# Pickle Ditch

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pickle_Ditch
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pickle_Ditch.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickle_Ditch
> Source revision: 1269627789
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Pickle Ditch**, also known as **the Pickle**, is a minor, 0.9-kilometre (0.56-mile)[1] long [stream](/source/Stream)—[brook](/source/Stream#brook)—in the locality of [Colliers Wood](/source/Colliers_Wood) in the [London Borough of Merton](/source/London_Borough_of_Merton), [Greater London](/source/Greater_London), England.[2] Rising from the [River Wandle](/source/River_Wandle), a [tributary](/source/Tributary) of the [River Thames](/source/River_Thames), and flowing back into it, Pickle Ditch is the last remaining course of the River Wandle's original course through Merton, before the other sections were [straightened](/source/River_straightening).[3]

## Course

Located entirely in Colliers Wood, Pickle Ditch's course closely aligns with Merton Priory Wall, built in the 12th century.[4] It flows a northerly course west of Priory Retail Park, and splits from the River Wandle near [Phipps Bridge](/source/Phipps_Bridge). After 70 metres (230 ft), the stream flows through a [culvert](/source/Culvert) for 356 metres (1,168 ft)—flowing underneath the [A24 road](/source/A24_road_(England))—after which it then receives the waters of [Bennett's Ditch](/source/Bennett's_Ditch). After a final 487 metres (1,598 ft), Pickle Ditch flows back into the River Wandle underneath Merton Bridge at Merton [High Street](/source/High_Street).[5][6]

## Human history

Like Bennett's Ditch, Pickle Ditch used to be the site of several [factories](/source/Factories), especially [steel mills](/source/Steel_mills). It was considered heavily polluted.[7] By 1861, a copper works' [water wheel](/source/Water_wheel) was powered by the ditch.[8] Improvements to Pickle Ditch were made in 1930 for a cost of £6,000.[9]

## References

1. ["HA16 Rivers and Streams"](https://www.lbp.org.uk/02audit_pdfs/22_rivers.pdf). London Biodiversity Partnership. p. 1. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

1. [*Wandle Valley Conservation Area: Merton Abbey*](https://www.merton.gov.uk/system/files?file=0177_wandle_valley_sub_area_3_merton_priory.pdf). [Merton London Borough Council](/source/Merton_London_Borough_Council). p. 24. Retrieved 7 January 2022.

1. Baxter, Alan (31 January 2011). ["Wandle River Valley"](http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/5103553819443200). *London's Natural Signatures*. [Natural England](/source/Natural_England). p. 96. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

1. [*The Pickle Ditch 1900s–2015*](http://wandlevalleypark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/The-Pickle-Ditch-1900s-2015.pdf). Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust. 2016. p. 7. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

1. Mitchel, Joni (2014). [*The Pickle: Un-Noticed, Un-Wanted, Un-Loved*](http://wandlevalleypark.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Pickle-Ditch.pdf). Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust. p. 3. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

1. ["The Pickle, London"](https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Pickle,+London/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x487606194ccd070b:0x22f78c27a54aa837?sa=X&hl=en-gb&ved=2ahUKEwj_t8G107T8AhWagVwKHYxcASgQ8gF6BAgcEAE). Retrieved 7 January 2023.

1. ["Institution of Civil Engineers"](https://books.google.com/books?id=7WhJyR7OW4MC&dq=%22the+Pickle%22+%22River+Wandle%22&pg=PA107). *The Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal*. **24**: 107. 3 April 1861. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

1. Bidder, George Parker (22 January 1861). ["River Wandle"](https://books.google.com/books?id=uhQFAAAAQAAJ). *Minutes of Proceedings of the Institution of Civil Engineers*. **20**: 203. [Institution of Civil Engineers](/source/Institution_of_Civil_Engineers). Retrieved 7 January 2023.

1. ["Contracts"](https://books.google.com/books?id=ptk_5B6uIXoC). *Surveyor and Municipal and County Engineer*. **77**: 168. IPC Specialist and Professional Press Limited. 31 January 1930. Retrieved 7 January 2023.

## External links

- [Pickle Ditch](https://wandlevalleypark.co.uk/the-pickle-ditch/) at the Wandle Valley Regional Park Trust

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pickle Ditch](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickle_Ditch) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickle_Ditch?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.