Upper Norwood

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Upper Norwood
Upper Norwood from Aeroplane.jpg
Upper Norwood from the air, with the Croydon transmitting station in the centre
Greater London UK location map 2.svg
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Upper Norwood
Location within Greater London
Population16,082 (2011 Census.Ward) [1]
OS grid reference TQ329707
London borough
Ceremonial county Greater London
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town London
Postcode district SE19
Dialling code 020
Police Metropolitan
Fire London
Ambulance London
UK Parliament
London Assembly
List of places
UK
England
London
51°25′11″N0°05′16″W / 51.4196°N 0.0877°W / 51.4196; -0.0877

Upper Norwood is an area of south London, England, within the London Boroughs of Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth and Southwark. It is north of Croydon. The eastern part of it is better known as the Crystal Palace area. The SE19 London postcode covers the entirety of the district.

Contents

Upper Norwood is one of the highest areas in London, situated along the London clay ridge known as Beulah Hill, which offers panoramic views northwards to central London and southwards to Central Croydon and the North Downs. Most housing dates from the 19th and 20th centuries, with large detached properties along the ridge and smaller, semi-detached and terraced dwellings on the slopes. There are some more modern areas of social housing that date from the 1970s, as well as the recent construction of larger apartment buildings on Beulah Hill.

History

Hermitage Road, a Victorian suburban street in Upper Norwood Hermitage Road London SE19.jpg
Hermitage Road, a Victorian suburban street in Upper Norwood
A misty day on Central Hill, Upper Norwood. To the right of the line of parked cars is the chapel of Virgo Fidelis Convent Senior School. Central Hill Upper Norwood.jpg
A misty day on Central Hill, Upper Norwood. To the right of the line of parked cars is the chapel of Virgo Fidelis Convent Senior School.

For centuries, Upper Norwood was occupied by the Great North Wood, an extensive area of natural oak forest which formed a wilderness close to the southern edge of the ever-expanding city of London. The name "Norwood" is a contraction of "North Wood". Local legend has it that Sir Francis Drake's ship, the Golden Hind , was made from timber cut from trees in this area. The forest was a popular area for Londoners' recreation until the 19th century, when it began to be built over. It was also a haunt of Gypsies, with many local street names and pubs recording the link, notably Gipsy Hill. The area still retains woodland in large amounts for an urban area.

The Beulah Hill ridge was used as a sighting-point for the Anglo-French Survey (1784–1790), which measured the precise distance between the Royal Greenwich Observatory and the Paris Observatory, using trigonometry. It was particularly useful for this purpose on account of both its height and its relative proximity to Greenwich.

In 1831, one of England's most prominent architects, Decimus Burton, designed a spa and pleasure gardens below Beulah Hill and off what is now Spa Hill in a bowl of land on the south facing side of the hill around a spring of chalybeate water. Burton was responsible for the Beulah Spa Hotel (demolished c.1935) and the layout of the grounds. [2] Its official title was The Royal Beulah Spa and Gardens. It became a popular society venue attracting large crowds to its fêtes. One widely publicized event was a "Grand Scottish Fete" on 16 September 1834 "with a tightrope performance by Pablo Fanque", the black circus performer who would later dominate the Victorian circus and achieve immortality in the Beatles song Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite! [3] The spa closed in 1856, soon after the opening nearby of The Crystal Palace. [4]

The Crystal Palace was rebuilt nearby on Sydenham Hill in 1854, following its success at The Great Exhibition of 1851 in Hyde Park. It was destroyed in a spectacular fire in 1936. The importance of this building and its impact on the locality for decades, led to the area immediately around the palace and its park becoming known as Crystal Palace. The most easterly district of Upper Norwood is now known as Crystal Palace and is the commercial hub of Upper Norwood, known locally as the "Triangle". The most westerly district is known as Crown Point. The central district was once known as Norwood New Town, but this name is now only seen on older maps. The French impressionist Camille Pissarro painted around the area in the early 1870s, including in neighbouring Sydenham, producing scenes such as a view from Fox Hill, Upper Norwood, now in the National Gallery and the Crystal Palace painted from the Parade, now in the Art Institute of Chicago.

In March 1966, shortly before the World Cup tournament, the Jules Rimet trophy was stolen from an exhibition at Central Hall Westminster. It was found seven days later in Beulah Hill by a dog named "Pickles". The story made national headlines. [5] [6]

Landmarks

St Joseph's College is a Roman Catholic boys' secondary school which was first established in Upper Norwood in 1855. The school operates a coeducational sixth form. Harris Academy Beulah Hill was established in the area as Westwood High School in 1958.

The Cedars School and The Laurels School are Roman Catholic independent schools located on the former site of Virgo Fidelis Convent Senior School on Central Hill, founded in 1848. They occupy an eighteenth-century grand house, once the home of the notable socialite and courtesan Mary Nesbitt.

