Gipsy Hill

Last updated

Gipsy Hill
Gipsyhill1.jpg
View down the upper straight of the street, Gipsy Hill, looking north towards the City of London
Greater London UK location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Gipsy Hill
Location within Greater London
Population13,712 (2011 Census. Ward) [1]
OS grid reference TQ332710
London borough
Ceremonial county Greater London
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town London
Postcode district SE19, SE27
Dialling code 020 (8670 OR 8761)
Police Metropolitan
Fire London
Ambulance London
UK Parliament
London Assembly
List of places
UK
England
London
51°25′28″N0°05′02″W / 51.4245°N 0.0840°W / 51.4245; -0.0840

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.

Contents

It borders the neighbourhood of Crystal Palace, which was crowned as the best place to live in London by the Sunday Times Best Place to Live survey. [2]

Historically, north of its traditional Westow-Central Hill southern limit, it was split between the southern projections of the West Norwood daughter parish of Lambeth and the St Giles church daughter parish of Camberwell in Surrey until urban reforms of 1889 created the County of London. It takes in, due to a diagonal, slightly weaving border, somewhat less of the London Borough of Southwark, and it has a ridge-top border along the retail/services/leisure street Westow Hill and residential street Central Hill with Upper Norwood in the London Borough of Croydon.

History and geography

Gipsy Hill is the name of the central road that runs south upwards from Gipsy Road, where it becomes Alleyn Park near the southern end of Croxted Road, up to Central Hill and Westow Hill (a brief eastern continuation in the Crystal Palace Triangle). The latter are two crest-top roads marking the limit of Upper Norwood, part of the London Borough (and, here, former parish) of Croydon. Due to its station, as common across London, the name has been taken to extend to encompass a wider, in this case, upper hill-side zone in extreme projections of the two relevant boroughs.[ citation needed ] It takes its name from the presence of Gypsies in what was, until the 19th century, sparsely populated rurality. [3] [4] On 11 August 1668, Samuel Pepys recorded in his diary that his wife had visited "the gypsies at Lambeth"; [5] Keats also wrote about the Norwood gypsies. [6] The area's name derives from the Roma Gypsies who settled in the area during the 1600-1800s. [7]

At the east and west ends of the hill which descends more gently north, are the forked sources of the former River Effra.[ citation needed ]

The hill and particularly its southern climactic ridge are part of a much larger formation, the Norwood Ridge.[ citation needed ]

The area rapidly developed after Gipsy Hill railway station was opened in 1856, with large houses being constructed (most now subdivided) and blocks of council-built housing in the mid-20th century, a little remaining as assisted (Social) housing. [3] An 18-room nuclear bunker was constructed between 1963 and 1966 as part of a block of flats on the Central Hill Estate called Pear Tree House on Lunham Road. [8]

Politics

For the west, Gipsy Hill ward is represented by three elected members of Lambeth Borough Council (green and Labour); for fair apportionment it extends into West Norwood and West Dulwich. For the east, since 2018, two members represent Dulwich Wood ward on Southwark Council, which similarly extends into the Sydenham Hill area of what is traditionally South Dulwich. [9]

Buildings and facilities

The Central Hill Estate was built in the 1960s-70s designed by Rosemary Stjernstedt, Roger Westman and the Lambeth Council planning department during the directorship of Ted Hollamby. [10]

Police

Gipsy Hill Police Station was on the A214, Central Hill, the western continuation of Westow Hill. It was London's highest station, an old Bench Mark SW, opposite, stated 360.6 feet (109.9 m) Above Ordnance Datum.

Pubs and independent breweries

Three of the pubs are central on the street Gipsy Hill: The Colby Arms, The Bull and Finch and The Great Southern. [11] Higher but before Westow Hill, The Railway Bell is on Cawnpore Street, a side street. [11] The Two Towers and Paxton are on the relatively low, north-west Gipsy Road.

Two independent companies brew beer commercially: the Gipsy Hill Brewing Co. and the London Beer Factory. [12]

Schools

Elm Wood, Kingswood and Paxton schools are all members of The Gipsy Hill Federation. [15]

The nearest private school is in West Dulwich.

