Spa Wood | |
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![]() The Lawns | |
Type | Park |
Location | London Borough of Croydon |
Coordinates | 51°24′43″N0°05′35″W / 51.4119°N 0.09299°W Coordinates: 51°24′43″N0°05′35″W / 51.4119°N 0.09299°W |
Operated by | London Wildlife Trust |
Spa Wood is an area of ancient woodland in the London Borough of Croydon that was once a part of The Great North Wood. In 2017, the London Wildlife Trust began a four-year project based around the Great North Wood, [1] working with Croydon Council and the Friends of Spa Wood to improve the site for wildlife, as a part of The Great North Wood Project. [2] The 15.5 acres (6.3 ha) site, [3] also known as The Lawns, is owned by the Borough of Croydon and includes the woods, a multi-games court and playground. [4]
Originally, there was a chalybeate spring, now lost, that could be found on the grounds that was known to locals for centuries and can be traced back, possibly even to the time of King John. Although the spring is now lost, the history has not been forgotten.
A map of 1800 shows that the area was known as Bewlye Coppice, adjacent to Bewlye Farm. [5]
Spa Wood takes its name from Beulah Spa, a popular mineral spa built on the site in 1831. [6] Decimus Burton, architect of London Zoo and the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park Corner, designed the spa gardens, spa house and lodge and grounds, which contained a circus ring, a rosery, an upper and lower lake, a maze, a camera obscura, a telescope powerful enough to see Windsor Castle and an orchestra. [7] The spa was opened by Lady Essex and was visited by Queen Victoria, William I, German Emperor and Charles Dickens. It was immensely popular until 1856, when, two years after the arrival of The Crystal Palace close by, the spa fell into disuse. Now only the lodge remains, which has since been renamed Tivoli Lodge.
In May 1858, the estate was put up for auction and was built upon. A large mansion 'The Lawns' was built sometime later and was demolished after a fire in the 1960s.
Upper Norwood is an area of south-east London, England, within the London Boroughs of Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth and Southwark. It is north of Croydon and part is better known as the Crystal Palace area.
Streatham Common is a large open space on the southern edge of Streatham in the London Borough of Lambeth. The shallow sloping lower (western) half of the common is mostly mowed grass, and the upper (eastern) half is mostly woodland with some small areas of gorse scrub and acid grassland. The eastern half has been designated a Local Nature Reserve.
Coombe is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, situated south-east of central Croydon, between Addiscombe, Selsdon and Upper Shirley. It is located in the historic county of Surrey. Formerly a hamlet, since the growth of suburban development the area has become swallowed into the London conurbation and often does not appear on modern map.
The London Borough of Croydon has over 120 parks and open spaces within its boundaries, ranging from the 200 acre (80ha) Selsdon Wood Nature Reserve to many recreation grounds and sports fields scattered throughout the Borough. Croydon covers an area of 86.52 km², the 256th largest district in England. Croydon's physical features consist of many hills and rivers that are spread out across the borough and into the North Downs, Surrey and the rest of South London. Some of the open spaces in Croydon form part of the well-known London LOOP walks where the first section was opened on 3 May 1996 with a ceremony on Farthing Downs in Coulsdon. As a borough in Outer London it also contains some open countryside in the form of country parks. Croydon Council is associated with several other boroughs who are taking part in the Downlands Countryside Management Project. These boroughs are Sutton; and by Surrey County Council; the City of London Corporation; the Surrey districts of Reigate and Banstead and Tandridge; and the Countryside Agency. An additional partner is Natural Britain.
Woodside is an area in south London, in the London Borough of Croydon and the historic county of Surrey. It is between Addiscombe and South Norwood. It is located south of South Norwood, west of Shirley and Monks Orchard, north of Addiscombe, and east of Selhurst.
Woodside Green is a green space and street located in Woodside, London. The station is located near to Woodside tram stop in the London Borough of Croydon. The green is over 4.75 acres (1.92 ha).
Beaulieu Heights is an extensive area of ancient woodland between South Norwood and Upper Norwood in the London Borough of Croydon, London. It is located between South Norwood Hill and Auckland Road with Auckland Rise to the north and Tummonds Gardens to the south. There are pedestrian entrances from South Norwood Hill and Auckland Rise, and a pond. The name is pronounced as if spelled "Beulah" like the nearby Beulah Hill, and not like the French word or the town of Beaulieu, Hampshire.
