Morden Hall Park: National Trust Guidebook (National Trust Guidebooks)

London's Morden Hall Park was created by the Hatfeild family, who made money from milling tobacco to create snuff. Both Gilliat Hatfeild, and his son Gilliat Edward Hatfeild shunned the 20th century and would not allow cars or trains near the estate. They refused to install electricity. Gilliat Edward Hatfeild was a much loved philanthropist who gave money to local causes, and held parties for local school children. He was a keen huntsman and fisherman, attracted to the idea of being a country gentleman. Many of the buildings on the estate reflect his interests, including gatehouses, lodges and a stable block built for his hunting horses, which has a weather vane in the shape of a trout. Even the former dairy was converted for trout breeding. He fought hard to prevent the estate being swallowed up by city development, but was forced to sell much of the land to London City for housing. The estate was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1941 by Gilliat Edward Hatfeild, who said that the park should be used, 'as an open space and public park to benefit primarily those living in its neighbourhood'.