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11
Barnes and Mortlake are two riverside parishes, situated
on the south bank of the river Thames. The whole of Barnes is
low lying, and while some parts are actually below flood level, none
is more than a few feet above it. Mortlake proper is of the same
elevation, but that portion of Mortlake known as Sheen or East
Sheen occupies part of the water-shed which slopes down to the
miniature valley of the Beverley Brook on the one hand, and runs
up to Richmond Hill on the other. The subsoil of Barnes and
Mortlake is everywhere gravel, though, of course, at varying
depths the London clay is met with.
In the relatively elevated district of East Sheen the clay
crops out nearer to the surface as Richmond Hill and the higher
parts of Richmond Park are approached.
The Beverley Brook, which in part of its extent is the
boundary between Mortlake and Roehampton (a part of Wandsworth),
and runs the rest of its course through Barnes, is the only
uncovered stream in the district.
The two civil parishes of Barnes and Mortlake, formerly two
villages, now form one suburban area, which however maintains,
by reason of its proximity to the river, Barnes, Putney and
Wimbledon Commons, and Richmond Park, a relatively isolated
position, and a semi-rural character.
During the last few years the character of the population has
altered greatly, but there may still be distinguished a residential
section in easy circumstances; an increasingly numerous group,
absent during the day; a diminishing group of "villagers"; and
a fairly steady number of persons employed in local industries
and trades. There are still field workers, but the orchards and
market gardens are vanishing, and the Mortlake Brewery is the
largest single source of employment.