Addington Hills
Encyclopedia
Addington
Hills is a park in Upper Shirley
, London
, England
. It is managed by the London Borough of Croydon
. It was part of the old parish of Addington before the suburb of Shirley was developed in the 1930s. The site consists largely of woodland on a gravel bed, with London's largest area of heathland at its heart. It is a Site of Metropolitan Importance.
It is a peaceful area with many pathways close to central Croydon
. There is a viewpoint with fine views across Croydon and across to north London, including Docklands and Parliament Hill
. It is served by Coombe Lane tram stop
on Tramlink route 3
. The park covers an area of 130 acres (52.6 ha).
The London Loop path runs through the park. The park is fully accessible at all times.
Addington Hills and neighbouring Croham Hurst
to the west and Shirley Hills to the east form part of a chain of popular open spaces in Croydon. The seasonal changes of the colourful heather, birch, oak and pine and the variety of birds and other wildlife and the bracing situation on top of the plateau attract visitors to the area at all times of the year.
with scattered groups of pines
and mixed plantations. The plateau drops sharply to the north, exposing the pebbles at the end of the gullies. To the north-west the plateau has been broken into by a number of steep valleys which are covered with birch
to the west and oak
to the east. Below the Blackheath pebbles an outcrop of less impervious Woolwich Beds was marked by a line of springs; these have disappeared, possibly due to a lowering of the water table
.
In 1963 a viewing platform was provided by Alderman Basil Monk as a permanent commemoration of Croydon's 1960 Millennary Year. The platform, which is north-west of the restaurant, is at the top of steeply sloping ground and provides extensive views over Croydon and towards London. A low wall around the platform is engraved with directional lines and inscriptions indicating the main view points, such as Shooters Hill, Epping Forest
, Fulham
, the Town Hall and skyscrapers of Croydon, and on a clear day the towers of Windsor Castle
. The nearby Shirley Windmill
can also be seen.
Addington Reservoir on the southern side of the Hills is the only area that is fenced off and not open to the public. The reservoir was built in 1888 and the Valve House was initially open to the public with refreshments being served from the ground floor and a residence above. An outbreak of typhoid in 1937 was traced to the reservoir and the cafe was quickly closed and the area fenced off.
Below the reservoir on the Coombe Road frontage was once Broadcombe Cottage, which was part of the Coombe Park Estate. Broadcombe was the old name for the tract of land alongside Oaks Road at the foot of Addington Hills. Also in this vicinity was the Lamb Inn, according to tradition the site of a fierce affray between smugglers and revenue officers.
and gorse
, with some bilberry
and goldenrod
. Drier spots are indicated by the occurrence of bell heather. Fine-leaved fescues, wavy hair-grass and purple moor-grass dominate the acid grassland areas with a mix of wood sage, heath bedstraw and other typical species. Marsh violet and hard fern (both London rarities) occur in the damper areas.
Burrowing bees and wasps occur in the bare patches of soil and the bushy heathers and acid-loving grasses provide home to a wide range of insects, spiders and other invertebrates, each well adapted to the warm, dry conditions at ground level.
The invertebrate fauna plays an important part in supporting a range of birds and reptiles – and all benefit from the varied mosaic of open and scrubland habitats. In open areas, common lizards and slow-worms thrive. Green woodpeckers may be seen in the woods and on the heath, and goldcrests among the woodland edges and in the gorse.
Until the 1920s, there were only a few scattered oak, pine and birch on the hills, which were then almost entirely covered in heather. Now there is far more extensive tree cover, and heather is limited to the slopes and ridges where it tolerates the harsh conditions provided by the very dry and acidic poor soil.
Addington, London
Addington is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross.-History:...
Hills is a park in Upper Shirley
Shirley, London
Shirley is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, England. It is a suburban development situated 10 miles south south-east of Charing Cross.-Description:...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is managed by the London Borough of Croydon
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
. It was part of the old parish of Addington before the suburb of Shirley was developed in the 1930s. The site consists largely of woodland on a gravel bed, with London's largest area of heathland at its heart. It is a Site of Metropolitan Importance.
