↧
Forest Hill - Station
Albion Villas Road
A lane off Sydenham Park Road
Millennium Green on the site of an old tennis club.
Church Rise
Christ Church, the original parish church of Forest Hill, is a large and powerful Gothic ragstone church designed by Ewan Christian 1854; the north aisle was added1862, but the tower and the octagonal spire were not built until 1885. The spire very tall and very handsome, of smooth stone, with pinnacles; note the two groups of steeply hooded spire windows. The interior has lost its original impact, because an upper floor was inserted at the west end in the 1970s and the sanctuary partitioned off c.1992. However, one can still gain some idea of its original lofty imposing size, with a very tall chancel arch and very wide Gothic arcade arches. Inthe north aisle is a fine stained glass window by Sir Ninian Comper 1936. Among the many tombs in the churchyard, note: near the church entrance, a red granite obelisk over 'the family grave of George and Mary Baxter' 1867 and to the right a gravestone to the architect Alexander Reid (1838-1915) and family; by the west wall, a memorial in the form of a pinnacle to members of the Tetley tea merchant family, from 1872. .
Near the church is a common field called Pickthornes or Westfield, 46 acres.
Cibber Road
Clyde Place
Foresters' Hall, an interesting building of 1868 with thick windows and a classical porch.
Dacres Estate
Flats -London County Council flats, has five brick tower blocks of 1962 along Dacres Road overlooking Mayow Park.
'Pacific'. At the west end, outside Woodfield House, a sculpture c.1854 from Crystal Palace.
Dacres Road
German Road because of numbers of Germans in area.
Road sweeps east on the same line as the canal to avoid Piggs or Peak Hill
Where the road turns left there is an ornamental area grassed by some flats. At the Rear are railings protecting remains of Peak Hill. In the dipbelow the railings, and noticeably curved round the hill behind, remainsthe canal bed, mainly grassed. The area, stretching back to the railway,is retained by the Borough of Lewisham as a nature reserve. Damp hollow to be a pond
Following the building of the railway 800' curved stretch through woodland stayed damp. House built here which had conservatories where the flats are now. Iron gates and left the canal section free
The roaddoes a sweep to the east just as the canal did, to avoid the small Peakor Piggs Hill; the railway cut straight through
Road continues ahead as Silverdale
Dacres Wood Nature Reserve. Site of Irongates'. Once the railway was built, a curved stretch of canal some 800’ long through woodland was isolated, and remained in water for at least another thirty years. The centre 250' or so, along with its wooded hill, failed to get completely swallowed by the onward march of suburbia. Later in the century a large Victorian house was built here, occupying, with its vast conservatories, the site now used by the flats since about 1962. The rest remained untouched in its grounds. The builders and owners of this house have left us the only section of the canal to give some idea of the attraction it once had as an outing from Croydon. A grassed area on a slope leads to this very attractive Nature Reserve. There is a boardwalk across marshy land which is on the former route of the Croydon Canal and can be considered a surviving part of the canal. The paths can become quite muddy.
Dartmouth Road
Dartmouth Road is partly in Sydenham and partly in Forest Hill. The southern part, together with the adjoining part of Kirkdale isthe original 19th century shopping centre of Sydenham
5 This shop, though modern, stands exactly in the canal bed, and immediately south of the swing bridge
7 Dartmouth Arms. Pub had big garden for teas for boaters on the Croydon canal. Reminder of the atmospheric railway. Built originally some time after 1819, had an excellentsite, being at the junction of four roads, and near the end of the longlevel canal from Croydon, and the first of the 28 locks. Areas to thenorth and south east (still shown vacant on the 1894 plan) bordered thecanal and were probably both used as gardens. Great trade was done, with persons using the canal for leisure purposes.originally a pub of 1814 on theCanal. The present building is late 19th century, and is quite attractive.
29-33,ancient, originally being low cottages with gardens down to thecanal. 31 in particular had a boathouse at the rear, complete withlanding stage. They were converted to shops by the end of the century,and had additional height added for accommodation above
35 'Bird-in-Hand',. c1820, altered when it became a pub c.1850.
