Our History: "The Great Park"

What was "Old Cuddington" became Henry VIII's hunting ground. "Worcester House" stood between Worcester Gardens and Delta Road.
The remains of the old wall are the only above ground structures of Nonsuch that remain.
During the English Civil Wars, Worcester House was the home of Colonel Thomas Pride.
Worcester House became a farm and a "studio" for Pre-Raphaelite Artists. The wall around what was the orchard
was used as a background for John Millais' "The Huguenot".
The backdrop to his famous work "Ophelia" is just downriver in Old Malden.
Worcester Park House, a grand property that once stood on GRAFTON STABLES NATURE RESERVE was the boyhood home of
William Morris' business partner, Warington Taylor.

Gunpowder History

There is a history board and map near the entrance to the Hogsmill Tavern/Toby Carvery and an old millstone can be found on the footpath next to the river itself.
The properties at Gunpowder Road, Old Malden Lane, are built on the site of the old mills.

War Memorials

St Mary the Virgin Cuddington has two memorials.
The First World War is commemorated with a traditional stone memorial.
Unusually, our Second World War Memorial is a stained glass window.

SHADBOLT HERITAGE DOCUMENT 2026 CONTACT LOCAL HERITAGE

The Pre-Raphaelites

The Grade II listed wall that once enclosed the orchard on the site of Worcester House was featured in "The Huguenot" by Pre-Raphaelite artist John Everett Millais. The male model lived locally, in Ewell Village.

John Smeaton's Mill

The machinery that drove the gunpowder mill on the Hogsmill was built by John Smeaton, the engineer who built the first Eddystone Lighthouse. Only the millstone remains and can be seen on the footpath at Gunpowder Road.

The Brickworks

William Cunliffe was an industrialist who devised his own transport system for his brickworks. Cuddington's "other" station, Cunliffe Halt, was on a branch line between Worcester Park and Stoneleigh.

Worcester Park House

Not to be confused with Worcester House, this was a replacement built by William Taylor, Gunpowder manufacturer. It has additions by the architects James Pennethorne and John Nash. Once in a lakeside setting, it is now a nature reserve.

English Civil Wars

Cuddington saw the first skirmish of the Civil Wars at Salisbury Road. Colonel Thomas Pride, the man who "purged" parliament, lived at Worcester House. He is buried somewhere in the area - we haven't found him yet!

Warington Taylor

Warington was one of the Taylor dynasty, who became business partner to William Morris. The iconic "Morris Chair" was his business idea. Warington was born at a doctors house in Ewell Village.

The Secret Code

Sir Robert Long (c. 1602–1673), Secretary of State to the exiled King Charles II, later Auditor of the Exchequer, lived at Worcester House. He frequently used coded ciphers to protect sensitive state correspondence with fellow royalists.

War Memorials

Cuddington's monuments to the fallen are unusual in that one is the West Window of our parish church, donated by the parents of an airman killed in combat in WWII. Remembrance is observed every year.


©Cuddington Residents' Association | Established 1935.
We function as a voluntary and independent unincorporated association, looking after the interests of our community.
For information on our volunteer groups - i.e. parks, conservation & events, please see the relevant pages on this website