All Saints' Church, an Anglican parish church at Upper Norwood All Saints Upper Norwood.jpg
All Saints' Church, an Anglican parish church at Upper Norwood

The Church of England Parish Church of St John the Evangelist on Sylvan Road, completed in 1887, is a notable example of the work of the architect John Loughborough Pearson. Designed in the Gothic Revival style, this Grade II* listed red brick building features some significant interior stone decoration and a stained glass window by Ninian Comper, who lived in the area. [7]

Upper Norwood Library in Westow Hill, the only independent public library in the UK, was built in 1899 by joint agreement of the London Borough of Croydon and the London Borough of Lambeth. The library holds a Local History Collection of the Upper Norwood district and the Crystal Palace.

A notable park in the area is Upper Norwood Recreation Ground. Its 19-acre (77,000 m2) site is part of the Harold Road Conservation Area. Its boundary is defined by Chevening Road, Hermitage Road, Eversley Road and Harold Road. One of London's hidden rivers, River Effra flows under the park and at the Harold Road end a wellhead exists. It was covered in the 1940s. The Upper Norwood Recreation Ground was a location in Patrick Keiller's 1983 film, Norwood, and in Chris Shepherd's 2010 film Bad Night for the Blues .[ citation needed ]

The Croydon transmitting station, a TV transmitter tower, stands on the hill at Upper Norwood and a second larger TV transmitter, the Crystal Palace transmitting station, stands in Crystal Palace Park. Together these make the district a landmark location, visible from any part of the London area.

In 1985 a Safeway supermarket opened on Westow Street. In 1990 the exterior of this branch featured in a clip of the television drama series Grange Hill. [8] The store was acquired by Morrisons in March 2004, who closed it in November 2005. The lease of the vacant store was purchased by Sainsbury's in August 2006. [9]

Transport

The hilly nature of the land has restricted the construction of railways through the district. The former branch line terminus at Crystal Palace High Level railway station which opened in 1865 closed in 1954, and the remaining Crystal Palace railway station is some distance below Upper Norwood, and approached by many steps. However, Crystal Palace Parade remains an important bus interchange and many residents instead use plentiful local bus routes to travel to West Norwood, Tulse Hill, Streatham, West Dulwich or Norbury railway stations. The disconnection from the capital's rail/tube network has led to it having lower house prices than other areas possessing scenic views of London.

Notable people

Robert FitzRoy's grave Robert FitzRoy's Grave.JPG
Robert FitzRoy's grave

Nearest places

Nearest stations

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Palace, London</span> Residential area in London, England

Crystal Palace is a leafy and hilly area in South London, named after the Crystal Palace Exhibition building which stood in the area from 1854, until it was destroyed by fire in 1936. About 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Charing Cross, it includes one of the highest points in London, at 367 feet (112 m), offering views over the capital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydenham, London</span> Human settlement in England

Sydenham is a district of south-east London, England, which is shared between the London boroughs of Lewisham, Bromley and Southwark. Prior to the creation of the County of London in 1889, Sydenham was located in Kent, bordering Surrey. Historically, the area was very affluent, with the Crystal Palace being relocated to Sydenham Hill in 1854. Today, Sydenham is a diverse area, with a population of 28,378 and borders Forest Hill, Dulwich, Crystal Palace, Penge, Beckenham, Catford and Bellingham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thornton Heath</span> Human settlement in England

Thornton Heath is a district of South London, England, within the London Borough of Croydon. It is around 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the town of Croydon, and 7.2 miles (11.6 km) south of Charing Cross. Prior to the creation of Greater London in 1965, Thornton Heath was in the County Borough of Croydon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Norwood</span> Suburb of London

West Norwood is a largely residential area of south London within the London Borough of Lambeth, located 5.4 miles (8.7 km) south south-east of Charing Cross. The centre of West Norwood sits in a bowl surrounded by hillsides on its east, west and south sides. From many parts of the area, distant views can be seen, of places such as the City of London, Canary Wharf and Crystal Palace.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crystal Palace railway station</span> National Rail station in London, England

Crystal Palace railway station is a Network Rail and London Overground station in the London Borough of Bromley in south London. It is located in the Anerley area between the town centres of Crystal Palace and Penge, 8 miles 56 chains (14.0 km) from London Victoria. It is one of two stations built to serve the site of the 1851 exhibition building, the Crystal Palace, when it was moved from Hyde Park to Sydenham Hill after 1851.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forest Hill, London</span> Human settlement in England

Forest Hill is a district of the London Borough of Lewisham in south east London, England, on the South Circular Road, which is home to the Horniman Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Norwood</span> District of south east London, England

