Böcker av Simon McNeill-Ritchie

The district of Wimbledon has become synonymous with its world-famous tennis tournament held here since 1922. This part of south-west London has been inhabited since the Iron Age and has developed over the centuries into two distinct parts: the 'village' and the 'town'. The village developed first as it began to attract wealthy merchants from the city but the arrival of the London & South West Railway in 1838 saw the focus of subsequent developments shift away from the original village towards the town, which is now the main retail centre. Southfields, meanwhile, was still a largely an area of fields between the villages of Wimbledon and Putney until the coming of the railway in the late nineteenth century, connecting Wimbledon to Putney Bridge. Using a selection of old and new photographs, local historians Simon McNeill-Ritchie and Ron Elam trace the distinct journeys of these two suburban districts over the past century, making this book essential reading for anyone who knows and loves this famous part of south London.

Battersea has grown to be a fashionable and vibrant district of south-west London. Referred to as Patricesy in the Domesday Book, Battersea was historically best known for market gardening, providing fruit, vegetables and flowers for the City of London. However, the area moved from rural to urban with the coming of the railways, industry and large-scale housing from the 1840s, provoking a population growth from 4,000 to 120,000 by the beginning of the twentieth century. Glimpses of the past can still be seen around modern Battersea, but much has changed over the years. Using a selection of old and new photographs, local historians Simon McNeill-Ritchie and Ron Elam trace Battersea's unique journey over the past century. Featuring landmarks such as Battersea Power Station, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and Battersea Park, this book is essential reading for anyone who knows and loves this famous South London district.