Pickle Ditch

Pickle Ditch, also known as the Pickle, is a minor, 0.9-kilometre (0.56 mi)[1] long stream—brook—in the locality of Colliers Wood in the London Borough of Merton, Greater London, England.[2] Rising from the River Wandle, a tributary of the River Thames, and flowing back into it, Pickle Ditch is the last remaining course of the River Wandle's original course through Merton, before the other sections were straightened.[3]

Pickle Ditch, looking north with Merton Priory Wall (left) visible

Course

Located entirely in Colliers Wood, Pickle Ditch's course closely aligns with Merton Priory Wall, built in the 12th century.[4] It flows a northerly course west of Priory Retail Park, and splits from the River Wandle near Phipps Bridge. After 70 metres (230 ft), the stream flows through a culvert for 356 metres (1,168 ft)—flowing underneath the A24 road—after which it then receives the waters of Bennett's Ditch. After a final 487 metres (1,598 ft), Pickle Ditch flows back into the River Wandle underneath Merton Bridge at Merton High Street.[5][6]

Human history

Like Bennett's Ditch, Pickle Ditch used to be the site of several factories, especially steel mills. It was considered heavily polluted.[7] By 1861, a copper works' water wheel was powered by the ditch.[8] Improvements to Pickle Ditch were made in 1930 for a cost of £6,000.[9]

References
  1. "HA16 Rivers and Streams" (PDF). London Biodiversity Partnership. p. 1. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  2. Wandle Valley Conservation Area: Merton Abbey (PDF) (Report). Merton London Borough Council. p. 24. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
  3. Baxter, Alan (31 January 2011). "Wandle River Valley". London's Natural Signatures. Natural England. p. 96. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. The Pickle Ditch 1900s–2015 (PDF). Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust. 2016. p. 7. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  5. Mitchel, Joni (2014). The Pickle: Un-Noticed, Un-Wanted, Un-Loved (PDF). Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust. p. 3. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  6. Google (7 January 2023). "The Pickle, London" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  7. "Institution of Civil Engineers". The Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal. 24: 107. 3 April 1861. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  8. Bidder, George Parker (22 January 1861). "River Wandle". Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers. Institution of Civil Engineers. 20: 203. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  9. "Contracts". Surveyor and Municipal and County Engineer. IPC Specialist and Professional Press Limited. 77: 168. 31 January 1930. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

51°24′59″N 0°10′50″W


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