EastSheenMatters

Tom

Victoria Cottages 26-44

Una

Clare

And for a different splash of colour – Di

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Discussions between Sarah Olney MP, local councillors and shopowners about local business interests were raised at https://childlawobserver10.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=2285&action=edit on 12 April 2025.

The politicians were cagey about what was discussed and what might next be done. Business rates are an important problem in relation to the viability of local businesses, but they are for central government. Resolution of that issue is unlikely soon, if at all.

Equally significant and matters for local consideration are security and waste disposal.

On the security side local shopowners, especially the many sole traders, have legitimate concerns about police response times, if they are subjected to violence or shoplifting. These are problems which have been aired regularly. Given the Metropolitan Police plans for disbanding the Parks Police and passing responsibility for policing in the Park to the Community Police, how much more of a problem will that become?

More of a surprise to this local resident was the discrimination against local businesses in relation to collection of their waste. We all pay council tax and we do not expect to pay more to dispose of our rubbish. If you are a shopowner the Council charges you more, and at a rate where it is more economic to pay a private contractor.

How fair is that? And if the Council is serious about its wishes to support the High Street, the problem is capable of straightforward resolution.

Sir James and Lady Marshall are buried in the graveyard at St, Mary Magdalen Church off North Worple Way. Sir Janes is credited with bringing Catholicism to the Gold Coast – now Ghana. The Knights and Ladies of Marshall were founded in his honour and they visit St. Mary Magdalen on the first Sunday of May every year. That is this Sunday 4 May.

The Parish Priest, Fr. Adrian has written to say that all are welcome to join the celebrations and to meet the Knights and Ladies. And from pictures of previous years they will look resplendent.

Mass is at 11am followed by a short commemoration at 1145 around the grave of Sir James and Lady Marshall.

The May date will be Wednesday 28 May during the May Half Term week. 

Come and discuss the history of Sheen House and the grounds of the Barnes Home Guard Club and St Mary Magdalen’s Church Mortlake, and the Burton Mausoleum and the de Vezlo Museum in the graveyard. And the pubs of East Sheen and Mortlake.

We now have two further candidtaes for the title. This one is in Derby Road. It is not today as fulsome as the orginal posted in Richmond Park Road but this extends from Nos 26 to 44. And just look at that trunk? Age? The house is in a row known as Victoria Cottages probably built in 1870, so before those parts of the road built by Penrhyn around 1920.

There is another fine example next door to the Victoria Inn in West Temple.

This wood carving near the car park at Sheen Gate is a must visit for closer inspection.

Paul Richards, Park Manager, writes:

The sculpture was inspired by the often-overlooked biodiversity found in decaying wood. Dead wood is a micro-habitat that is crucial to the biodiversity of our planet. A huge range of species – from woodlice to woodpeckers are dependent on dead wood. This sculpture highlights the crucial role that dead wood plays in sustaining healthy, vibrant ecosystems by showcasing intricate carvings of stag beetles, bracket fungi, centipedes, bats, woodpeckers and more.

The sculpture has been carved from a 5-metre tall oak stump which was removed due to Acute Oak Decline. As it weathers, the sculpture will provide food and shelter for the very species that it depicts.

Renowned wood sculptor Dan Cordell was commissioned by The Royal Parks through the charity’s Help Nature Thrive project. This project is possible thanks to the support of players of People’s Postcode Lottery.