45 Malt Shovel.
88/90, an impressive Italianate pair c 1842.
107/9 a stuccoed pair c 1840
Apse House (?), designed by Thomas Aldwinckle 1890, of red brick, with a Gothiclook and a frieze of carved terracotta tiles.
Atmospheric railway removed level crossings and engine houses were built. Very ornamental building... Their site is now occupied by a plain single storey brick building. The Pumping station for the atmospheric railway was early English gothic with tall church like chimneys disguised as bell towers called stalks. 120 ft high. It used water from theremaining canal sections, would have been in this open area, and partly onthe canal route. Some refer to it having lasted until the last war - one canonly assume that the station building was mistaken for it. Even by the1870s, the arrangement here was just about as we see it today.
Barclays Bank, formerly London & South Western Bank, of 1911, occupyingprominent corner location with an oriel window overlooking the road junction.
Canal was allowed to widen outinto a natural depression on the west side, the canal construction itselfacting as a small dam. Just west of this, and at the time of its construction consuming a large chunk of Sydenham Common, was one of thecompany's two artificial reservoirs. It was probably quite a shallowaffair but must have helped to drain the Common. An area such as thesetwo stretches of water is the likely site for the osier business mentionedin the accounts. Their sites were soon covered by roads and houses oncethe canal had closed, but their approximate extent is shown opposite, aswell as the routes of their feeders.
Capital Luna
Courtside. Set back behind a modern terrace, was originally two large and handsome houses of 1857; in 1923 they were linked together and modern extensions built on either side, making one long group.
Elkington depository - At the north end on the west side of the station is the ornate frontage of the furniture depositoryof Elkington & Co. Built near the turn of the century, its presentationas a solid and safe place to have your effects stored was aimed at therailway traveller, almost the only type of person who would then be interested in such a service. Then, as now, to find the entrance on the roadfrontage is something of a challenge. The iron staircase must date fromits use as a club during the thirties.
Footbridge - At the southern end of the line side footway, a footbridge, notpart of the early construction or any ancient route, crosses the railway
Footpath at the back of the pub and through the garden. There was a Footway raised over the tracks and it is a bit of the southern extremity of the first platform of Dartmouth Arms station. From the subway entrance a footpath leads south alongside the railway line, following the line of the canal towpath, as far as the footbridge at the end of Sydenham Park. Between Clyde Park and Sydenham Park the towpath was between the canal and a reservoir. Following this footpath the canal widened out into a natural depression with the canal construction acting as a dam. Until the end of this footway, the routes of canal and railwayare very similar, but if the canal was still here we should have to deviate around a large area of water. The canal was allowed to widen outinto a natural depression on the west side
Forest Hill Library. An astonishing Arts & Crafts building by Alexander Hennell, of red brick with lots of terracotta. Note the octagonal thing over the entrance, the deep terracotta frieze across the whole building ofcherubs with floral swags and shields, the Venetian window under agable. Many of the windows incorporate an art nouveau style lily motif. Note the huge brackets in the hall to the left, which was the original library. The library forms part of a remarkable group of three municipal buildings.
Forest Hill Station. Between Sydenham and Honor Oak Park on Southern Rail. 1839 The London & Croydon Railway opened it as Dartmouth Arms Station, just to the south of the present station alongside the old canal route and behind the eponymous pub. Site was called Crow Ground, in middle of forest until a footpath was from Catford on line of London Road. 1845 The station was renamed Forest Hill. In which year an engine house was built for the atmospheric railway, which ran alongside the main line between New Cross Gate and Croydon. The Atmospheric railway was on the South Eastern Railway old main line. On the end of a 1:100 gradient for 5 1/2 miles. 1846 a group of cottages were erected for the enginemen. These were placed just north of the subway, and it is the clearance of these (about twelve) that provided the site for the new station of 1884. 1884 The station was rebuilt on its present site in 1884, with a grand building and a great tower. 1944 Bombed 23.6.44 three died & 18 injured. Bomb was in pedestrian subway, station never rebuilt. W.H.Smith. The first station buildings survived, only to be severely damaged during the last war, and they are shown as a -ruin'. 1970s All demolished when the new much smaller station was built in the 1970s. Replaced again in the 1970s, basically the same position and arrangement was used.
