That is the stays of a as soon as for much longer path that later misplaced its southern half and would as soon as have linked two essential roads operating by Mortlake in south London
The define of the trail dates to not less than the 1740s, because it reveals up as a path by fields in John Rocque’s map of wider London from 1746.
John Rocque’s 10 miles round London 1746
Nevertheless, by the nineteenth century, as London expanded and fields was homes, the trail grew to become extra clearly outlined and straightened from its barely curved structure when it was a path by fields.
The trail began on the southern finish at Higher Richmond Street subsequent to a row of almshouses. It headed north to the railway, the place a degree crossing was changed with a footbridge.
OS Map 1896
Right this moment, that complete part is not a slim path, however was rebuilt as a housing lined street and renamed Church Avenue in 1895.
OS map 1914
What stays of Church Path is all north of the railway and continues the identical barely diagonal route, initially by a tree lined path. Then the timber vanish to go away a residential back-of-houses passage previous the again of a neighborhood faculty, and then you definitely see the place it obtained its title from — the church.
That is additionally the place the trail ends, on the junction with Mortlake Excessive Avenue.
The church, St. Mary the Virgin Mortlake, changed a neighborhood chapel within the 1540s and its regarded as the primary church constructed following King Henry VIII’s break from Rome as a completely Anglican church. It could have nonetheless appeared Catholic, and richly embellished because it was later that Protestant types would take over.
It’s speculative, however the manor round right here was held by the Archbishop of Canterbury, however the reformist Archbishop, Thomas Cranmer exchanged the manor with the king for different lands — and the King later granted them to his queen-consort Catherine Parr, whereas additionally gifting a little bit of the land to the church.
The 1543 constructing has undergone many alterations and enlargements throughout its lengthy historical past and, of the unique Tudor church, solely the tower is undamaged now. The present look of the church is primarily the work of native architect Sir Arthur Blomfield, who constructed the chancel in 1885 and his agency constructed the nave in 1905.
The belfry and the cupola are distinctive options of the tower which seems as a landmark in lots of historic prints and footage of the Thames financial institution.
The alley and church are linked although, because the alley was once referred to as Outdated Straight Monitor, and was used as a closing passage for the lifeless from Sheen village within the south to the church for burial.
That stopped when the railway lower the trail in half in 1846, and since then, it’s been a lot simpler to reach in a hearse.
This text was printed on ianVisits
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