John Innes (philanthropist)
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John Innes JP (1829 – 8 August 1904) was born in Hampstead, Middlesex (now London)[1]. He was a City merchant who owned land in the parish of Merton where he was "Lord of the Manor" at the end of the 19th century. Taking advantage of demand for new housing arising from the growth of neighbouring Wimbledon, Innes developed his land for housing giving it the name Merton Park. The area is now part of the London Borough of Merton.
Innes was chairman of trustees of a charity established by William Rutlish, Embroiderer to Charles II, on his death in 1687. The charity's function was to provide funds to educate the poor children of the parish of Merton, but by the 1890s the charity had accumulated a considerable excess of funds. Innes used some of this excess to establish Rutlish School.
John Innes died on 8 August 1904[2] and was buried in the churchyard of St Mary the Virgin, Merton Park. He left funds and his home, Manor Farm in Watery Lane, and its grounds for the creation of the horticultural institute which still bears his name, the John Innes Centre. The institute moved from Merton Park in 1945 and is now located in Colney, Norfolk, a world leader in plant science and microbiology. John Innes Compost, now widely used in gardening, was developed by the Centre. The grounds of Innes's home south of Watery Lane are now the site of Rutlish School, John Innes Park and John Innes Recreation Ground. The Manor House in Watery Lane, is used by the school and a blue plaque identifying it as his former residence was placed there in 1978[3]:
- John Innes (1829-1904), Founder of the John Innes Horticultural Institute, lived here.
A local conservation group, the John Innes Society, promotes good architectural design in the Merton Park area.
