South Merton and Wimbledon Chase

South Merton

Continuing my journey around the Sutton loop, after Morden South you get South Morden Merton. It's the second least popular station on the loop, above Morden South by about 50,000 entries and exits admittedly, yet still standing at a measly 117,000 per annum. That's still 320 passengers daily, which is far from minor, however when you consider the Northern line is only ten minutes away at Morden and gets 22,000 daily, it's clear that South Merton isn't all too loved.

There isn't anything immediately by the station that would convince you to visit, aside from perhaps the wonderful Mostyn Gardens, which is equipped with a grassy plain, a playground, and some blossoming trees, this being the start of March. Otherwise, however, it's a purely residential area with a main road carving through it, so doesn't immediately appear intriguing. 

The station name is somewhat unusual as it's not the only station in Merton, and it's not even that southerly compared to the rest of the borough. I reckon it's named so to distinguish it from the then nearby Merton Park station, which has now been converted into a tram stop, especially as both serve the general area. In fact, when the station was proposed in 1910, it was called Merton Park in initial plans (so says Wikipedia, at least - few sources discuss South Merton, it's that disregarded); these plans would have had the District line running via the area down to Sutton, in fact. By the time the station opened in 1929, as the temporary terminus of the budding Sutton loop however, those plans had long been dead.

  

Realising that there wasn't much else to South Merton, I headed north through residential Merton and their large houses that stand along several closes, before emerging past a footpath next to a garage, a graffitied barrier, and the uneasy head of a BP station peering out. I had arrived in Wimbledon Chase, which is only fifteen minutes away. 

Wimbledon Chase

And it's far busier - the A298 runs through it, there are several shops along the road, and Raynes Park, combined with more frequent rail services, beckons around the corner. Indeed, calling the area "Wimbledon" might be a slight misnomer as it's still far more residential and less upmarket than Wimbledon is. There also seems to be very little information on the area's name, which I find strange considering that Wimbledon is attached to it. It does seem that Wimbledon Chase may have been a railway invention to make the area seem more aspirational, and as often happens with suburbs, it just stuck.

There might be a clue, however - there is only one other station called "chase" in London, it's Enfield Chase, and chase in this context refers to a royal hunting ground. Wimbledon most certainly was a centre for the powerful, and Wimbledon Park was seemingly used for hunting under James I - so there might be a loose connection. Then again, I'm speculating, and perhaps looking into things too much.

Anyways, onto the station - its exterior could do with a decorating job, and overall looks very bland - the dull side of brutalism. However, as I made my way into the station, I was pleasantly surprised to see there were various artworks on the corridor walls designed by schoolchildren reflecting the local area. All with vibrant hues, some more polished than others, I especially appreciated the windmill piece. It certainly gives the station some vital charm.

Outside, on the platform, it's the exact same as all of them, with a view to post-war housing, usually empty platforms, and no facilities aside from a shelter. Neighbouring Wimbledon is understandably the station of choice for locals here.

And with that, my miniblogging of the Sutton loop is nearly over...at least, one half of it. The Mitcham stations and St Helier are still to come, and perhaps Hackbridge too, though I've already blogged about the eponymous bridge.