Colliers Wood is linked to the charcoal burners of 'colliers' of the middle ages, that worked local woodland.
The world’s first public railway was the Surrey Iron Railway, passing through Colliers Wood on its route from Croydon to Wandsworth.
Merton Priory has educated the likes of Thomas Becket and Nicholas Breakspear, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Pope Adrian IV respectively.
Merton Abbey Mills is a former Liberty & Co. dyeworks. - it was said to have more mills per mile than any other river in the world - 90 mills on 11 miles of river!
The leader of the Arts and Crafts Movement, William Morris has a factory nearby, which were adapted for stained-glass production, textile printing, fabric and carpet weaving.
