Exploring an absorbing stretch of Wandsworth's Garratt Lane – shadowing the River Wandle along one of south London's most historic routes.
Garratt Lane runs nearly three miles from Wandsworth to Tooting through the Wandle Valley. The walk examines a key section that drove Earlsfield's development, transforming it from a rough area into a sought-after suburb.
The tour covers workhouses, schools, factories, churches, the Henry Prince estate, Romany Gypsy/Traveller heritage, the Corruganza Boxmakers, and notable residents including Marc Bolan, Sadiq Khan, Titanic bugler Percy Fletcher, jazz pioneer Sadie Crawford, and a century-old barbershop.
Geoff Simmons runs Summerstown182, a community history project in south west London – specialising in walks, talks, tours and putting up plaques. Over ten years, the project has illuminated lesser-known valley history, from WWI's youngest soldier to groundbreaking Romany Gypsy heritage recognition.