Once upon a time Tylers Common was a wood. It was a tile-making wood. This is Tylers Common. We stand on land rich with history. The name itself hints at its past. “Tylers” comes from “tigle” and “hyrste”. These Old English words mean a wood where tiles were made. For centuries Tylers Common provided clay. Skilled craftspeople made tiles and bricks here. Their work shaped this landscape. They built homes and communities. This is Tylers Common.
Tylers Common wasn’t always open. It wasn’t always common land. In the 1950s a battle raged. It was the Battle of Upminster Common. Local people fought to protect it. They fought against enclosure. Enclosure meant turning common land into private fields. Edward Luther Edgar Fordham and Ben Cunningham led the fight. Their victory preserved Tylers Common. It remains one of the largest commons in Greater London. This is Tylers Common.
Imagine Victorian times. The view from Tylers Common was amazing. You could see the Thames. You could see the Kentish Hills. You could even see the spires of London. Today trees and vegetation obscure the view. It’s a shame. But the common itself remains a special place. It’s a haven for wildlife. Skylarks and meadow pipits breed here. Rarer plants like sneezewort thrive in the damp areas. This is Tylers Common.
Tylers Common also boasts a fascinating history. There was a mineral spring. People believed it had medicinal qualities. It was mentioned in 1699 in a book about English waters. The spring was cleaned and lined with brick in 1734. By 1856 it was nearly forgotten. Today only a depression remains. This is Tylers Common.
Near Tylers Common lies Tylers Hall Farm. It’s a Grade II listed building. The farmhouse dates back to the early 18th century. The farm’s history is intertwined with that of the common. It once belonged to Andrew Branfill. He later bequeathed it to his son and then to John Redman. John Redman was quite a character. He was a revolutionary and an associate of Charles James Fox. He added to the buildings. This is Tylers Common.
Tylers Common survived. It survived because people fought for it. It remains a green space. It’s a testament to community spirit. This is Tylers Common. It’s a place of beauty history and resilience. Enjoy your time here.