There are a surprisingly large number of markers that still exist indicating where the parish and council boundary lines ran across the Common and along its perimeter.

The old parish boundary between Battersea and Wandsworth ran north from Bellevue Road over Bellevue field, behind Baskerville Road, across the cricket and rugby fields, through the grounds of Emanuel School, over the railway, along the eastern edge of Spencer Park and left along Northside. These were mapped a while back by lovebattersea.org.uk

Other bollards mark the boundary of the London County Council, established in 1889 as the local government body for the city. Examples of these can be found beside the railway opposite Spencer Park, on St James’s triangle beside Wandsworth Common station and behind the gardens of Balham Park Road, and at the top of Bolingbroke Grove by Chivalry Road.

The third variety are the slim fluted markers which plot the perimeter of Wandsworth Common itself, possibly erected in the 1870s to prevent creeping encroachments onto the Common.

This is one of 150 topics featured in ‘The Wandsworth Common Story’ to be published in May as part of our 150th Anniversary celebrations.