Heritage Festival starts this weekend

The theme this year is Sporting Wandsworth, with a host of walks, talks, exhibitions and events exploring the borough’s past. Some events must be booked in advance, so history buffs are encouraged to secure their places now. Most events are free.

Events on Monday and Tuesday next week include a children’s workshop on the flowers and plants of Wandsworth Common, a family drop-in on archaeology on your doorstep, talks on sport along the river Wandle and at the Royal Hospital for Neuro-disability, a talk on Oscar Wilde at Wandsworth Prison and a talk about Battersea Dogs and Cats Home. The festival runs until June 12.

Bowling on Wandsworth Common

Future walks include a tour of the Ram Brewery Heritage Centre, the bowling clubs of Wandsworth, tours of Tooting, Earlsfield Putney and Nightingale Lane, the industrial heritage of the River Wandle, sport and recreation on Tooting Common and a stroll around Battersea Park.

Talks include the story of Battersea’s lost baths and beaches, the Edwardian roller skating boom and a history of rowing in Putney.

There will be exhibitions and displays on Wandsworth's diverse heritage, a history of allotments in Putney, the Royal Family in Wandsworth, including Prince Charles pulling a pint at the Ram Brewery, and an open weekend at Wandsworth Prison Museum.

There will be pre-recorded talks and shorts to enjoy online and the Black Heroes Soul Food Café will be putting on a performance.

This is just a taster of what’s on offer. See the full programme,

You can also follow the council’s twitter feed and the Wandsworth Heritage Service twitter feed during the festival for information on daily events.

The Wandsworth Heritage Festival is organised by the Wandsworth Heritage Service on behalf of Wandsworth Council with the support of many contributors who generously share their enthusiasm, knowledge and time.