Dorset Hall was the home of Suffragette, Rose Lamartine-Yates, who eventually sold it to Merton & Morden UDC which merged with Merton Council. Via several housing associations, Merton passed it to Clarion Housing the current owner.
Sadly due to lack of a use it fell into disrepair and Dorset Hall Group worked to ensure that Clarion mended the leaking roof to prevent further deterioration. Councillor Edward Foley was able to help by providing overhead pictures of the roof with his drone.
DHG have enlisted the help of the National Trust to identify future uses and, at our meeting, want to tell us how they feel the residents of Merton Park can help take things forward.
A summary of their ideas and research can be found here
I think there may be lots of people across the Borough who may be interested in supporting this project but be unaware of the existence or history of the building and its residents. For example, I live in Cannon Hill Ward, but am keen to see the building renovated and preserved because of the connection with the suffragette movement.
With all the excessive building of flats at Wimbledon Chase I would love to see national trust renovate this historical house to its former glory. We need some historical sites for prosperity
I am very supportive of a renovated Dorset Hall. Any local campaign to help as a Merton resident would be of great interest to me and I agree that not many residents seem to be aware of its existence. A link to the NT (through Morden Hall Park) seems completely appropriate.