Edith's Streets

Thames Tributaries – the River Wandle The Bourne tributary continues flowing underground and unseen towards the Wandle. Post to the west Reedham Post to the north Purley Post to the east Riddlesdown Cross Road School converted to housing Godstone Road A22 this is the old Lewes Road the ancient road into Sussex Oakwood School . Private Catholic ‘prep’ school. Higher Drive Recreation Ground . A park managed by Croydon Council. It is made up of two fields– the first taken over in 1925 and the second in 1953. A hedge runs between the two parts, once part of a field path crossing the area. 69 St.Barnabas Church . Church of 1958 replacing a 19th building Little Roke Avenue Mission Hall built 1903 by Ashburner. Used as a community and parish hall since 1915. Northwood Avenue Foxley Hall . Built by oil and cake merchant, George Armstrong in 1875. It later became the property of the Densham, Mazawattee Tea, family. Since replaced by housing. Foxley Wood . Owned and manage...

Thames Tributaries – the River Wandle The Bourne tributary runs through this area, roughly following the Brighton Road Post to the south Smitham Post to the east Kenley Brighton Road Once this whole stretch of road was Smitham, or Smithden, Bottom. It was a dangerous stretch and included a gibbet for local highwaymen. The Bourne flooded in 1930 and the road was under water between Old Lodge Lane and Stoats Nest. Town Hall . Offices of the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District Council, in red brick, 1928-30 by W B Nicholl and B. Hughes and planned around a garden courtyard. Listed grade II as also are railings outside. Air raid shelters for the Town Hall 88 Telephone Exchange 92 Regal Cinema . Part of the ABC chain opened in 1934. The architect was Harold Scott. It had a café with oak sinks, which was used later by a dance school. There was a cinema cat. It became a bingo hall in 1978 and closed in 1998. It has been demolished and the site is now shops, but some of it remains wit...

Thames Tributary Wandle. The Bourne, the Wandle tributary, flows through this area, underground, roughly on the line of the Brighton Road. Post to the west Coulsdon Post to the north Reedham Brighton Road The track through Smitham, then called Smitham Bottom, was turnpiked in 1803. By 1820 40 coaches a day were going through. Methodist Church . By Gordon & Gunton. Gothic church in flint and stone, with chequered gable and a tower Byron Avenue Named after Edward Byron who lived at Coulsdon Court Cearn Way Charles Cearn bought Coulsdon Court when Byron died and developed it as a golf course. The line of the road was the tradesman’s entrance. Coulsdon Road Coulsdon Court Road This was on the line of the main drive to Coulsdon Court. Coulsdon Court . Built by the Byron family in the 1850s on the site of Hartley House. When Edward Byron died in 1922 it was sold and bought by the Cearn family, and it was laid out as a golf course by Harry Colt and then leased to Croyd...

Thames Tributary – The Wandle The westerly arm of the Bourne flows underground through this area to the Wandle TQ 29729 59430 The Brighton Road as it goes through the small town of Coulsdon, with the Bourne flowing the underground, and remains of the remains of the early 19th tramway Post to the west Chipstead Valley Road Post to the east Smitham Post to the south Cane Hill A23 The A23 now bypasses Coulsdon, on a road opened in 2006 which runs to the east of the Brighton Road alongside, and west of, the railway. It goes through the site of Coulsdon North Station Brighton Road After the road was turnpiked the centre of Coulsdon moved to this area, which had previously been known as Smitham Bottom. In 1331 it is ‘Smetheden’. Before the turnpike road was built in 1803 the road to here from The Swan and Sugarloaf was called Smitham Bottom. Southwards it was Hooley Lane. Hooley Lane Turnpike gate was set up roughly where the road from Cane Hill is in 1803. There was a d...

Thames Tributaries – the River Wandle A tributary apparently coming from Hooley flows through the area underground TQ 29972 58238 Suburban area around the A23, Brighton Road, and including some of The City of London's Farthingdown open space. It also includes the remains of Cane Hill Hospital - an all including mental hospital built on the hillside outside Coulsdon. Post to the west Portnalls Post to the north Coulsdon Post to the south Dutch Village Ashbourne Close This follows the line of the pre-18409 turnpike road. After the diversion for the railway it became the drive to Hooley House Lodge of Hooley House on the Woodplace Lane corner. Locally listed. This marks the site of the turnpike gate. The road was once lined with Croydon, Merstham and Godstone Railway sleepers Hooley House . First mentioned in 1203 and then belonged to Chertsey Abbey. The house was built in 1749 but it was later bought up and much of the grounds taken up for railway building. In the 20th ...

