Ravensbury Mill on the River Wandle
By Qingyun Wang
Have you ever noticed the waterwheel on the London Borough of Merton’s logo? This area used to own the biggest mill groups and industrial areas in the south alongside the River Wandle, and the Ravensbury Mill is one of them.
(Logo for the London Borough of Merton)
After the dissolution of the Merton Priory in 1538, this area on the River Wandle became a flourishing hub of industry with mills and factories where snuff, copper, flour, iron and dye were all worked. Snuff mills were introduced to the UK in the 17th century and reached their peak popularity during Queen Anne’s reign, which lasted from 1702 to 1714. This was the occupation of the mill now known as Ravensbury Mill. The origins of this mill can be traced back to 1680, when it was first mentioned in a manorial rent roll showing a ground rent of 5 paid to Sir Nicholas Carew of Beddington by Mr Westbrook.
The Mill thrived under different owners over the next couple of hundred years. The most famous of these was Rutter & Co. who diversified the production into tobacco to keep up the popular trades.
(Rutter Comic Phrases Cigarette Cards, Issued In 1905)
These industries declined in the 20th century. The last occupation of the Ravensbury Mill was Whitely Products Ltd, which vacated the site in 1980. Since then, the mill has struggled being left empty for 14 years and with no clear use for the future. In 1992, permissions were granted to some of the site into residential accommodation, while still some of the building was retained to be used by the Wandle Industrial Museum. Unfortunately, issues surrounding the ownership and use have meant that this part of the building is yet to be restored and brought back into the community.