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` Coordinates: 51°28′25″N 0°13′51″W / 51.47361°N 0.23083°W
Barn Elms is an open space in Barnes in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.
It is located on the northerly loop of the River Thames between Barnes and Fulham. Barn Elms Wetlands Centre (105 acres of what were once reservoirs) lies to the north of the open space, now largely given over to sporting venues. The site is split in two: the Barn Elms Playing Fields managed by London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and the Barn Elms Sports Centre managed by London Borough of Wandsworth which includes a boathouse as well as a sports centre. Beverley Brook flows across the southern part of the open space, joining the Thames almost opposite Craven Cottage.
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Barn Elms Playing Fields
There are facilities for much amateur sport, such as football (including the amusingly named team Barnesalona and its offshoot Real Barnes, a well-established youth football club called Barnes Eagles est. 1971 and Shene Old Grammarians FC [1], who have been based at Barn Elms since the 1950s, tennis and hockey, and an athletics track which is often used by the BBC, due to its proximity. It is also the home ground for the semi-professional Barnes R.F.C. as well as London French R.F.C. Over 100 years ago it hosted Fulham F.C. home games.
The facilities were under threat of commercial development until the local community petitioned Richmond Council. To ensure the future of Barn Elms as playing fields the community has created the Barn Elms Sports Trust.
Points of interest
The oldest plane tree [1] in London is located at Barn Elms.
History
Its name is derived from the Georgian house and parkland which stood on the site, until it was burnt down in the 1950s.[2] The Kit-Cat Club met at Barn Elms for many years.
The house referred to may be a later property to one occupied by Sir Francis Walsingham known as "Elizabeth's Spymaster" from a recent book by Robert Hutchinson. The Queen used to visit Barn Elms to see her Spymaster as did many others at different times including Samuel Pepys, in those days most people travelled on the river which is close by. The house was also the home of The Right Hon. Sir Lancelot Shadwell Knt. Vice Chancellor of England in the 19th century. In earlier times the property was in the ownership of the Archbishop of Canterbury and later the Bishop of London. More recently the site was the home of a famous polo club now played at Ham.
References
External links
- Barn Elms Sports Trust
- Barnes Eagles FC
- Barn Elms Athletics Track
- Wetlands Centre
- Barn Elms Sports Centre
- Barnes History
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