Cannon Hill Common

Cannon Hill Common is not common land. It was but part of the former extensive holdings of Merton Priory, founded in the 12th century and later part of Cannon Hill Estate. The land was farmed for many centuries until Cannon Hill House was built, probably shortly after 1762. The ornamental lake was created in the 18th century and is a remnant of the former landscaped grounds of Cannon Hill House. By 1880 the house was empty and the surrounding land farmed. The house was sited at the top of the common at the edge of the pond and woodland that was first designated a bird sanctuary in 1927. During its heyday in the nineteenth century a steeple chase of local gentry used to take place from…