Ever stopped to wonder what secrets lie within these walls? This is Hydes Farmhouse. It stands as a testament to time. Let’s uncover some of its fascinating history.
Hydes Farmhouse is more than just a building. It’s a Grade II listed building. Historic England protects it. Its listing reference is 1306475. The inscription date of Hydes Farmhouse is 1967-02-20.
Now, step back in time. Imagine this area centuries ago. The Hyde Farm Estate, where Hydes Farmhouse sits, was once a medieval field. This field covered about sixty acres. It was on the southern edge of Clapham parish. People called the area “the Hyde.” Later, it became Hydefield.
Richard Martyn bought the field in 1587. Then, he sold it to Emmanuel College, Cambridge. The college had been founded just three years prior. Ever notice Emmanuel Road or Scholars Road nearby? These names honor that history. Interestingly, Hyde Farm was known for its pigs.
Fast forward to between 1896 and 1916. The Hyde Farm Estate began to develop. The developers realigned the historic field boundary with Tooting Common. They enclosed a narrow strip of the common east of Cavendish Road. They moved Emmanuel Road north. This provided more common land north of the railway line. This area is now known as Emmanuel Field.
Edward Hyde Dashwood developed the eastern part of the estate. He was a builder from Wimbledon. Dashwood leased the land in stages from Emmanuel College. He used his own name or the Hyde Estate Building Company Balham. Dashwood financed the development with mortgages. He carefully paid them back over time. His uncle, Peyton Dashwood, was a successful land agent. He was also one of his early mortgagees. Dashwood built his portion of the Hyde Farm estate with a consistent design. You can notice the red brick and bow windows. The houses were mostly divided into cottage flats. These were popular during the Edwardian period.
Dashwood’s development did well. He rose in social status. He moved to West End addresses. He bought a farm at Aston Rowant, Oxfordshire. He spent more time there. In 1946, he created the E Hayes Dashwood Foundation. It provided low-cost housing for ex-servicemen and their widows. The foundation still owns around 150 properties in the area. Many others have been sold.
On February 13, 1996, the London Borough of Lambeth designated a portion of the estate as a Conservation Area. This area lies between Haverhill Road and Radbourne Road. It falls under the Civic Amenities Act 1967. The houses have a uniform appearance. Many original doors and windows survive. Since 2002, the Conservation Area has had an Article Four Direction. This restricts changes without Lambeth’s specific consent.
So, as you stand before Hydes Farmhouse, remember its rich history. It connects us to medieval fields, shrewd developers and a commitment to preserving the past. It’s a unique piece of London’s story.