Saturday 26 September sees the return of the Merton Heritage Discovery Day. Normally the largest event in the Merton Heritage Calendar, the annual Discovery Day is a showcase for the borough’s rich and colourful past. Last year’s event featured 30 different organisations and attracted well over 2000 people in four hours.

This year’s event has to adopt a slightly different format but heritage staff are determined to raise awareness of Merton’s diverse heritage and the amazing work of local museums, historical societies, community and environmental groups.

Between 10am and 4.40pm you can enjoy a range of outdoor and online activities and displays.

The programme includes:

10am – 4pm: Mitcham Camera Club photographic display, Second floor – Morden Library

10.30am – 12.30pm: John Innes Society local History display and information stall, The Coach House, Melrose Road, Merton Park

10am – 4pm: Merton Park Photographic heritage trail. See how this area looked in years gone by – our display cards will be on show at various locations around the streets of Merton Park ward.

ZOOM TALKS:

12 – 12.40pm: Merton ( South Wimbledon ) : An A – Z  ( Speaker: Sarah Gould, Merton Heritage Service )

1 – 1.40pm: Capability Brown’s Historic Wimbledon Park  ( Speaker: Dr. D. Dawson, Friends of Wimbledon Park )

2- 2.40pm: The History of the Salvation Army, Wimbledon ( Speaker: Richard Smart, Salvation Army )

3 – 3.40pm: Art & Literature of the Wandle ( Speaker: Alison Cousins, Wandle Industrial Museum )

4 – 4.40pm: Old Mitcham – Images from the Tom Francis Collection ( Speaker, Sarah Gould )

In addition to these activities, the Heritage Service will also be launching a special Discovery Day page on the Merton Memories website ( www.merton.gov.uk/memories ) – this will feature online displays, archive film, useful websites, research tips, spotter guides, puzzles and child friendly heritage resources linked to all the districts of Merton.

Full details of the Discovery Day programme will be available from Monday 14 September – see: www.merton.gov.uk/heritage  or www.merton.gov.uk/memories

For more information or to book a ZOOM talk:

Please contact Merton Heritage Service . Tel. 020 8545 3239  or email: local.studies@merton.gov.uk

Heritage staff will then email an invitation to the talk(s) of your choice – this will enable you to join the session online.

COVID SAFETY: We must comply with new Government legislation on covid safety. This means that access to displays and stalls will be limited to 6 people at any one time. We also ask that you maintain social distancing and wear face coverings at indoor venues/ outdoor locations where you cannot keep 2m between yourself and others.