It is a peaceful area with many pathways close to central Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
. There is a viewpoint with fine views across Croydon and across to north London, including Docklands and Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill, London
Parliament Hill is an area of open parkland in the south-east corner of Hampstead Heath in north-west London. The hill, which is high, is notable for its excellent views of the capital's skyline...
. It is served by Coombe Lane tram stop
Coombe Lane tram stop
Coombe Lane tram stop is a light rail stop in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London. It is located next to Addington Hills serving Royal Russell School and the Ballards residential estate close to Upper Shirley, Addington and Coombe....
on Tramlink route 3
Tramlink route 3
Tramlink route 3 is one of three tram routes operated as part of the Tramlink network in south London. The route is owned and operated by Transport for London ....
. The park covers an area of 130 acres (52.6 ha).
The London Loop path runs through the park. The park is fully accessible at all times.
Addington Hills and neighbouring Croham Hurst
Croham Hurst
Croham Hurst is a 33.6 hectare biological and geological Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation in South Croydon in the London Borough of Croydon...
to the west and Shirley Hills to the east form part of a chain of popular open spaces in Croydon. The seasonal changes of the colourful heather, birch, oak and pine and the variety of birds and other wildlife and the bracing situation on top of the plateau attract visitors to the area at all times of the year.
Facilities
Addington Hills facilities include:- Car parking - off Shirley Hills Road and Oaks Road, at the junction with Coombe Lane
- Toilets
- London Loop path
- Chinese restaurant
- Horse rides
- Viewpoint
Geology and topography
Addington Hills lies 460 feet (140 m) above sea level on a plateau of Blackheath Bed pebbles , which has been colonized by heatherEricaceae
The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants...
with scattered groups of pines
Pines
Pines may refer to:*Pine, coniferous trees of the genus Pinus, in the family Pinaceae*PINES or Public Information Network for Electronic Services- People with the surname :...
and mixed plantations. The plateau drops sharply to the north, exposing the pebbles at the end of the gullies. To the north-west the plateau has been broken into by a number of steep valleys which are covered with birch
Birch
Birch is a tree or shrub of the genus Betula , in the family Betulaceae, closely related to the beech/oak family, Fagaceae. The Betula genus contains 30–60 known taxa...
to the west and oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
to the east. Below the Blackheath pebbles an outcrop of less impervious Woolwich Beds was marked by a line of springs; these have disappeared, possibly due to a lowering of the water table
Water table
The water table is the level at which the submarine pressure is far from atmospheric pressure. It may be conveniently visualized as the 'surface' of the subsurface materials that are saturated with groundwater in a given vicinity. However, saturated conditions may extend above the water table as...
.
The site and its history
The land was acquired in four parts over a 45-year period. In 1874 the Croydon Board of Health purchased the first area following a public meeting; the lower area towards Shirley was added in 1903; the birch wood from Oaks Road to Coombe Lane was a gift from Frank Lloyd of Coombe Park Estate (after whom the nearby Lloyd Park was named), and finally the small pine woods in the south-east corner were added in 1919 bringing the site to its current size and forming the largest public open space in Croydon at the time.In 1963 a viewing platform was provided by Alderman Basil Monk as a permanent commemoration of Croydon's 1960 Millennary Year. The platform, which is north-west of the restaurant, is at the top of steeply sloping ground and provides extensive views over Croydon and towards London. A low wall around the platform is engraved with directional lines and inscriptions indicating the main view points, such as Shooters Hill, Epping Forest
Epping Forest
Epping Forest is an area of ancient woodland in south-east England, straddling the border between north-east Greater London and Essex. It is a former royal forest, and is managed by the City of London Corporation....
