Grangewood Park
Encyclopedia
Grangewood Park is an extensive woodland area situated in South Norwood
, London
. It is managed by the London Borough of Croydon
. It is bounded by Grange Road, Wharncliffe Road, and Ross Road. It covers an area of 27 3/4 acres 11.23 hectares. The park is located on the main A212 road
(Grange Road) between Thornton Heath
and Upper Norwood
/Crystal Palace
. The nearest stations are Thornton Heath
, Selhurst
and Norwood Junction.
To note the Park is closed at night.
(Norwood).It was 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) in extent and belonged to two successive Bishops of London between 1299 and 1338. The name White Horse was not used until 1368 when the manor became the possession of Walter Whitehors, Shield-bearer to Edward III (Before that it was known as Benchesham Manor).
On the death of John Cator in 1806, the estate passed to his nephew, also John Cator, Esq. who sold it to a John Davidson Smith, Esq.
In 1800 the wood was completely surrounded by fields and the nearest dwellings were cottages clustered around the farm house. By 1847 a track had been constructed across the wood to connect Beulah Spa (Which was laid out by John Davidson Smith Esq.) with the road junction at White Horse Farm. This formed the line of what is now Grange Road.
John Davidson Smith divided the Whitehorse Estate into small plots and sold them for development. The east and west sides of Whitehorse Wood were cleared before 1850 and the remaining 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) to the east of Grange Road were developed as a private estate.
The first edition of the 6" Ordnance Survey Map gives the layout of the private estate. The Mansion, stood in the middle of the estate with stables between it and the main entrance which was at the junction of Wharncliffe Road and Grange Road. To the East of the house there was a nursery and Ross Lodge, there was a second lodge at the entrance (Today known as Wharncliffe Lodge ). Heath Lodge which stands at the southern end of the park is not shown on the 1870 map, it was built at a later date possibly when a second entrance was made from the junction of Grange Road and Ross Road. The southern tip of land had not been part of Whitehorse Wood but part of Woods Field.
The Mansion looked out onto quite extensive gardens which ran south from the house to the southern point of the property, and near Grange Road there was a small pond crossed by a rustic bridge. The northern end remained natural woodland with trees down both sides of garden.
The Corporation of Croydon bought Grangewood Park for the public in 1900. To complement the ornamental gardens and woodland walks that already existed, the Council built a bowling green and tennis courts, and a band stand. Band concerts entertained the public during the summer months but the popularity of the performances declined and the stand was eventually demolished after the war.
The mansion was a two storey building of Victorian style with bay windows, veranda and a conservatory on the south east corner. Following the purchase of the park by the Corporation the mansion was used as a Museum which housed a fine collection of minerals, corals, shells and local Roman antiquities. One room in the Mansion was known as the Veterans Club for the use of the male pensioners of the district where they played cards and other various games or sat and talked. Visitors to the park and museum could obtain refreshments from the tea-room in the house.
The nursery was used by the Corporation for plant production and locally was famous for its hrysanthemums; in the autumn the greenhouses were open to the public so that they could see them. During the war, like other Corporation nurseries, it was given over to food production. After the war part of the nursery was demolished to make room for tennis courts and in the mid sixties it was closed when all nursery production in the Borough was transferred to one central site.
The Mansion was used during the First World War for billeting Canadian troops and in the Second World War both the house and grounds were badly damaged.
The Mansion fell into disrepair and in 1960 was pulled down. The foundations were retained and laid out as a formal garden with the bay windows as flower beds.
Ross Lodge was demolished in 1987 due to serious movement of the foundations caused by the underlying London Clay and the site is to be redeveloped as a garden.
Despite the changes that the park has seen it is still a popular area with the Oak woodland, gardens, sports facilities and playground, and in the spring the steep bank beside Grange Road provides a magnificent display of Daffodiles.http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/parksandopenspaces/parksatoz/491639/grangewoodparkhistory
South Norwood
South Norwood is an urban town and in south London, England, in the London Borough of Croydon. It is a suburban development 7.8 miles south-east of Charing Cross. South Norwood is an electoral with a resident population in 2001 of just over 14,000...
, 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...
. 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 is bounded by Grange Road, Wharncliffe Road, and Ross Road. It covers an area of 27 3/4 acres 11.23 hectares. The park is located on the main A212 road
A212 road
The A212 is an A road in South London, linking Lewisham to Croydon. It runs southwest from the South Circular at Catford, going through Sydenham, Norwood and Crystal Palace before heading south to Croydon...
(Grange Road) between Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south-southeast of Charing Cross.-Geography:...
and Upper Norwood
Upper Norwood
Upper Norwood is an elevated area in south London, England within the postcode SE19. It is a residential district largely in the London Borough of Croydon although some parts extend into the London Borough of Lambeth, London Borough of Southwark and the London Borough of Bromley. Upper Norwood...
/Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace, London
Crystal Palace is a residential area in south London, England named from the former local landmark, The Crystal Palace, which occupied the area from 1854 to 1936. The area is located approximately 8 miles south east of Charing Cross, and offers impressive views over the capital...
. The nearest stations are Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath railway station
Thornton Heath railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London miles from Victoria. It is on the Brighton main line between East Croydon and London Victoria. The station is operated by Southern, who also provide the majority of services...
, Selhurst
Selhurst railway station
Selhurst railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London from Victoria. The station is operated by Southern, who also provide the majority of services , and is in Travelcard Zone 4.- History :The Balham Hill and East Croydon line was constructed by the London Brighton...
and Norwood Junction.
Facilities
The park includes many things useful for a day out these include:- Woodland
- Ornamental gardens
- Cultural garden
- Bowling green and pavilion
- Tennis courts
- Multi-games courts (football only)
- Children's playground
- Basketball and kick around facilities
To note the Park is closed at night.
History
Grangewood was originally part of the Manor of Whitehorse which was bought in 1787 by John Cator,Esq. and enclosed by him in 1797. The wood known as Whitehorse Wood was part of the Great North WoodGreat North Wood
The Great North Wood was a natural oak forest that covered most of the area of raised ground starting some four miles south of central London, covering the Sydenham Ridge and the southern reaches of the River Effra and its tributaries...
(Norwood).It was 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) in extent and belonged to two successive Bishops of London between 1299 and 1338. The name White Horse was not used until 1368 when the manor became the possession of Walter Whitehors, Shield-bearer to Edward III (Before that it was known as Benchesham Manor).
On the death of John Cator in 1806, the estate passed to his nephew, also John Cator, Esq. who sold it to a John Davidson Smith, Esq.
In 1800 the wood was completely surrounded by fields and the nearest dwellings were cottages clustered around the farm house. By 1847 a track had been constructed across the wood to connect Beulah Spa (Which was laid out by John Davidson Smith Esq.) with the road junction at White Horse Farm. This formed the line of what is now Grange Road.
John Davidson Smith divided the Whitehorse Estate into small plots and sold them for development. The east and west sides of Whitehorse Wood were cleared before 1850 and the remaining 30 acres (121,405.8 m²) to the east of Grange Road were developed as a private estate.
The first edition of the 6" Ordnance Survey Map gives the layout of the private estate. The Mansion, stood in the middle of the estate with stables between it and the main entrance which was at the junction of Wharncliffe Road and Grange Road. To the East of the house there was a nursery and Ross Lodge, there was a second lodge at the entrance (Today known as Wharncliffe Lodge ). Heath Lodge which stands at the southern end of the park is not shown on the 1870 map, it was built at a later date possibly when a second entrance was made from the junction of Grange Road and Ross Road. The southern tip of land had not been part of Whitehorse Wood but part of Woods Field.
The Mansion looked out onto quite extensive gardens which ran south from the house to the southern point of the property, and near Grange Road there was a small pond crossed by a rustic bridge. The northern end remained natural woodland with trees down both sides of garden.
The Corporation of Croydon bought Grangewood Park for the public in 1900. To complement the ornamental gardens and woodland walks that already existed, the Council built a bowling green and tennis courts, and a band stand. Band concerts entertained the public during the summer months but the popularity of the performances declined and the stand was eventually demolished after the war.
The mansion was a two storey building of Victorian style with bay windows, veranda and a conservatory on the south east corner. Following the purchase of the park by the Corporation the mansion was used as a Museum which housed a fine collection of minerals, corals, shells and local Roman antiquities. One room in the Mansion was known as the Veterans Club for the use of the male pensioners of the district where they played cards and other various games or sat and talked. Visitors to the park and museum could obtain refreshments from the tea-room in the house.
The nursery was used by the Corporation for plant production and locally was famous for its hrysanthemums; in the autumn the greenhouses were open to the public so that they could see them. During the war, like other Corporation nurseries, it was given over to food production. After the war part of the nursery was demolished to make room for tennis courts and in the mid sixties it was closed when all nursery production in the Borough was transferred to one central site.
The Mansion was used during the First World War for billeting Canadian troops and in the Second World War both the house and grounds were badly damaged.
The Mansion fell into disrepair and in 1960 was pulled down. The foundations were retained and laid out as a formal garden with the bay windows as flower beds.
Ross Lodge was demolished in 1987 due to serious movement of the foundations caused by the underlying London Clay and the site is to be redeveloped as a garden.
Despite the changes that the park has seen it is still a popular area with the Oak woodland, gardens, sports facilities and playground, and in the spring the steep bank beside Grange Road provides a magnificent display of Daffodiles.http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/parksandopenspaces/parksatoz/491639/grangewoodparkhistory