Thames Tributaries – the River Wandle The Bourne tributary continues to flow underground along and south of Godstone Road. Post to the west Reedham Post to the south Kenley Coombe Wood Hill Coombe Wood Downs Court Road Probably continues the Roman Road which crosses Riddlesdown Godstone Road. Kenley Station . 1856 Between Purley and Whyteleafe on Southern Rail. Once called ‘Coulsdon’ but it is older than this. The platforms are below road level, with a brick ticket office on the up-side. Stairs lead down to the platform and a footbridge to the down platform. There is a listed deep gabled station house by architect Richard Whittall – it is like the original one at Caterham. This house was sold to in 2007 and the original wooden waiting room on the down platform was demolished and replaced with a small modern shelter. 62 Kenley Hotel. Mirrored bar destined for the Titanic. Cricket Ground – Southern Railway and Kenley Cricket Club. Riddlesdown Caves. Used as air raid shel...

Thames Tributaries - River Wandle The Bourne tributary continues to flow underground along and south of Godstone Road. Post to the west Kenley Coombe Wood Hill Coombe Wood Downs Court Road Probably continues the Roman Road which crosses Riddlesdown Godstone Road. Kenley Station. 1856 Between Purley and Whyteleafe on Southern Rail. Once called ‘Coulsdon’ but it is older than this. The platforms are below road level, with a brick ticket office on the up-side. Stairs lead down to the platform and a footbridge to the down platform. There is a listed deep gabled station house by architect Richard Whittall – it is like the original one at Caterham. This house was sold to in 2007 and the original wooden waiting room on the down platform was demolished and replaced with a small modern shelter. 62 Kenley Hotel. Mirrored bar destined for the Titanic. Cricket Ground – Southern Railway and Kenley Cricket Club. Riddlesdown Caves. Used as air raid shelters in the Second World War. U...

Thames Tributary Wandle - the Bourne Tributary. Whyteleafe see http://edithsstreets.blogspot.com/2009/08/londonsurrey-boundary-whyteleafe-hill.html then http://edithsstreets.blogspot.com/2009/08/londonsurrey-boundarygodstone-road.html then Thames Tributaries – the River Wandle The Bourne tributary continues to flow north west parallel and south of Godstone Road Post to the north Kenley Post to the east Rose and Crown Bourne View Gardens Church Road All Saints church. 1872. The church stands on a steep slope on a man-made standing. Designed by H.W.Fowler. It was extended for Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and again in 1901 because of population growth. War memorial in the porch for the Great War only. Church Hall Hayes Lane Watendone Manor. Before Domesday Watendone was a separate manor. It passed through a number of hands and the current house was built in the early 20th by the then owner. Godstone Road Water Works. In 1885 the Kenley Water Company became part of th...

Thames Tributaries – the River Wandle The Bourne stream continues underground in a northerly direction towards the Wandle. Post to the west Kenley Common e Post to the east Bug Hill The Avenue This road from Whyteleafe station was built by the railway company as a carriage road for George Padbury, JP who was the owner of the estate and it led to now vanished Manor Cottage. Caterham and Whyteleafe Tennis Club Little Manor Coney Bury Close This is all that remains of a path which extended from Salmons Lane in the valley, Court Bushes Road It is thought possible that this was the alignment of the Roman road, rather than the Godstone Road Godstone Road A22 this is the old Lewes Road - the ancient road into Sussex going to iron working sites and on to the coast. It was turnpike in 1718 and became established as the earliest route to Brighton and used by coaches. A bus service was established in 1812. In the 1930s it was turned into an arterial road. In 1967 the road from W...

