An Urban Wander through the contrasts of Putney, London SW15

I found an opportunity for an evening, urban wander this week in some glorious late summer/early autumn weather. My chosen location was Putney. I'd wandered around Putney a few months ago with a promise to myself to return to explore more.

My wander started from Putney Bridge underground station where I walked across the footbridge that's connected to the railway bridge. Welcoming me after only a short distance was this wonderful ghost sign. Some of the words are very clear, others considerably less so, and the name of the company completely missing.

?

AND

SONS

EVERYTHING

WOODWORK

?

Ghost sign, Putney, London SW15

I've run along this part of the Thames path before a couple of times, but generally too hot and out of breath to focus on anything, so it made a pleasant change to be able to spend time enjoying the views, rather than gasping for breath. The football stadium across the river is Craven Cottage, home of Fulham. 

River Thames and Craven Cottage, Putney, London SW15

River Thames, Putney, London SW15

As I drifted through Putney along the Lower Richmond Road, my eye was taken by a site of abandonment. A quick bit of internet research showed this to be the former Putney Hospital, closed in 1998. It looked quite eerie in the fading light so I was glad to keep my distance. 

Abandoned hospital, Putney, London SW15

Abandoned hospital, Putney, London SW15

Abandoned hospital, Putney, London SW15

Abandoned hospital, Putney, London SW15

Abandoned hospital, Putney, London SW15

Abandoned hospital, Putney, London SW15

Just outside the former hospital is the beautifully manicured lawn of the Putney Bowling Club.

Putney Bowling Club, London SW15

Across the wasteland from the abandoned hospital is a row of labourer's cottages, erected by the Peat House Charity in 1862. The cottages are only on one side of the road, and I assume the wasteland outside the now fenced-off former hospital opposite the cottages was perhaps once the hospital grounds.

Commondale, Putney, London SW15

Being a big fan of doors, I couldn't resist snapping these two pairs.

Labourer Cottages, Commondale, Putney, London SW15

Labourer Cottages, Commondale, Putney, London SW15

Finally, as my wander was nearing its end, I came across this wonderful, old sign, complete with manicules, on the edge of Putney Common, showing the way to Putney and Richmond.

Old signpost, Putney Common, London SW15