Wimbledon Common - Wimbledon Common

Wimbledon Common

A windmill stands near the centre of Wimbledon Common (see picture), notable for being the place where Robert Baden-Powell wrote parts of Scouting for Boys, which was published in 1908.

In the 19th century the windmill was the headquarters of the National Rifle Association and drew large crowds each July. "These annual gatherings are attended by the élite of fashion, and always include a large number of ladies, who generally evince the greatest interest in the target practice of the various competitors, whether it be for the honour of carrying off the Elcho Shield, the Queen's or the Prince of Wales's Prize, or the shield shot for by our great Public Schools, or the Annual Rifle Match between the Houses of Lords and Commons." Eventually the headquarters were moved to ranges at Bisley.

Two broad, shallow pools, Kingsmere and Rushmere, lie near roads on the higher parts of Wimbledon Common and seem to be the result of gravel extraction. The more remote Queensmere is somewhat deeper, being impounded in a small valley.

Beverley Brook runs along the western edge of Wimbledon Common. The watercourse was the historic south west London boundary.

There are approximately one million trees on the common.

At the southern end of the common are the remains of an Iron Age hill fort known as Caesar's Camp (although it has no known connection with any Roman emperor).