Wildcroft Manor Explained

Wildcroft Manor is a historic site in Putney in the London Borough of Wandsworth, with private housing and a Grade II Listed iron gateway.^[1]

Location

The estate is located on Wildcroft road within Putney Heath, between the Telegraph pub and the A3 dual carriageway.

History

The original building was built in 1776 by politician David Hartley (the Younger) 1732–1813 who received a grant of £2500 to build an experimental fireproof house.^{[2] [3]} A Grade II listed obelisk nearby on Putney Heath commemorates this innovation.^[4]

The building was later home to publisher George Newnes 1851–1910, architect of Putney Library, who was made baronet "of Wildcroft, in the parish of Putney" in 1895.^{[5] [6]} Newnes demolished and rebuilt the building in 1877^[7] and it was visited by writer Naomi Royde-Smith as a child from 1900.^[8] The wrought iron gates were built around 1900 by J & C McLaughlin (likely McGloughlin)^[9] Ltd, Dublin, and were Grade II listed in 1983.^[10]

Later buildlings were built in mid 1930s^[11] in Art Deco style,^[12] with 56 flats created on the site of the former manor,^[13] in four-storey blocks in Tudor vernacular.^[14] A V1 flying bomb fell on the site on 3 July 1944, killing Canadian firefighter J.S. Coull (Winnipeg)^{[15] [16] [17]} and caused serious damage to all buildings on the site.^[18] Entertainer Ian Whitcomb later lived on the site in the 1960s,^[19] as well as Sir (Frank) Cyril Hawker Sheriff of London 1963–1964.

External links

• Historic England listing for the gates

51.4485°N -0.2295°W

Notes and References

1. Web site: GATES TO WILDCROFT MANOR, Non Civil Parish - 1185210. historicengland.org.uk . 11 August 2023 . en.
2. News: Karpazli . Ertan . Secluded 'village' in West London looks like it's in Hollywood . 11 August 2023 . MyLondon . 7 August 2022 . en.
3. Book: Bolton . Carol . Letters from England: by Don Manuel Alvarez Espriella . 3 June 2016 . Routledge . 978-1-317-24290-1 . 11 August 2023 . en.
4. Web site: Stuff . Good . Hartley Memorial Obelisk (North East of Wildcroft Manor), Roehampton, London . britishlistedbuildings.co.uk . 11 August 2023.
5. News: London Gazette . 11 August 2023 . www.thegazette.co.uk . 15 February 1895.
6. Book: Friederichs . Hulda . Life of Sir George Newnes . 1911 . Hodder and Stoughton . 11 August 2023.
7. Web site: Galloway . Archie . DAVID HARTLEY – ARSONIST BY APPOINTMENT? 1732 - 1813 . 11 August 2023.
8. Book: Benton . Jill . AVENGING MUSE Naomi Royde-Smith, 1875-1964 . 2015 . Pitzer College . 11 August 2023.
9. Web site: MCGLOUGHLIN, JOHN * - Dictionary of Irish Architects . www.dia.ie . 11 August 2023.
10. Web site: GATES TO WILDCROFT MANOR, Non Civil Parish - 1185210. historicengland.org.uk . 11 August 2023 . en.
11. Web site: epr000474 ENGLAND (1935). Wildcroft Manor flats under construction, Putney Heath, 1935. www.britainfromabove.org.uk . 11 August 2023.
12. Web site: ART DECO APARTMENT IN BEAUTIFUL LOCATION WITH PARKING . assets.savills.com . Savills . 11 August 2023.
13. Web site: Property . Putney Village . 11 August 2023 . en . 10 February 2017.
14. Web site: Putney Heath Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Strategy . wandsworth.gov.uk . London Borough of Wandsworth . 11 August 2023.
15. Web site: Canadian WW2 firefighters . London Remembers . 11 August 2023 . en.
16. News: Posted . Christian Cassidy . Mar 2015: A different kind of firefight: Winnipeggers helped battle blazes in the Blitz . 11 August 2023 . Winnipeg Free Press . 1 March 2015.
17. Book: Brooks . Alan . London at War: Relics of the Home Front from the World Wars . 12 July 2011 . Casemate Publishers . 978-1-84468-322-2 . 11 August 2023 . en.
18. Web site: Explore our unique, historic map layers . www.layersoflondon.org . Institute of Historical Research . 11 August 2023 . en.
19. Book: Whitcomb . Ian . Ian Whitcomb Songbook . 18 August 2011 . Mel Bay Publications . 978-1-61065-252-0 . 11 August 2023 . en.