The areas of Wimbledon and Southfields in South West London have a rich and diverse history. The original heart of Wimbledon was the village built on top of the hill, by the common, and the area is still home to several historic houses and pubs. The town grew up around the railway station at the bottom of the hill and today is the bustling commercial centre of Wimbledon. Southfields was a largely rural area to the north of Wimbledon Park until the nineteenth century, until housing was built around the new railway. As well as the famous Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Club, the book encompasses historic landmarks like the Wimbledon Windmill and Southside House, and vibrant community life is represented by Deen City Farm and AFC Wimbledon's Plough Lane stadium. Among the cultural attractions are the New Wimbledon Theatre and the pioneering Polka Theatre, and the area's spiritual diversity includes the Buddhist Buddhapadipa Temple, and the Hindu Shree Ghanapathy Temple in Wimbledon and the Fazl Mosque in Southfields, London’s first mosque. Wimbledon and Southfields in 50 Buildings explores the history of this fascinating area of South West London through a selection of its most interesting buildings and structures, showing the changes that have taken place over the years. The book will appeal to all those who live in Wimbledon or Southfields or who have an interest in the area.
