A granite plaque cap commemorating a historic well more than 400 years old was reinstated this month after its previous two were destroyed and stolen. 

The well, situated at Southside on the edge of Wimbledon Common, dates back to 1574 and was one of the earliest and most used wells prior to the introduction of piped water with villagers routinely queuing with buckets to collect water.

Norman Plastow, from the Wimbledon Society, said: "In 1931 the Wimbledon Society provided a stone cap to this well with an inscription telling its history.

"Unfortunately this stone was destroyed and a new stone was produced, with the help of the sculptor David Wynne in the 1990’s but this also disappeared."

This month a granite stone with its stainless steel fixings and inscription has been fitted which is hoped to last longer.