Earlsfield
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Earlsfield | |
  Earlsfield shown within Greater London |
|
| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| London borough | Wandsworth |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | SW18 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| European Parliament | London |
| London Assembly | Merton and Wandsworth |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
Earlsfield is an area within the London Borough of Wandsworth, London, United Kingdom.
Earlsfield is a typically London suburb and comprises mostly residential Victorian terraced houses with a high street of shops, bars, and restaurants (very few chain stores) between Garratt Lane, Allfarthing Lane, and Burntwood Lane. Although it has had a slow start and lags behind its neighbour Clapham, Earlsfield - with its schools and family facilities as well as its primary transport link (see Earlsfield railway station) into central London - now has a strong housing market with prices continuing to outpace average house-price inflation.
The River Wandle flows parallel to the main road through the area, and has been the subject of a major, council funded clean-up operation. There is some light industry located between the high street and the river. It is not as well known as its neighbouring areas such as Tooting, Clapham, Balham, and Battersea, which allows for a low key way of life while still being close enough to the bright lights and excitement of London. The local Earlsfield railway station provides for quick journeys to Central London (3 stops to Waterloo [Clapham Junction, Vauxhall, Waterloo] in 12 minutes) and other South London (Victoria - changing at Clapham Junction, Wimbledon one stop) areas.
The area was once a working class suburb of Wandsworth and as such has medium sized terraced housing built for the working class. It now houses young families attracted by the affordability of the area in comparison to its north, west and eastern neighbours Clapham, Wandsworth, Battersea and Putney. The area is now known as Nappy Valley to some, due to the small family homes and the good schools in the area.
The area is also a haven for South Africans that seem to dominate the area at rush hour, streaming out of the less expensive house conversion flats around Garratt Lane.
There is not a considerable history to the area as it is based around a mainline (i.e. above ground) rail station that was built at the end in April 1884.
The name Earlsfield has two possible origins:
- the first that it came from Earl, the maiden name of the Lord of the Manor's wife.
- the second that it comes from the fact that the whole area was once watercress fields belonging to Earl Spencer, an ancestor of Lady Diana Spencer, later Diana, Princess of Wales. The area to the north east, towards Clapham is also known as Spencer Park.
This provided the name of the stations, and thence the suburb.
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[edit] High Street
Although vibrant, the high street is also always a little disappointing due to the high rent demanded by its landlords - the only shops, bars and restaurants that seem to survive are those that have been there for a long time - suggesting they might already have long leases that avoid the greed of the modern landlord in the area (it has been suggested that most of the high street is actually owned by two men that have owned properties in the area for decades now). Willie Gunns is about the only survivor in the area, the rest of the bars and restaurants come and go within 12 months or so. The high-street is dominated by estate agents, cafes, and bars/restaurants. The pubs are improving and a Marks and Spencer is being built, adding to the impression that Earlsfield high street is transforming, if a little too slowly for many.
[edit] Neighbours
- Wandsworth Common SW17
- Clapham SW12
- Battersea SW11
- Wandsworth SW18
- Tooting SW17
- Southfields SW19
- Putney SW15
[edit] Next Stop Neighbouring Travel Connections
- inbound: Clapham Junction
- outbound: Wimbledon station
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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