Rounds On The Common

How rounds of rifle shots, golf and negotiations during the reign of Queen Victoria created Wimbledon Common

In Rounds on the Common, Rob Smith presents a deeply researched and richly illustrated history of Wimbledon Common during a transformative period between 1860 and 1900. This compelling narrative weaves together legal intrigue, social struggle, and the rise of popular sport to reveal how this iconic stretch of land came to be preserved and cherished as public space.

With a keen legal mind, the author explores the battles fought by local residents to keep the Common open to the public—resisting its use for military rifle practice by the London Scottish Rifle Volunteers, a unit of the civilian Volunteer Force formed in 1859 to counter the looming threat of French invasion.

The book also uncovers the surprising role Wimbledon Common played in the early history of English golf. Long before the game became widespread in England, Scottish volunteers discovered the Common's treeless terrain was ideal for play. Their enthusiasm sparked the founding of one of England’s oldest golf clubs—and a dispute that led to two similarly named clubs coexisting on the same land: the London Scottish Golf Club and “The London Scottish” Golf Club.

Stretching further back in time, Rounds on the Common offers a concise history of Wimbledon Manor’s ownership from before the Norman Conquest, placing Victorian developments in a much older continuum.

Complete with rare photographs and illustrations, this book is an essential read for enthusiasts of Victorian history, military heritage, and the origins of public recreation. It shines a light on the civic resilience and cultural forces that shaped the Wimbledon Common we know today.

Rounds on Wimbledon Common
Rounds of Rifle Shots (1860)
Rounds of Golf (1863)
Rounds of Negotiations (1864)

About the Author

Robert E. Smith is a retired lawyer and a keen golfer. He qualified as a solicitor in 1976 with Slaughter and May and moved to Clifford Chance in 1981 where he was a partner for 26 years. He is a member of Royal Wimbledon Golf Club and the British Golf Collectors Society. He has enjoyed walking and playing golf on Wimbledon Common since moving to the area in 1978.

Reviews

Read the review published by the Through The Green Magazine here.