As the UK approaches the 150th anniversary of the “Common Act” a community group from Wandsworth is appealing to residents for information about the space’s history and heritage.

Passed in 1871, the law preserved the common for public use, preventing further encroachment or destruction.

Now, members of the Friends of Wandsworth Common are appealing to readers to find out more about the area for an upcoming project.

The group is particularly interested in the “Prefabs” built on the Common in the aftermath of the Second World War.

Wandsworth and Battersea were extensively bombed in the blitz and a huge number of homes had to be found at short notice.

As a solution "Pre-fabricated" bungalows or "Prefabs" were erected on cleared bomb sites or on flat, open spaces such as Wandsworth Common.

Rows of Prefabs were built along Bolingbroke ("Bolingbroke Bungalows"), Bellevue ("Bellevue Cottages"), Marcilly Road, Spencer Park and Boutflower Rd.

In the mid-1950s all the residents were moved out and fences erected. The buildings were eventually pulled down, although they became a meeting point for local children.

One resident who lived nearby recalled: "We used to come away with our bare arms itching with fibreglass, and I dread to think how much asbestos we breathed in!"

Photographs exist of the Prefabs on King George's Park but only one photo has been recovered of the buildings on Wandsworth Common from 1948.

Any readers with images or recollections of the Prefabs on Wandsworth Common are urged to contact Philip Boys: philip.boys@btinternet.com or Stephen Midlane: stephenmidlane@hotmail.com