Thames Tributary Wandle The Wandle tributary, Bourne, rises in this area Post to the west Wapses Post to the south Woldingham Bug Hill Coal Tax Post Outside house 'Waterendlath' (later called ‘Halliloo House’) Very prominent and the plate is intact. The Bourne - in 1904 it rose at Bugshill Farm and ran down Caterham Valley to Smitham Bug Hill Farm. This is 125 feet deep and normally dry, but when the Bourne flows it overflows. Slines New Road/Halliloo Valley Road Woldingham Golf Club House on the site of Halliloo Farmhouse. This was previously known as Duke’s Dene. Halliloo Cottages Stuart Road Coal Tax Post. On north east side at junction with Woldingham Road. Opposite, Viaduct Lodge. It is rusty post with its inscription intact but it is half buried. Woldingham Road Coal tax post on the west side at the Stuart Road junction

Thames Tributaries – the River Wandle The Wandle Tributary, the Bourne, is said to rise in this area. It is an intermittent stream Post to the north Bug Hill Birch Wood The Bourne rises here in a wet summer. As woe waters it is said to flow for 30 days towards Croydon, and then changes to flow towards West Wickham. Woldingham Road Five-arched brick viaduct built at the time of the Surrey and Sussex Junction Railway. Bourne - flood waters collecting underneath the viaduct. It is said that the Bourne’s source is here. Viaduct Cottage at the foot of the viaduct on the north-east side of the road which looks like former railway property. It is sometimes called The Mumbles Viaduct Lodge Rosedene – now a garden centre Birchwood House. Boarding kennels and cattery Woldingham Station Woldingham Station. Dates from 1885 although it was planned since 1833. It was opened as ‘Marden Park’ – at which time it had only a shelter and no facilities. The Line opened in 1884 as the Croydo...

Thames Tributary Falcon The Falcon turns north west to reach the Thames at Battersea Creek This post only covers sites south of the river on this square TQ 26555 75550 Dense urban area between the river and two main roads running east:west.  The once commercial riverside is now upmarket and fairly garish flats with some waterside bars etc etc etc.  In York Road too commerce has given way to flats and hotels - even Price's famous candle factory is now housing.  The older area around John's Hill still retains some housing and local authority flats although there are flats on the site of St. John's Hospital. Wandsworth Bridge will take you over the river to even more expensive blocks of poky flats. Post to the west Wandsworth Post to the east Clapham Junction Post to the north Battersea Old Town Post to the south Wandsworth Bridges Court Name reflects York Bridge which took York Road over the Falcon Brook. In the 1460s this area included parts of both the manor o...

Thames Tributary Falcon The Falcon continues northwards but veers west towards the Thames. TQ27387527 Very busy urban area based around a cross roads and the enormous railway station.  Old Department stores and cinemas, along with churches, modern cinemas, pubs, and a major arts centre and much else. Post to the west Battersea York Road Post to the south Wandsworth Common Post to the east Clapham Common Aliwal Road The name commemorates a battle in the first Sikh War of 1846 Altenburg Gardens 1 St.Andrew's United Reform Church . Built as a Presbyterian church in 1886 with wooden shingled spire, which collapsed in 1977. The new building was opened in November 2002. 36 bought by local Catholics for a chapel. St Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church built in 1906-7 on the site of an orchard by Kelly & Dickie. Brick plus a mosaic design over the door. Reference Library . Designed by the Borough Engineer, T. W.A. Hayward and built by direct labour 1927. Arts and Craf...

Thames Tributary Falcon The Falcon ran north and west towards the Thames Post to the north Clapham Junction Post to the south Wandsworth Common Post to the east Clapham South and Balham Post to the west Wandsworth Auckland Road The Invitation pub . Closed Battersea Rise Battersea Rise is recorded as this in 1718, and is named from a field called ‘the Ryse’ in 1605. This might be from the Old English for 'brushwood' referring to local plant growth or from the 'rising or sloping ground'. Wandsworth Station Opened 1st May 1838. Built by the London and Southampton Railway as their first station out of London, it was built on the side of what is now Battersea Rise as the line had curved to avoid the high ground at Clapham Common. Although named ‘Wandsworth’ it was a long way from there and eight years later it was renamed ‘Clapham Common’ - an area only marginally nearer than Wandsworth. Less than twenty years later it was closed. New Wandsworth Station . Opened ...