Forest Hill Swimming Pools, designed by Thomas Aldwinckle 1885. a building in red brick, with a recessed centre flanked by projecting bays, and topping gablets with mini flying buttresses. the oldest functioning municipal pool was here until March ted 2006. unlisted. it was closed on safety grounds by Lewisham Council, following discovery of major roof problems.
Holy Trinity School, a Gothic building of 1874.
Railway subway (through to Perry Vale) was constructed in 1884. And runs on the line of the canal.
Shop - At the southern extremity of this open area behind first shop in Dartmouth Hill.a narrow footpath makes its way south, and just by its beginning is some old brickwork that could well be from the 1839 station.
St.John’s church & Baptist church
Baxter Field. This open space, in a sort of valley, was named after George Baxter a pioneer of colour printing. Note the Sydenham Society plaque of 1980 on the side of the field. George Baxter, 1804-1867, developed a method of printing in oil colours, patented in 1835, which was more successful than previous methods. He married Mary Harrild, daughter of Robert Harrild, in 1827. He was killed in an accident in 1867 and is buried in Christ Church Forest Hill. Robert Harrild, 1780-1853, of Round Hill House, was an innovative manufacturer of printing equipment. He was a major developer of the Sydenham Park Estate. He died in 1853, and is buried in St Bartholomew’s Church
Hindsleys Place
Serin House, c.1845 with a modern rear extension,from 1860 to 1871 it was The Armoury (Sydenham Rifle Volunteer Corps).
3Cooks Place, the former name of the street, and the date 1844.
5, 7, 19 are also of or about this date.
London Road
Capitol Cinema. An extraordinary art deco cinema of 1929 designed by Stanley Beard, but disused since 1996 and derelict. It is covered in white tiles, and there are lots of interesting pattern; decorative features, including blue guilloche and other friezes, winged cherub; lions' heads. An unfortunate projecting round fascia was added in 1978 when it became a bingo hall. 11 February 1929 Compton Organ installed New generation 2-8. 13 September 1932 First Compton illuminated console surround - Glazed Sunburst. Surprisingly, it was not placed on a lift - one of the few illuminated consoles simply on a dais. This early style of illumination consisted of two glass 'towers' on either side, etched with 'thunder and lightning' and with a colour change mechanism.
K2 and K6 red cast iron telephone kiosks, by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. The K2 of 1927 has all panes of glass the samewhereas the K6 of 1935 has narrow rectangular panes of glass.
Mayow Road
24 Mayow Road, a large multi-gabled house c.1870, with rustic timber features -doorway, bargeboarding, and an oriel extending into the roof. It is the sole survivor ofa group of large Victorian houses along this part of Mayow Road.
Forest Hill School, a large school of 1956, is distinguished by its Library, acircular wooden block on pillars, with connecting walkways to the north and southsides of the square which it helps to form.
Mount Gardens
Ashtree Cottage / Rouselle Cottage, a weather-boarded pair c1816;
Chalet, of the 1830s
Perry Vale
Corner Perry Rise called in old maps Perry Slough. In this area were a number or orchards providing cider apples and pears for the making of perry, hence Perry Vale. 19th cottages and small houses built in an uncoordinated fashion.
53 Foresters' Armsa pub c.1855 with fine stuccoed upperand a modem ground floor.
61 Forest Hill Brewery. Site a lorry park opposite Church Vale. Dates from 1885 and taken over by Whitbread 1924 then sold to United Breweries in 1927 as a bottling plant.
70/72 Enterprise Bus Co., private bus company garage from 1927. Garage and a house let into five flats, several brothers. Also sold bingo tickets, ran coaches, chauffeur driven cars. Bought by London Passenger Transport Board in 1933. Vale Lodge flats built on the site
118 Rose Cottage, is a long and low late 18th century building with 19th century additions including the porch. It is the only survivor of the old village.