, Fulham
Fulham
Fulham is an area of southwest London in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, SW6 located south west of Charing Cross. It lies on the left bank of the Thames, between Putney and Chelsea. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London...
, the Town Hall and skyscrapers of Croydon, and on a clear day the towers of Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
. The nearby Shirley Windmill
Shirley Windmill
Shirley Windmill is a Grade II listed tower mill in Shirley, in the London Borough of Croydon, England which has been restored to working order.-History:...
can also be seen.
Addington Reservoir on the southern side of the Hills is the only area that is fenced off and not open to the public. The reservoir was built in 1888 and the Valve House was initially open to the public with refreshments being served from the ground floor and a residence above. An outbreak of typhoid in 1937 was traced to the reservoir and the cafe was quickly closed and the area fenced off.
Below the reservoir on the Coombe Road frontage was once Broadcombe Cottage, which was part of the Coombe Park Estate. Broadcombe was the old name for the tract of land alongside Oaks Road at the foot of Addington Hills. Also in this vicinity was the Lamb Inn, according to tradition the site of a fierce affray between smugglers and revenue officers.
Wildlife
The heathland areas are dominated by heatherEricaceae
The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants...
and gorse
Gorse
Gorse, furze, furse or whin is a genus of about 20 plant species of thorny evergreen shrubs in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae, native to western Europe and northwest Africa, with the majority of species in Iberia.Gorse is closely related to the brooms, and like them, has green...
, with some bilberry
Bilberry
Bilberry is any of several species of low-growing shrubs in the genus Vaccinium , bearing edible berries. The species most often referred to is Vaccinium myrtillus L., but there are several other closely related species....
and goldenrod
Goldenrod
Solidago, commonly called goldenrods, is a genus of about 100 species of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae. Most are herbaceous perennial species found in the meadows and pastures, along roads, ditches and waste areas in North America. There are also a few species native to Mexico, South...
. Drier spots are indicated by the occurrence of bell heather. Fine-leaved fescues, wavy hair-grass and purple moor-grass dominate the acid grassland areas with a mix of wood sage, heath bedstraw and other typical species. Marsh violet and hard fern (both London rarities) occur in the damper areas.
Burrowing bees and wasps occur in the bare patches of soil and the bushy heathers and acid-loving grasses provide home to a wide range of insects, spiders and other invertebrates, each well adapted to the warm, dry conditions at ground level.
The invertebrate fauna plays an important part in supporting a range of birds and reptiles – and all benefit from the varied mosaic of open and scrubland habitats. In open areas, common lizards and slow-worms thrive. Green woodpeckers may be seen in the woods and on the heath, and goldcrests among the woodland edges and in the gorse.
Habitats
The northern area of woodland is by far the oldest, in particular the very old oak pollards near Oaks Road. Other wooded areas are comparatively recent, and the small pine plantations near the southern boundary were only established during the mid-19th century.Until the 1920s, there were only a few scattered oak, pine and birch on the hills, which were then almost entirely covered in heather. Now there is far more extensive tree cover, and heather is limited to the slopes and ridges where it tolerates the harsh conditions provided by the very dry and acidic poor soil.
See also
- Ashburton ParkAshburton ParkAshburton Park is a park located in Woodside, in the London Borough of Croydon, and takes its name from nearby Ashburton. The park is located next to Woodside tram stop, where Tramlink routes 1 and 2 service the park. It is on the junction of Lower Addiscombe Road and Spring Lane. The park covers...
- Woodside GreenWoodside GreenWoodside Green is an area and street located in Woodside, London, centred on a village green. The station is located near to Woodside tram stop in the London Borough of Croydon. The green is over 44¾ acres .-History:...
- Brickfields MeadowBrickfields MeadowBrickfields Meadow is a meadow in South Norwood in the London Borough of Croydon. It is located on the former site of a brickworks in Tennison Road and Dickensons Lane in Woodside. The meadow covers an area of about 4.37 hectares...
- Addington Interchange