Wildcroft Manor

The estate is located on Wildcroft road within Putney Heath, between the Telegraph pub and the A3 dual carriageway.

The original building was built in 1776 by politician David Hartley (the Younger) 1732–1813 who received a grant of £2500 to build an experimental fireproof house.{{cite news |last1=Karpazli |first1=Ertan |title=Secluded 'village' in West London looks like it's in Hollywood |url=https://www.mylondon.news/news/west-london-news/i-visited-secluded-village-surrounded-24650630 |access-date=11 August 2023 |work=MyLondon |date=7 August 2022 |language=en}}{{cite book |last1=Bolton |first1=Carol |title=Letters from England: by Don Manuel Alvarez Espriella |date=3 June 2016 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-24290-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B8dJDAAAQBAJ&q=putney+david+hartley+1732+1813 |access-date=11 August 2023 |language=en}} A Grade II listed obelisk nearby on Putney Heath commemorates this innovation.{{cite web |last1=Stuff |first1=Good |title=Hartley Memorial Obelisk (North East of Wildcroft Manor), Roehampton, London |url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101065539-hartley-memorial-obelisk-north-east-of-wildcroft-manor-roehampton-ward |website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk |access-date=11 August 2023}}

The building was later home to publisher George Newnes 1851–1910, architect of Putney Library, who was made baronet "of Wildcroft, in the parish of Putney" in 1895.{{cite news |title=London Gazette |url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26598/page/911 |access-date=11 August 2023 |work=www.thegazette.co.uk |date=15 February 1895}}{{cite book |last1=Friederichs |first1=Hulda |title=Life of Sir George Newnes |date=1911 |publisher=Hodder and Stoughton |url=https://ia800900.us.archive.org/22/items/lifeofsirgeorgen00frierich/lifeofsirgeorgen00frierich.pdf |access-date=11 August 2023}} Newnes demolished and rebuilt the building in 1877{{cite web |last1=Galloway |first1=Archie |title=DAVID HARTLEY – ARSONIST BY APPOINTMENT? 1732 - 1813 |url=https://guildhallhistoricalassociation.files.wordpress.com/2018/06/david-hartley-arsonist-by-appointment-1723-1813.pdf |access-date=11 August 2023}} and it was visited by writer Naomi Royde-Smith as a child from 1900.{{cite book |last1=Benton |first1=Jill |title=AVENGING MUSE Naomi Royde-Smith, 1875-1964 |date=2015 |publisher=Pitzer College |url=https://scholarship.claremont.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&context=pitzer_facbooks |access-date=11 August 2023}} The wrought iron gates were built around 1900 by J & C McLaughlin (likely McGloughlin){{cite web |title=MCGLOUGHLIN, JOHN * - Dictionary of Irish Architects |url=https://www.dia.ie/architects/view/3873/MCGLOUGHLIN%2C+JOHN+%2A |website=www.dia.ie |access-date=11 August 2023}} Ltd, Dublin, and were Grade II listed in 1983.{{cite web |title=GATES TO WILDCROFT MANOR, Non Civil Parish - 1185210|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1185210?section=official-list-entry |website=historicengland.org.uk |access-date=11 August 2023 |language=en}}

Later buildlings were built in mid 1930s{{cite web |title=epr000474 ENGLAND (1935). Wildcroft Manor flats under construction, Putney Heath, 1935|url=https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epr000474?name=bristol&ref=95961 |website=www.britainfromabove.org.uk |access-date=11 August 2023}} in Art Deco style,{{cite web |title=ART DECO APARTMENT IN BEAUTIFUL LOCATION WITH PARKING |url=https://assets.savills.com/properties/GBPURSPUS160260/PUS160260_EAS18000835.PDF |website=assets.savills.com |publisher=Savills |access-date=11 August 2023}} with 56 flats created on the site of the former manor,{{cite web |title=Property |url=https://putneyvillage.com/property/ |website=Putney Village |access-date=11 August 2023 |language=en |date=10 February 2017}} in four-storey blocks in Tudor vernacular.{{cite web |title=Putney Heath Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Strategy |url=https://www.wandsworth.gov.uk/media/1677/putney_heath_caaandms_final.pdf |website=wandsworth.gov.uk |publisher=London Borough of Wandsworth |access-date=11 August 2023}} A V1 flying bomb fell on the site on 3 July 1944, killing Canadian firefighter J.S. Coull (Winnipeg){{cite web |title=Canadian WW2 firefighters |url=https://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/canadian-ww2-firefighters/commemorations?limit=200 |website=London Remembers |access-date=11 August 2023 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Posted |first1=Christian Cassidy |title=Mar 2015: A different kind of firefight: Winnipeggers helped battle blazes in the Blitz |url=https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2015/03/01/a-different-kind-of-firefight |access-date=11 August 2023 |work=Winnipeg Free Press |date=1 March 2015}}{{cite book |last1=Brooks |first1=Alan |title=London at War: Relics of the Home Front from the World Wars |date=12 July 2011 |publisher=Casemate Publishers |isbn=978-1-84468-322-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YWPNDwAAQBAJ&q=wildcroft+v1+bomb |access-date=11 August 2023 |language=en}} and caused serious damage to all buildings on the site.{{cite web |title=Explore our unique, historic map layers |url=https://www.layersoflondon.org/ |website=www.layersoflondon.org |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |access-date=11 August 2023 |language=en}} Entertainer Ian Whitcomb later lived on the site in the 1960s,{{cite book |last1=Whitcomb |first1=Ian |title=Ian Whitcomb Songbook |date=18 August 2011 |publisher=Mel Bay Publications |isbn=978-1-61065-252-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=u58uYGZFjkYC&dq=wildcroft+manor&pg=PA6 |access-date=11 August 2023 |language=en}} as well as Sir (Frank) Cyril Hawker Sheriff of London 1963–1964.

{{reflist}}

• [https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1185210?section=official-list-entry Historic England listing for the gates]

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Category:Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Wandsworth

Category:Putney

Category:Houses in the London Borough of Wandsworth

Category:Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Wandsworth