Row of houses built in 1890s by builder Mr. Christmas. Names of houses in the row spelt out Ted Christmas. Some were altered - 'Hildaville' for instance
Death of Dermody
101 is a cottage orne c.1840, with Gothic and Tudor motifs
103, similar motifs, cottage orne.
105, cottage, both mid 19th century.
Redberry Grove
4 Arden, is a detached villa with a fine Doric doorcase, of the late 1840s
Round Hill
Round Hill House site. Top of spire of St.Antholin's church from City. Church demolished in 1874 because it was unsafe. Spire re-erected on a circular brick base plus another semi-arch wall and a ring & banks. The upper part of theoctagonal spire. It was moved to the grounds of Round Hill House by the owner Robert Harrild as a folly when the church spire was replaced; the church itself was demolished in 1875. Sydenham Society plaque of 1987.
Housing scheme on the site of Round Hill House was built by printer Robert Harrild
Camden Cottage. E.Farjeon lived there
Shaw's Cottages. Path where the cottages used to be
Sydenham All Saints
Siddons Road
28
4
South Road
Tudor House an impressive red brick building c.1870, withornamental Gothic porch and a gabled front; it was built as an extension to the Tudor Hall, a large house built 1851, demolished 1961
Lodge, the original lodge; out-building of Tudor Hall, c.1851, which has survived
Hamilton Hall, the original stable block, adapted for use by the Christadelphians 1907. Out-building of Tudor Hall, c.1851, which has survived
Stanstead/Sunderland/Westbourne/ Perry Vale
Old field called Pickthornes
Sunderland Road
Fire hydrant iron pavement cover. Made by Butterley Co.Derby
Sydenham
Thomas Hill founder of the Mirror
Sydenham Park
Developed from 1842 as part of the Sydenham Park Estate on the site of a reservoir for the Croydon Canal. A number of fine classical houses of 1840s and 1850s have survived on both sides.
Park Hall, built in 1850 in an extravagantly Gothic style as a congregational chapel, but since 1867 has been used as a Sunday school and by other organisations: it is now a fitness centre.
3/5, 7/9 and 11/13, stuccoed pairs c1843, some with later bays
Trinity Court is a pleasing block of flats c1985, on the site of Holy Trinity Church, built 1866, demolished c1984. a statue remains from the old church; and, on an old wall, are some fragments of property stones on which can be seen the names of Robert Harrild, a major developer of the Sydenham Park Estate, and Mary Baxter
2/6, a highly attractive group of 1856 with a fine porch in the central house and recessed porches on either side;
8/10 and 12/14, two imposing pairs of the 1840s
16/18, early 1850s,
26/28 and 30/32, two tall pairs with fine Ionic porches c1843, the latter pair stuccoed.
Church of the Resurrection. A Roman Catholic church of 1974 in pale brick, with just a few narrow windows. statue of the Risen Christ over the entrance. The interior is mainly top-lit and contains an impressive crucifix by Elspeth Reid. By Broadbent, Hastings, Reid & Todd, pale brick, almost windowless, not inviting. Sculpture. Relief of the Risen Christ over the entrance by S. Sykes. - Crucifix by Elspeth Reid
Sydenham Schools
Sydenham Park Road
14 one of an outstanding group of five large villas of the 1840s and 1850s. a Tudor porch with castellated turrets, a steep Gothic gable above, and Tudor windows.
Park Mansions, which consists of a mid 19th century Italianate pair, identifiable by the corner quoins facing Sydenham Park Road, extended and much enlarged on both sides in 1906.
Sydenham Rise
Camberwell Property stone
Taymount Rise
Was Queen's Road and new name from big house called Tay Mount
Extension to Kings Garth c.1905 and a separate large block part called Queens Leaze andQueens Garth in similar style c.1905
Kings Court, a large house, probably of the late 1850s,
Queens Court fanciful cottage orne, probably of the early 1860s, with lots of barge boarding
Vestris Road
Westbourne Drive
Home of the Lehmanns Wolfson
Wynell Road
Mayow family name
Forest Hill Bowling Club
↧