Churches

The following congregations meet in buildings that are readily identified as places of worship:

These buildings were constructed as places of worship but are now used for other purposes:

Nearest places

a rarely surviving boundary marker for Camberwell/Lambeth parishes along the eastern branch of the Effra at Gipsy Hill is now a little buried by pavement CambCamberwellParishBoundaryMarker.jpg
a rarely surviving boundary marker for Camberwell/Lambeth parishes along the eastern branch of the Effra at Gipsy Hill is now a little buried by pavement

Nearest stations

Notable residents

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">London Borough of Lambeth</span> London borough in United Kingdom

Lambeth is a London borough in South London, England, which forms part of Inner London. Its name was recorded in 1062 as Lambehitha and in 1255 as Lambeth. The geographical centre of London is at Frazier Street near Lambeth North tube station, though nearby Charing Cross on the other side of the Thames in the City of Westminster is traditionally considered the centre of London.

<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">River Effra</span> River in England

The River Effra is a former set of streams in south London, England, culverted and used mainly for storm sewerage. It had been a tributary of the Thames. Its catchment waters, where not drained to aquifer soakaways and surface water drains, have been incorporated into 1850s-built combined sewer sectors, devised by Sir Joseph Bazalgette. One drains Peckham, the other Brixton, then intended to flow towards Peckham. These generally flow east to be treated at Crossness.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anglican Diocese of Southwark</span> Diocese of the Church of England

The Diocese of Southwark is one of the 42 dioceses of the Church of England, part of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The diocese forms part of the Province of Canterbury in England. It was created on 1 May 1905 from part of the ancient Diocese of Rochester that was served by a suffragan bishop of Southwark (1891–1905). Before 1877 most of the area was part of the Diocese of Winchester, some being part of the Diocese of London.

<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">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">London Buses route 3</span> London bus route

London Buses route 3 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. Running between Crystal Palace bus station and Victoria station, it is operated by Abellio London.

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

West Dulwich is a neighbourhood in South London on the southern boundary of Brockwell Park, which straddles the London Borough of Lambeth and the London Borough of Southwark. Croxted Road and South Croxted Road mark the boundary between Southwark to the east and Lambeth to the west. The suburb of West Dulwich dates back to the 17th century when the often flooded land known as Dulwich Common was acquired and drained by Edward Alleyn's estate.

<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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A2199 road</span> Road in London, England

The A2199 is an urban A-road in south London. It runs from the A215 Norwood Road, in the centre of Herne Hill, to the A212 Crystal Palace Parade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A212 road</span> Road in London, England

The A212 is an A road in South London, linking Lewisham to Croydon.

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">Great North Wood</span> Wood in south London

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christ Church, Gipsy Hill</span> Church

Christ Church in Gipsy Hill is an Anglican Church in the London Borough of Lambeth. The remaining part of the original Victorian church building, the tower, which is now a private dwelling is a Grade II Listed Building and occupies a prominent position, the tower being a notable landmark in the area.

References

  1. "Lambeth Ward population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 12 October 2016.
  2. Davis, Matthew. "Crystal Palace named best place to live in London 2022". The Times . ISSN   0140-0460 . Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  3. 1 2 Willey, Russ. Chambers London Gazetteer, p 192
  4. "Romanygenes".
  5. "Tuesday 11 August 1668 (Pepys' Diary)". Pepysdiary.com. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  6. Miss_Jessel. "Gypsy Hill". The Haunted Palace. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  7. "Gipsy Hill History". Friends of Gipsy Hill. 12 February 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  8. "The secret plan in place for if a nuclear bomb had been dropped on Croydon". Croydon Advertiser. 15 December 2017. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
  9. "Empowering Communities programme".
  10. "Housing estates: if they aren't broken…". the Guardian. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  11. 1 2 "Pubs in Gipsy Hill : Pubs Galore".
  12. "5 Places to Live in South London". UK Investor. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  13. "Kingswood Primary School". Ofsted. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  14. "Paxton Primary School". Ofsted. Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  15. "The Gipsy Hill Federation" . Retrieved 14 September 2015.
  16. "Christ Church Gipsy Hill". Gipsyhill.org.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  17. "Christ Church Gipsy Hill". Gipsyhill.org.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  18. Balston, James (7 December 2012). "The Triangle SE19: Upper Norwood Methodist Church". Thetrianglese19.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 18 August 2013.
  19. "HOME TRUTHS Errol Brown. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  20. "Krept and Konan: 'Radio stations will soon realise people like grime'". The Independent. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  21. "Hard Skin - Why Do Birds Suddenly Appear - Vinyl LP". Rough Trade. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  22. Alexandra Warren (5 January 2022). "Gipsy Hill writer Caleb Azumah Nelson wins Costa First Novel Award for Open Water". South London News. Retrieved 3 April 2022.