South Norwood is a district of south-east London, England, within the London Borough of Croydon, Greater London and formerly in the historic county of Surrey. It is located 7.8 miles (12.5 km) south-east of Charing Cross, north of Woodside and Addiscombe, east of Selhurst and Thornton Heath, south of Crystal Palace/Upper Norwood and Anerley, and west of Elmers End and Penge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydenham railway station (London)</span> National rail station in London, England

Sydenham is a railway station in Sydenham in the London Borough of Lewisham, South London. Originally opened in 1839, the station is located on the former Croydon Canal, which is now a branch of the Brighton Main Line, often known as the Sydenham Corridor. Sydenham falls within Travelcard Zone 3 and is served by London Overground and Southern. The station is 6 miles 32 chains down the line from London Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norwood Junction railway station</span> National rail station in London, England

Norwood Junction railway station is a National Rail station in South Norwood in the London Borough of Croydon, south London, and is in Travelcard Zone 4. It is 8 miles 55 chains down the line from London Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anerley</span> Human settlement in England

Anerley is an area of south east London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is located 7 miles (11 km) south south-east of Charing Cross, to the south of Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, west of Penge, north of Elmers End and South Norwood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gipsy Hill</span> Area of south London

Gipsy Hill in south London is a hilly and leafy neighbourhood spanning the southern parts of the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark characterised for its stunning views of the City of London and Dulwich.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norwood Ridge</span> Ridge in south London

The Norwood Ridge is a 10-square-mile (26 km2) rectangular upland which occupies the geographical centre of south London, centred 5 miles (8 km) south of London Bridge. Beneath its topsoil it is a ridge of London Clay that is capped on all sides with remaining natural gravel deposits mixed with some sandy soil, which in the South Thames basin is a material known as the Claygate Beds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Norwood Park (London)</span> Park in West Norwood, London

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydenham Hill</span> Affluent locality in southeast London

Sydenham Hill forms part of a longer ridge and is an affluent locality in southeast London. It is also the name of a road which runs along the northeastern part of the ridge, demarcating the London Boroughs of Southwark, Bromley, and Lewisham. Its highest part is the apex of the Boroughs of Southwark and Lewisham and the 15th-highest peak in London, at 367 feet (112 m).

The West End of London and Crystal Palace Railway (WELCPR) was an early railway company in south London between Crystal Palace station and Wandsworth, which was opened in 1856. The line was extended in 1858 to a station at Battersea Wharf near the bridge to Pimlico. Throughout its brief existence the railway was operated by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) to which it was leased in 1858 and sold in 1859. This relatively short line was of considerable importance to the history of railways of south London as it was the first line to create a corridor from the south and east towards Westminster and led to the development of London Victoria railway station.

Norwood New Town is a largely residential, former working-class enclave within the larger district of Upper Norwood in Southeast London. It is within the London Borough of Croydon. In common with the neighbouring districts of West Norwood, South Norwood and Upper Norwood, it is named after the contraction of the Great North Wood, which once occupied this area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A215 road</span> Road in London, England

The A215 is an A road in south London, starting at Elephant and Castle and finishing around Shirley. It runs through the London Boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great North Wood</span> Wood in south London

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grangewood Park</span> Park in the United Kingdom

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 27.7 acres. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood</span> Church in London, England

The Church of St John the Evangelist is a Church of England church in Upper Norwood, a suburb of South London, in the United Kingdom. It is a Grade II* listed red brick Gothic Revival church which was built between 1878 and 1887 by the English architect John Loughborough Pearson (1817–97). The church is dedicated to the Christian saint, John the Evangelist.

References

  1. "Croydon ward population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  2. "The Changing Face of Norwood". www.norwoodsociety.co.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  3. "London Borough of Croydon: The Lawns – The Lawns History". Croydon.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 17 July 2011.
  4. Alan R. Warwick; The Phoenix Suburb: A South London Social History;chapter 5, Publisher: Crystal Palace Foundation; ISBN   0-904034-01-1
  5. How Pickles the dog dug up the accursed World Cup Archived 19 January 2007 at the Wayback Machine By Paul Fleckney, London Evening Standard, This is London, 10 June 2006, Accessed June 2007.
  6. BBC world cup photo gallery Pickles the dog . accessed June 2007
  7. Pevsner, Bridget Cherry & Nikolaus (2002). London (New ed.). New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press. ISBN   9780300096514.
  8. Grange Hill – Series 13 – Episode 12 at 4:20 mins Accessed 24 August 2014
  9. Londoners cheer supermarket's arrival Accessed 24 August 2014
  10. Kennedy, Maev (7 October 2014). "Raymond Chandler given blue plaque in mean streets of Upper Norwood". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  11. "Sir Ninian Comper in Norwood". www.norwoodsociety.co.uk. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  12. "Spurgeon's Autobiography, vol. 2, ch. 18". www.cblibrary.org.

Sources