Southfields

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

See Southfields, Leicestershire for the place in Leicester.

Location
Southfields

OS grid reference:	TQ255735


Administration
London borough:	Wandsworth
County level:	Greater London
Region:	London
Constituent country:	England
Sovereign state:	United Kingdom
Other
Ceremonial county:	Greater London
Historic county:	Surrey
Services
Police force:	Metropolitan Police
Fire brigade:	London Fire Brigade
Ambulance service:	London Ambulance
Post office and telephone
Post town:	London
Postal district:	SW18
Dialling code:	020
Politics
UK Parliament:
London Assembly:	Merton and Wandsworth
European Parliament:	London
London \| List of places in London

Southfields is a district in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is a suburban development situated 5.6 miles (9 km) south west of Charing Cross.

Until the late 19th century Southfields was still fields, situated between the more developed villages of Wimbledon and Putney. It had some paths between the fields, which were the basis of the main road that exist today. When the District & London & South Western Railway from Wimbledon to Putney Bridge opened in June 1889, the area started to take off, with the first school opening a year later on Merton Road, one of the main thoroughfares that were formerly paths through fields.

The main residential area of Southfields is the "grid", this series of roads runs from Elsenham Street to Astonville Street and consists almost entirely of large victorian built terrace houses, some of which have been converted into flats.

An abstinence law prevented any pubs from being built in the Southfields "grid" area – so named because of the grid layout of the streets. But since that was lifted in the 1990s two pubs have sprung up next door to each other on Replingham Road.

Once a working class enclave, the area has, like others around it, undergone a transformation in the 1990s, with house prices rising dramatically and the area attracting people from all over due to its excellent transportation links to the District Line and South West Trains as well excellent parks and excellent primary schools and secondary schools such as the new St. Cecilia's, Wandsworth.

Southfields tube station is the nearest to the Wimbledon tennis championships and during the tournament some local residents rent out their homes, while local shops enjoy a two week boost to sales.

Since 1984 the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community has its headquarters in Southfields, due to the heavy persecution of Ahmadis in Pakistan. The community's leader's life was in danger, since then he resides in Southfields.