Raynes Park
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Raynes Park | |
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| Location | |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference: | TQ235685 |
| Latitude: | 51.403311° |
| Longitude: | -0.232103° |
| Administration | |
| London borough: | Merton |
| County level: | Greater London |
| Region: | London |
| Constituent country: | England |
| Sovereign state: | United Kingdom |
| Other | |
| Ceremonial county: | Greater London |
| Historic county: | Surrey |
| Services | |
| Police force: | Metropolitan Police |
| Fire brigade: | London Fire Brigade |
| Ambulance service: | London Ambulance |
| Post office and telephone | |
| Post town: | LONDON |
| Postal district: | SW20 |
| Dialling code: | 020 |
| Politics | |
| UK Parliament: | Wimbledon |
| London Assembly: | Merton and Wandsworth |
| European Parliament: | London |
| London | List of places in London | |
Raynes Park is a primarily residential area within the London Borough of Merton. It is a suburb of London situated between Wimbledon and New Malden and 8.2 miles (13.2 km) south west of Charing Cross.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
Raynes Park is basically divided into two sections by the railway. Indeed, it grew up because of the expansion of the railway. 'The permanent way' dominates the suburb's centre, with fast lines to London one way and the south coast the other. The land on which the railway runs was owned by a local landlord, Lord Cottenham.[citation needed] Cottenham is remembered by the small localised area between Raynes Park and what is referred to as 'West Wimbledon' (close to the A3 and the borough boundary with Kingston-upon-Thames), Cottenham Park.
It is a typical commuter dormitory suburb in that it's relatively prosperous, stable and residents are mostly white and middle class. Towards the west are the upper class enclaves of Copse Hill and Coombe with their large detached houses, golf courses and gated lands. Between Raynes Park and nearby Wimbledon is a sprawl of bedsitters and terraced housing, most built between the two world wars in the 1930s when Raynes Park was developing as a suburb. Between the railway and the A3 spur Bushey Road lies a grid of twelve parallel roads known locally as the 'Apostles'. These roads contain residential Victorian style homes.
The area is significantly under-populated by pubs, counting just four close to the railway embankment. There are few major retail chains — nearby Wimbledon has many which is convenient for anyone living in Raynes Park. Like its near neighbour New Malden, it's not a place one would associate with having a busy nightlife, but anyone who lives there can quite easily go to Wimbledon, Wimbledon village, Kingston, Sutton, Croydon or Guildford for such things. Raynes Park is within seven miles of most of these places.
[edit] Transport and amenities
Raynes Park has a station on the National Rail network. The station has four platforms, and trains run north-east towards London Waterloo. At the station there is a junction; here the branch towards Epsom and Dorking diverges from the main line which continues towards Surbiton and Kingston on Thames. A distinctive local landmark is the station footbridge which spans all four main running lines at an angle of about 45 degrees and links the up platforms (1 & 2, for London) with the down (3 & 4). The south-side (down) entrance to Raynes Park station, at the junction of Approach Road with Grand Drive
Raynes Park also benefits from London bus services running to Streatham, Wimbledon, New Malden, Kingston on Thames, Colliers Wood and more.
The A238 (Bushey Road), a fast dual carriageway leading off the A3 road, runs through Raynes Park in the direction of central London. That dual carriageway travels past the local branch of the David Lloyd Club, and also past a Tesco Extra. The David Lloyd cluub is situated on St. Georges playing field, which homes Raynes Park Vale F.C and plays host to Sunday league football. The field also has other purposes and has in the past held fun fairs and Hindu festival celebrations.
There is a public library on Kingston Road, close to Raynes Park railway station.
Nearest Tube Station: Wimbledon
[edit] Other information
Raynes Park Secondary school, the local mixed secondary school, is away from the town centre at Shannon Corner and the A3 flyover.
Wimbledon College, which Paul Merton attended, is situated nearby as is the Edge Hill Explorer scout unit, part of the Ninth Wimbledon Scout Group.
It is where the actor Richard Briers lived as a child.
