Barnes lies on the Thames, inside the curve which the river makes, first north and then south, opposite Hammer smith, and is bounded by it on three sides. There are two bridges over the river, Hammer smith Suspension Bridge, built in 1827 and rebuilt in 1886, which connects it with that town, and Barnes Bridge, which carries the loop line of the London and South Western Railway, opened in 1849, over the Thames.

Barnes Common is a serene expanse of open grassland, peppered with patches of dense woodland and scrub. Now designated as a statutory local nature reserve, it is an excellent place to see green woodpeckers and the rare white-flowered burnet rose that bursts into color in summertime. The site is popular with joggers and dog-walkers and also hosts fantastic cricket and football pitches. To one side, there is a monument in memory of the rock star Mark Bolan who was killed in a car crash here. It was built by his brother and has been enshrined and decorated by his many fans.

Barnes Common lies to the south of the parish, and contains about 126 acres. Formerly the townships of Barnes and Putney both used this common, but in 1589 they quarreled over it, and the men of Barnes refused to allow the men of Putney to use the common and impounded their cattle which they found on it. An attempt was made in 1802 to hold a fair on the common in place of the one that had been prohibited at Mort lake, Since that time it has been planted with trees, and it is naturally very fertile in furze, broom, brier and heath.

Barnes Common Cricket Club was established in 1976 by a friendly group of West London cricket-loving architects. Our leased home-ground is next to Barnes Common railway station, on the corner of Station Road and Vine Road. It is the oldest cricket pitch in Barnes, laid down around 1893, and previously used by Richmond Third Eleven. We play non-league, amiable but competitive London village cricket. There is a full and varied fixture list. We are a good touring side – we’ve played in Holland, India, Australia, Italy, Ireland, Barbados, Sri Lanka. Each year we do two local tours – to Shropshire in May, and the West Country at the end of August. We’re a welcoming bunch, of very mixed abilities, ages, occupations, from all walks of life. We are always looking for new players.

If you’re interested, please contact us. Contacts (2009): Fixtures - Jonathan Walpole. General Secretary - Phil Haynes. Captain - Graeme Freedman.