Barn Elms

Barn Elms is an open space in Barnes in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames.

It is located on the northerly loop of the River Thames between Barnes and Fulham. Its name is derived from the Georgian house and parkland which stood on the site, until it was burnt down in the 1950s [http://www.barnelms.com] . The Kit-Cat Club met at Barn Elms for many years. "Barn Elms Wetlands Centre" (105 acres of what were once reservoirs) lies to the north of the open space, now largely given over to sporting venues. These include a sports centre and a boathouse. Beverley Brook flows across the southern part of the open space, joining the Thames almost opposite Craven Cottage.

There are facilities for much amateur sport, such as football (including the amusingly named team Barnesalona and its offshoot Real Barnes, a well-established youth football club called Barnes Eagles est. 1971 and Shene Old Grammarians FC [http://www.sogfc.org] , who have been based at Barn Elms since the 1950s) tennis and hockey, and an athletics track which is often used by the BBC, due to its proximity. It is also the home ground for the semi-professional Barnes R.F.C. as well as London French R.F.C. Over 100 years ago it hosted Fulham F.C. home games.