The Great North Wood was a natural oak woodland that started three miles (4.8 km) south-east of central London and scaled the Norwood Ridge. At its full extent, the wood's boundaries stretched almost as far as Croydon and as far north as Camberwell. It had occasional landownings as large clearings, well-established by the Middle Ages such as the hamlets of Penge and Dulwich.
Heavers Meadow is a meadow located in South Norwood and Selhurst in the London Borough of Croydon. South Norwood Recreation Ground is on the other side of the road. The meadow covers an area of 83⁄4 acres. With meadows there are not usually many facilities. Heavers is no exception; the only facility stated on the council's website is a footpath through a flood meadow.
Ashburton Park is a park located in Woodside, in the London Borough of Croydon, and takes its name from nearby Ashburton.
Apsley Road Playground is a park and playground situated in South Norwood, London, England. It is managed by the London Borough of Croydon and cobers an area of 0.25 acres (0.10 ha). The park is mainly located on Apsley Road which is also the main entrance for the park. It is more targeted to the surrounding residential area. The playground's nearest Tramlink stop is Harrington Road.
Ashburton Playing Fields is a playing field located in Woodside, London. It is managed by the London Borough of Croydon. The fields are bordered by Bywood Avenue in the north, Chaucer Green in the west and Woodville Avenue in the east. Stroud Green Way backs onto the western boundary. Tramlink services for the park are Arena and Woodside. It covers an area of 49.5 acres (20 ha).
Pollards Hill is a small residential district straddling south London boroughs of Croydon and Merton between Mitcham and Norbury. The boundary of the two boroughs is a street named Recreation Way. No roads directly cross the Croydon and Merton divide, and streets were planned according to borough, leading to differing architectural or building schemes. It lends its name to a ward of the London Borough of Merton.
Park Hill Recreation Ground is a 15 acres (6.1 ha) park near the centre of Croydon, Greater London, managed by the London Borough of Croydon. It runs from Barclay Road to Coombe Road beside the railway line, with the main entrances on Water Tower Hill and Barclay Road. The nearest stations are East Croydon to the north for Tramlink and National Rail services and South Croydon to the south for National Rail. The park was officially renamed as Park Hill in 1964.
Grangewood Park is an extensive woodland area situated in South Norwood, London. It is managed by the London Borough of Croydon. It is bounded by Grange Road, Wharncliffe Road, and Ross Road. It covers an area of 273⁄4 acres 11.23 hectares. The park is located on the main A212 road between Thornton Heath and Upper Norwood/Crystal Palace. The nearest stations are Thornton Heath, Selhurst and Norwood Junction.
Riddlesdown Common or Riddlesdown is a 43 hectare area of green space in Kenley, towards the northern end of the North Downs in the London Borough of Croydon. It is owned and maintained by the City of London Corporation, apart from two small areas, one of which is operated by the London Wildlife Trust and the other by Croydon Council. An area of 32 hectares is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest. The name Riddlesdown also applies to the local district of residential housing. A trig point at the site indicates that it is 525 ft (160 m) above sea level.
Littleheath Woods is the collective name for Littleheath Wood, Foxearth Woods, part of Queenhill Shaw and part of Gee Wood in Selsdon in the London Borough of Croydon. It is a Site of Borough Importance for Nature Conservation, Grade I, with an area of 64 acres (26 ha). It is owned by Croydon Council and the Friends of Littleheath Woods assist with the management.
Wandle Park is an 8.5-hectare (21-acre) park located in the Broad Green Ward of Croydon, south London, England. It was opened in 1890 by the Mayor of Croydon. The site is protected by Fields in Trust through a legal "Deed of Dedication" safeguarding the future of the space as public recreation land for future generations to enjoy.
Lloyd Park is a 114 acres (46 ha) park on the outskirts of central Croydon, Greater London, managed by the London Borough of Croydon. It is bordered by Coombe Road to the south and Lloyd Park Avenue to the west. To the north, access is from Deepdene and Mapledale Avenue, and the park adjoins Grimwade Avenue and Addiscombe Cricket Club. To the east the park is bordered by Shirley Park Golf Course. It was created from land owned by Frank Lloyd, a newspaper proprietor who died in 1927 which was bequeathed to the Borough of Croydon by his family, after his death.
Biggin Wood is an area of ancient oak woodland situated within the London Borough of Croydon. The London Wildlife Trust is currently working with Croydon Council and the Friends of Biggin Wood to improve the site for wildlife, as a part of The Great North Wood Project.