Figges Marsh

Figges Marsh is a 25-acre [1] public park in the London Borough of Merton. It is in Mitcham, close to Tooting railway station.[2]

The A217, London Road, passing Figges Marsh
Figges Marsh, looking north
Figges Marsh, looking south

Originally, the park was next to a toll road into London,[3] which was turnpiked in 1745;[4] now known as London Road.

The Name

The park was named after William Figge who occupied the land from 1357.[5] In maps of 1750, it is referenced as Piggs Marsh; in 1800, as Pigs Marsh Common [see External Source, The Underground Map, for map extracts].

Signage, erected in 2012, at the southern end of Figges Marsh, suggested the park may have been renamed 'Queen Elizabeth II Field' (as below, Photo Gallery); in the pecking order of park nomenclature, in terms of status, 'marsh' may be towards the bottom end. However, this was an endorsement exercise to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee & the 2012 London Olympic Games. The parks that participated in the scheme received a commemorative plaque, an oak sapling &, potentially, access to an improvement grant.[6][7]

Surrounding Area

At the eastern boundary of Figges Marsh, during the medieval period, was the Biggin Farm estate.

Industry developed at the southern end of the park from 1800. The Pascall's confectionery factory was located here in 1888, built on land purchased from James Bridger's Manor Farm,[8] taking advantage of the locally grown peppermint oil.[9][10][11][12][13][14]

However, the area to the east and west remained agricultural and open; Swain's & Tamworth farm, at the western boundary of Figges Marsh, are made reference to in the 1900 map [The Underground Map, as below]. That is, until the development of housing in the Victorian & Edwardian period.

References
  1. https://www.merton.gov.uk/leisure-recreation-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/parks-and-recreation-grounds/mitcham/figges-marsh-open-space
  2. "Figges Marsh". Merton Town Council. 2008-12-23. Retrieved 2009-07-28.
  3. https://mitchamhistorynotes.com/2015/05/24/figges-marsh-toll-gate/
  4. http://mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/mitcham-2/restoration-and-early-georgian-mitcham/
  5. http://hidden-london.com/gazetteer/figges-marsh
  6. https://wikishire.co.uk/wiki/Queen_Elizabeth_II_Field
  7. http://www.fieldsintrust.org/
  8. https://mitchamhistorynotes.com/2016/03/12/pascall/
  9. https://mitchamhistorynotes.com/2017/02/17/peppermint-in-1875/
  10. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/jul/22/foodanddrink.features8
  11. http://www.campaignforrealfarming.org/2012/05/herb-of-the-month-%E2%80%93-mint/
  12. http://www.wandle.org/exhibitions/herbs.html
  13. https://iwr.msu.edu/kht/TrailSites/8b_Mentha.html
  14. https://www.thefield.co.uk/features/farming-mint-22762

External Sources
  • Figges Marsh, looking south, alongside London Road (at sunset, Dec 2020)
  • Name plate erected at southern end of Figges Marsh in 2012
  • Name plate erected at southern end of Figges Marsh in 2012


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