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Putney SW15 London is a famous address having historical importance, Putney District is located in South West London, It is situated in London Borough of Wandsworth.

It is 8.2 km distant from south west Charing Cross on southern side of River Thames banks, just opposite to Fulham.

Putney is very famous for its Putney Debates, In 1647, New Model Army’s representatives held the Putney Debates in St Mary’s Church of Putney on the issue of England’s constitutional future.

Putney is a Parliamentary Constituency and Mr Justine Greening is the Member of Parliament.

Putney is known to be a very famous centre for rowing in UK since second half of 19th century.

A large number of increasing number of steam power boats is the reason for the raise in rowing.

People resort to rowing for leisure on the river Thames in centre of London as a pleasant event.

Commercial traffic on river at the place of Putney has been a growing concern and due to this, there have been restrictions on Putney Bridge for transit and movement of large river boats in order to ensure suitable water for the purpose of rowing.

The water in the river at Putney is also cleaner when compared to other places in London.

This is also another reason for growing number of visiting tourists for the purpose of rowing.

Facilities of easy commuting have since been enhanced with the construction work of London South Western Railway between the Stations Waterloo and Putney.

This is also an indirect reason for growth in rowing, another important reason is construction of Putney Bridge by Metropolitan District Railway.

Due to the above reasons there has been growing number of tourists as well as development of rowing clubs based on River Thames at the place of Putney Embankment.

During the period 1867 to 1961 boathouses were owned in Putney by many Clubs including Thames Rowing Club, Vesta Rowing Club, Imperial College Boat Club and Leander Club.

Sportspersons who want to excel in the sport of rowing also take their effective training in the area.

Since 1845, Putney is the starting point for University Boat Race, which was first contested in 1829.

Since the year 1856 the event is organized annually with University Stone as beginning point, which is near to Putney Bridge.

Apart from this many rowing races over Championship Course also start or end at Stone, which include Head of River Race.

Putney has its own historical importance. In Domesday Book 1086, Putney appears as Putelei St.

St. Mary Virgin Churce, the Parish Church, was a place of heated famous debates called 1647 Putney Debates, which shaped the future of England to a large extent.

During the end of English Civil War with victorious Roundheads, a minor mutiny was held by Oliver Cromwell soldiers fearing replacement of monarchy by dictatorship.

Levellers, a number complained that they were not mercenary army to serve arbitrary power of state but for defending the people’s liberties and rights.

A manifesto, entitled as Agreement of People was made at a public meeting held at Putney, in which Army Council’s officers heart arguments of private soldiers for democratic and transparent state and to fight corruption.

The resolution promised sovereignty for the citizens of England by distributing Parliamentary seats proportionate to population instead of property ownership.

Religion was made as a free choice and law was considered equal for all citizens with regular annual parliamentary elections, Putney witnessed many such historic events in the past.

Another important historic event was held in 1809 when Lord Castlereagh and George Canning who were the Cabinet Ministers fought a great duel and war on Putney Heath.

Due to inexperience, Canning could not fire a pistol but Castlereagh wounded Canning in his thigh.

The above scandal paved way for resignation of both of them from their positions held in office, thereby forming everlasting rivalry between both of them till 1822 with the occurrence of Castlereagh’s suicide.

Putney was also a place for famous residents of England, J.R. Ackerley who was Editor of The Listener lived at Putney in Garter and Star Mansions from 1941 until his death in 1967.

Jim Hensen and Gerry Anderson, both famous television puppeteers leased their workshop at Rotherwood Road, Putney which has not been demolished.

The famous former British Prime Minister Clement Attlee lived his entire life at Putney right from his birth, education until his cremation.

Henry VIII’s Chief Minister Thomas Cromwell who was an architect of English Reformation was also born at Putney around the year 1485, as a son of house keeper.

Putney Bridge is a famous bridge which crosses River Thames in western London, It links Putney’s south with Fulham’s north.

In 1726, through an Act of Parliament, the construction of Putney Bridge was sanctioned.

It was built by Thomas Philips, a famous carpenter and was designed by Sir Jacob Ackworth, a popular Architect.

In 1729 the first bridge was inaugurated, it was the only bridge linking Kingston Bridge and London Bridge during that period.

As a toll bridge, Putney Bridge, a timber build structure, featured many tollbooths at both its ends.

Putney Bridge was also a place for many famous suicides. In October, 1795, a suicide attempt was committed by Mary Wollstonecraft, after her return from Sweden to find involvement of her lover with a London actress.

In 1870, a collision of river barge badly damaged the bridge, the bridge was purchased in 1879 by Metropolitan Board of Works which discontinued tolls in 1880 with replacement.

The Putney Bridge which is at present existing was designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette, a civil engineer, who also designed sewerage system of London, as five span structure being built of Cornish granite and stone.

It was initially constructed in the year 1882 by John Waddell, Edinburgh at a width of 43 ft and 700 ft length and was opened to public by Prince and Princess of Wales in 1886.