National Trust Handbook as 'an open space oasis in the heart of suburbia'. If it's your first visit here then you cannot fail to be impressed by the old estate buildings and ancient hay meadows. If you are a budding gardener, you'll relish the sight and scent of the rose garden in summer and if history is your thing, you can discover more about Morden's snuff-milling industry.

A garden of roses

The rose garden is worthy of a mention because restoration by the National Trust has returned it to its former glory. With names like Golden Wedding, Harvest Fair, Iceberg and English Miss you can probably guess the colours. The 2-acre (0.8ha) rose garden was originally created in 1922. Unlike most gardens of this kind, the 48 rose beds are randomly laid out, rather than in a symmetrical pattern. The beds are shaped like horseshoes, crescents and half-moons and they are seen best from the eastern side of the garden. Because there were no records of the original plants used, modern floribunda roses were chosen to produce the vivid abundance of colour, which reaches its peak in June.

Not to be sniffed at

Morden Hall Park belonged to the Hatfeild family, which made its money from snuff milling. The family formed a firm of tobacconists, Taddy, Tomlin and Hatfeild of Fenchurch Street, in the City of London. You can see the remains of their snuff mill, powered by the River Wandle, in the park. Snuff was ground by hand until water-powered mills took over in the 18th century. These crushed the tobacco leaves to a fine powder. It was a dusty environment and workers used sponge respirators to help them breathe. Demand for snuff was high during the 1800s – and these mills were just two of hundreds throughout the country.

Morden Hall revisited

Morden Hall Park was once self-sufficient. It had a deer park (venison), grazing meadows (milk) and kitchen gardens (fresh fruit and vegetables). When the bachelor Gilliat Hatfeild died in 1941, he left the bulk of his 125-acre (51ha) estate to the National Trust, with a clause in his will stating that the park should be open to the public. Hatfeild was a conservative man, refusing gas or electricity, and had no interest in buying the latest form of transport, the motor car. He was also a kind employer, providing the staff with food at Christmas and inviting the local children to parties in the grounds. Today, Morden Hall Park is a remarkable reminder of this bygone era.

Turn left out of Morden tube station, immediately cross the main road via the crossing, bear right and then first left to walk along Aberconway Road. Go over Morden Hall Road via the lights, bear right and then turn left through the blue gates into Morden Hall Park. Follow the path ahead, past the stable block on your right, where the Riverside Café and garden centre are found.

Cross the bridge, passing the Snuff Mill Environmental Centre (primarily an educational facility for school groups), to enter the lower section of the rose garden. Pause to admire the gardens then backtrack over the bridge and turn right.

About 100yds (91m) further on, turn right over a white bridge with decorative iron railings and then walk along an avenue of lime and chestnut trees to cross a bridge over a tributary of the River Wandle.

Turn right and go through a metal gate leading to the upper section of the rose garden. Follow the path ahead to reach another metal gate. Continue past the pond, with its wilderness islands, as it curves to the left to meet the avenue of lime and chestnut trees.

Cross the avenue and follow the path as it swings to the left, with some fencing to your right. A few paces further on, when the path joins another, take the left-hand fork across the meadow.

Just before the road and tram stop, turn left towards the avenue of trees. At a junction of paths you will meet the path followed earlier. Retrace your steps towards the white bridge, and then back to Morden tube.