Wandle Industrial Museum

A small local museum housed in an annexe beside the old Vestry Hall on Mitcham's Lower Green. It covers the many mills that once lined the River Wandle, the lavender, snuff and leather trades, and the Surrey Iron Railway, which opened in 1803 and is often called the first public railway. Displays include a large three-dimensional relief map of the river valley, original print blocks from the Liberty print works, and a model of William Morris's works at Merton. Because the collection is compact, a visit suits older children with an interest in history, industry or local geography, and the wheel and rail fragment from an early wagon give younger visitors something concrete to look at. Admission is free and the museum is run entirely by volunteers, so opening days are limited. The museum also helped create the Wandle Trail, a walking and cycling route that follows the river, which makes a good follow-on outing.