The villages of Ewell and Cheam retain some attractive old buildings. Ewell is the source of the Hogsmill River and is separated from Cheam by Nonsuch and Cheam Parks. There is little trace of Henry VIII's Nonsuch Palace but the castellated Nonsuch Mansion can be viewed.

A 6 mile walk which includes a section of the Hogsmill River walk (part of the London LOOP), Nonsuch & Cheam Parks and the villages of Ewell & Cheam. Note: the river walk becomes muddy after wet weather. It starts from Worcester Park Station and finishes at Cheam Station. There are places for refreshments in Ewell & Cheam and the Hogsmill Tavern is on the route.

From the station building cross the main road and go along The Avenue, following this round.
Some large Victorian houses remain in this road. St Mary's church is a 19thc brick & knapped flint building with an attractive addition to the rear.

The Avenue becomes Grafton Road as it goes downhill.
Along here you join the London LOOP route.

After playing fields to the left turn right past the school into Cromwell Road and continue to the end.
Refreshments are available at the Hogsmill Tavern.

Cross Old Malden Lane and the river and follow the LOOP signs to the left.
There is a Kart racing track on the right.

The path comes out at a dual carriageway. Go to the left to cross this at the lights and rejoin the path on the other side, keeping the river on your right.
Just before a footbridge the Bonesgate tributary joins the river.

Further along the route is more open.
This area would have been grazing pasture. At the end of this open area is thought to be the site used by Millais as a background for his painting of Ophelia now in the Tate Britain Gallery. [view picture]

Cross at the lights ahead.
This was formerly a ford known as the Ruxley Splash.

Follow the LOOP signs keeping the river on your right (do not take the path going off to the left or cross the bridge on the right further along).
This open area was formerly pasture and meadow. The opposite side of the river was the site of gunpowder mills until 1875.

Go through the gate in the chain link fence ahead and take the main path to the left.
To the right is the old Packhorse Bridge. The path goes past Ewell Court on the left and a lake on the right.

Go around the lake, through the gate in the chain link fence and take the path ahead (with the lake on your right). When you reach a wooden footbridge do not cross but take the path to the left, keeping the river on your right. When you reach the railway embankment go right to the river then left along the broadwalk under the railway. CARE LOW HEADROOM. Continue to follow the main path.
This goes through an area of channels that were used to control the water for milling. The Lower Mill site is to the left and the path comes to the Upper Mill site (redeveloped).

Go left and cross the road into Mill Lane then go along this road.
Numbers 3-13 are late 18th - early 19thc weatherboarded cottages (notice some of the small upper windows). The road comes out opposite St Mary's Church of 1847-8 by Henry Clutton. This retains the medieval screen, brasses and monuments from the previous church.

Walk along Church Street to the left of the church
Set back on the left is the 18th century barn of Rectory Farm (demolished). Holman Hunt and other Pre-Raphaelites were frequent guests here.

Return to the church and go left along London Road
There is a church hall and telephone exchange.

Go around the front of the Spring Tavern.
This former farmhouse became a coaching inn when the road was re-routed.

Cross Kingston Road WITH CARE and continue ahead along Chessington Road.
The horse pond is to the left and the mill pond to the right. Both these and the ornamental water in the park are spring fed. Just past the mill pond on the right is Fitznells House. This incorporates a building of 1540 later made into a farmhouse and now a doctor's practice.

Return to the ponds and cross to the park entrance opposite (LOOP signed).
On the left of the path is a flint arch and a wheel.

Take the right hand path by these features and bear left to Bourne Hall (entrance from car park).
Bourne Hall has the library with local information (closed Wednesdays), an exhibition area, sports facilities and a small museum.
Spring House is faced with mathematical tiles and can be viewed from the car park.

Exit the park via the Dog Gate
This is topped with a heraldic talbot. Outside a water channel runs alongside the wall with a war memorial and milestone.

Go along the High Street to the right, crossing at the lights
Numbers 9 & 11-15 are 16th century

Go left into Church Street.
This has a number of buildings of interest including the old lock-up & engine house, 18th century houses, St Michael's Church (a former malthouse), Glyn House, the old church tower (15thc) within an interesting graveyard and Ewell Castle (now a school).

Continue along the footpath (Vicarage Lane) to the right of the wall. At the dual carriageway go to the right to cross and rejoin the path on the other side. Continue on the path ahead (the LOOP goes to the right). Go up the remnants of steps to the right just before the ground dips down.
You are now in Nonsuch Park. The brickwork marks the site of the Banqueting House.

Rejoining the LOOP ahead go off left at the end of the structure to the crossroads and turn left.
To the left is the site of Cherry Orchard Farm.

At Marker 2 go left to view the site of Nonsuch Palce (marked with 3 obelisks to the right of the path). Return to and continue along the LOOP path as marked. When you reach a dog waste bin and a gravel path going off to the left follow this.
This goes past the formal gardens (open to the public) of Nonsuch Mansion .

Go across the lawn in front of the Mansion (refreshments available) to the left of the toilets and around to the right. Go across the open ground to the left towards the car park. On the opposite side of the car park take the path through the trees into Cheam Park and go across to the buildings ahead including the lodge. Exit by this building, go left and first right along Park Lane.
Elizabeth House was built as sheltered accommodation on land belonging to Whitehall. There are some attractive cottages and former carpenter's workshops.

At the top go left.
Here are a number of buildings of interest described on a board outside Whitehall (see add info for Whitehall). Number 3 Malden Road is 17thc with later additions including weatherboarding. Number 5 has a concealed underground room used for storage. The late 16thc core of the rectory was remodelled and faced with mathematical tiles at a later date.

Cross WITH CARE into Church Road.
On the left is the 16thc Old Farmhouse formerly divided and known as Church Cottages.

Go through the lynchgate to view St Dunstans Church and the 12thc Lumley Chapel.
The church designed by F E Pownall was built in 1864 to the north of the former church and has a fine interior. The old chancel was retained as the Lumley chapel, the oldest building in Cheam. It is named after a former owner of Nonsuch Palace and contains some fine tombs and memorials.

Go through the car park behind the library. Exit by former stable buildings and go right along Church Farm Lane then Love Lane.
This is one of the old routes from Sutton to Cheam.

Go right at Park Road (formerly Red Lion Street)
The Olde Red Lion pub is a 17thc building with a well shaft. Bay Cottage further down was re-fronted in an Adam style. The foundation stone of the Baptist Church was laid in May 1907 by Thomas Wall of Sutton, founder of Wall's sausages and ice cream.

At the end go left along the Broadway.
The timber-framed and weatherboarded shops opposite were originally dwellings. The Old Cottage further down was built around 1500 and was moved when the road was widened.

At the traffic lights go across to Station Way. Cheam Station is to the left opposite the Railway pub.

london-footprints.co.uk 2007

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