Snow in Mornington Walk

Before we completely forget what the snow looked like here is a reminder of how it transformed the quiet end of Mornington Walk.

Sudbrook Park Mansion

While it is good news that Sudbrook Park Mansion is still with us, and in fine physical form too, it is less good that it now works as a lowly golf club and hides its shameful occupation behind high walls. Peering over one of these walls from Richmond Park gives a hint of former glories.

Unusual house in Ham Farm Road

Ham Farm Road is host to a motley collection of relatively modern homes of mixed architectural merit that are worth a close look as you stroll leisurely along the road that does not really go anywhere.

This house is a melee of shapes that collude well to produce a house that is interesting without straying into the bizarre, rather like a late Beethoven string quartet.

A little snow

While most of the country got enough snow to cripple transport and to close schools, in Ham we had just enough to paint Ham Common white.

Side entrance to Oak Lodge

The little used front door to Oak Lodge is in Upper Ham Road but the busy side door is round the corner in Ham Farm Road. There is more to this attractive house than is shown here but there is a car parked just to the right of the picture which ruins the view, as all cars do. I have been hoping from a long while to walk past when there are no cars in the way but this has never happened and finally I've settled for this partial view.

Oak Lodge

Oak Lodge's stark black and white features stand defiantly on the corner of Upper Ham Road and Ham Farm Road where the greenery of Ham Common attacks it on two fronts.

A muddy corner

One of the wildest corners of Ham Lands is also the muddiest, and is all the more gorgeous for that. It lies just to the East of the path between Ham House and the river. A little-used path crosses these fields as it crawls towards Petersham where it joins Douglas Footpath.

Night path

The two best things about Ham are there are lots of interesting places to explore and (mostly) the area is littered with paths that enable and encourage you to explore. This one provides an escape from Maguire Drive to Dukes Avenue.

Gordon House

Gordon House is my favourite building on Ham Common because it is a a grand Georgian house that looks just like a grand Georgian house should look. It also has the advantage of facing directly towards Ham Pond. And the chimneys are cute too.