Coombe Wood
Encyclopedia
Coombe Wood is a small woodland and garden area in the old village of Coombe
, Upper Shirley
, in the London Borough of Croydon
near the junction of Coombe Lane and Conduit Lane. The Coombe Wood Gardens are divided into a series of rooms which together give an all year round display of shrubs and plants set against a backdrop of mature woodland.
The common became the property of James Bourdieu Senior (of Coombe House) in 1801, at the time of the Inclosures of Common Land
Act. Mr Bourdieu had already purchased The Coombe Estate, including Coombe Lodge, House and Farm which altogether amassed some 251 acres. Coombe Wood supplied water to the Coombe estate, via three conduits which ran along the adjacent lane hence the name 'Conduit Lane'.
In 1898, Arthur Lloyd, brother of Frank Lloyd built Coombe Wood House.
The estate of Coombe Wood House was later purchased for £14,000, with Coombe Wood, by Croydon Council, from Mr. W Cash (who was the Chairman of the Croydon Gas Company), for the use of the public of Croydon. The house was used as a convalescent and children's home. It has an area of 14 1/4 acres (5.67 hectares).
The 14 acres of Parkland were opened to the public in 1948. With a café in the old stable block
stops at Coombe Lane
and Lloyd Park
.
The Vanguard Way (long distance footpath) also passes by the woods and garden.
Note: There are many other Coombe Woods all over the United Kingdom (including Benfleet
, Essex
).
Coombe
-Places in England:* Coombe, Buckinghamshire* Coombe, Bude, Cornwall* Coombe, Camborne, Cornwall* Coombe, Liskeard, Cornwall* Coombe, Redruth, Cornwall* Coombe, St...
, 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:...
, in 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...
near the junction of Coombe Lane and Conduit Lane. The Coombe Wood Gardens are divided into a series of rooms which together give an all year round display of shrubs and plants set against a backdrop of mature woodland.
History
The area had been open over four hundred years ago when it was part of an estate (of Coombe House) with a large common field known as Coombe Field which stretched from Coombe Road to Park Hill.The common became the property of James Bourdieu Senior (of Coombe House) in 1801, at the time of the Inclosures of Common Land
Common land
Common land is land owned collectively or by one person, but over which other people have certain traditional rights, such as to allow their livestock to graze upon it, to collect firewood, or to cut turf for fuel...
Act. Mr Bourdieu had already purchased The Coombe Estate, including Coombe Lodge, House and Farm which altogether amassed some 251 acres. Coombe Wood supplied water to the Coombe estate, via three conduits which ran along the adjacent lane hence the name 'Conduit Lane'.
In 1898, Arthur Lloyd, brother of Frank Lloyd built Coombe Wood House.
The estate of Coombe Wood House was later purchased for £14,000, with Coombe Wood, by Croydon Council, from Mr. W Cash (who was the Chairman of the Croydon Gas Company), for the use of the public of Croydon. The house was used as a convalescent and children's home. It has an area of 14 1/4 acres (5.67 hectares).
The 14 acres of Parkland were opened to the public in 1948. With a café in the old stable block
Access
It is served by TramlinkTramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
stops at Coombe Lane
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....
and Lloyd Park
Lloyd Park tram stop
Lloyd Park tram stop is in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London on the edge of Lloyd Park, beside Coombe Road and opposite Croham Park Avenue and Castlemaine Avenue....
.
The Vanguard Way (long distance footpath) also passes by the woods and garden.
Note: There are many other Coombe Woods all over the United Kingdom (including Benfleet
Benfleet
South Benfleet is a town in the Castle Point district of Essex, 30 miles east of London. The Benfleet post town includes South Benfleet, Thundersley and Hadleigh. The Battle of Benfleet took place here between the Vikings and Saxons in 894....
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
).