Pollards Hill
Encyclopedia
Pollards Hill is a residential district crossing the border of the south London
boroughs of Merton
and Croydon
between Mitcham
and Norbury
. It is the name of a council ward in Merton
. The district is bisected by the Merton/Croydon boundary along Recreation Way. With no road connections between the Merton and Croydon portions of the district, they retain very different characteristics.
To the west (in Merton), at the foot of the hill, is the Pollard's Hill estate
stretching to Mitcham Common
. A section of the estate was put under the authority of MOAT housing association
in 1998, which has since demolished four maisonette blocks dating from the 1950s. Mitcham Borough Council’s solution to the post war housing shortage was to put up pre-fabs, ‘Arcon’ bungalows at Pollards Hill. The first bungalows were ready as early as January 1946, and were meant to last about 10 years; in fact, many were still in use in the mid 1960s.
The four maisonette blocks were built by the Council in the 1950s on Yorkshire Road, beginning with Westmorland Square in 1950 and the final block, Bovingdon Square in 1956; the other two were Hertford Square and Berkshire Square. The pre-fabs were mostly demolished in the 1960s, to make way for a new high density, low-rise scheme that was constructed by the Borough of Merton and Wimpey between 1967 and 1971. A new branch library and community centre was included in the estate, which at the time received a design award.
To the east (in Croydon), covering the sides of the hill are larger houses, stretching towards central Norbury
. The roads are lined with pollarded
lime trees.
Covering the crown of the hill is Pollards Hill Park, an open area of 7.75 acres (3.14 hectares), managed by Croydon Council.
The nearest train stations are Eastfields
, Norbury railway station
and Streatham Common railway station
. Buses advertising 'Pollards Hill' (and road signs to Pollards Hill) take you to the western, Merton, district. The buses that serve the area are routes 60, 152 and 255.
Pollards Hill on the Merton side also contains a wide range of community facilities including a library, community centre, youth centre and a neighbourhood police station, the first in Merton. In September 2006, Harris Academy opened on the former site of Tamworth Manor High School. The academy is on the Merton side but right on the Croydon
border. Tamworth Manor High School was originally Pollards Hill Secondary Modern School built in the 1950s, which became a comprehensive school, Pollards Hill High School, in 1968.
Pollards Hill has one of the largest Ghanaian community in London on the Merton side, it also has a large Asian popululation on the Croydon side and the area is home to many other different nationalities. The non-white population of both parts has grown considerably in recent years.
In 2005, a community cycling club was set up with help from the Commonside Trust. It now has over 400 members from all over South London and won the London Cycling Campaigns' award for Best Community Cycling Initiative in 2006.
In 2007 the Pollards Hill Poker Club was founded on Wide Way. It began life as a group of poker players who met weekly but soon expanded to included other games (chess, backgammon, and "euro" board games) and also began fundraising for children's charity The Evelina Family Trust. It has since grown to over 300 members and boasts five star reviews on gaming sites. In 2009 the club relocated to the Streatham and Tooting border, but it has retained the name Pollards Hill Poker Club to reflect its origins as a poker club and its roots in the area.
The area is represented at Westminster by Siobhain McDonagh
on the Merton side and Malcolm Wicks
on the Croydon side, both are Labour Party
. Both sides of Pollards Hill also elected Labour Party councillors at the last Council elections in May 2010.
South London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
boroughs of Merton
London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...
and 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...
between Mitcham
Mitcham
Mitcham is a district in the south west area of London, in the London Borough of Merton. A suburban area, Mitcham is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is both residentially and financially developed, well served by Transport for London, and home to Mitcham Town Centre,...
and Norbury
Norbury
Norbury is a town in the London Borough of Croydon, also crossing the London Borough of Merton. It shares the postcode London SW16 with nearby Streatham. Norbury is south of Charing Cross.-History:...
. It is the name of a council ward in Merton
London Borough of Merton
The London Borough of Merton is a borough in southwest London, England.The borough was formed under the London Government Act in 1965 by the merger of the Municipal Borough of Mitcham, the Municipal Borough of Wimbledon and the Merton and Morden Urban District, all formerly within Surrey...
. The district is bisected by the Merton/Croydon boundary along Recreation Way. With no road connections between the Merton and Croydon portions of the district, they retain very different characteristics.
To the west (in Merton), at the foot of the hill, is the Pollard's Hill estate
Housing estate
A housing estate is a group of buildings built together as a single development. The exact form may vary from country to country. Accordingly, a housing estate is usually built by a single contractor, with only a few styles of house or building design, so they tend to be uniform in appearance...
stretching to Mitcham Common
Mitcham Common
Mitcham Common or Seven Islands is 182 hectares of common land situated in South London. It is predominantly in the London borough of Merton, with parts straddling the borders with Sutton and Croydon.- History :...
. A section of the estate was put under the authority of MOAT housing association
Housing association
Housing associations in the United Kingdom are independent not-for-profit bodies that provide low-cost "social housing" for people in housing need. Any trading surplus is used to maintain existing homes and to help finance new ones...
in 1998, which has since demolished four maisonette blocks dating from the 1950s. Mitcham Borough Council’s solution to the post war housing shortage was to put up pre-fabs, ‘Arcon’ bungalows at Pollards Hill. The first bungalows were ready as early as January 1946, and were meant to last about 10 years; in fact, many were still in use in the mid 1960s.
The four maisonette blocks were built by the Council in the 1950s on Yorkshire Road, beginning with Westmorland Square in 1950 and the final block, Bovingdon Square in 1956; the other two were Hertford Square and Berkshire Square. The pre-fabs were mostly demolished in the 1960s, to make way for a new high density, low-rise scheme that was constructed by the Borough of Merton and Wimpey between 1967 and 1971. A new branch library and community centre was included in the estate, which at the time received a design award.
To the east (in Croydon), covering the sides of the hill are larger houses, stretching towards central Norbury
Norbury
Norbury is a town in the London Borough of Croydon, also crossing the London Borough of Merton. It shares the postcode London SW16 with nearby Streatham. Norbury is south of Charing Cross.-History:...
. The roads are lined with pollarded
Pollarding
Pollarding is a pruning system in which the upper branches of a tree are removed, promoting a dense head of foliage and branches. It has been common in Great Britain and Europe since medieval times and is practiced today in urban areas worldwide, primarily to maintain trees at a predetermined...
lime trees.
Covering the crown of the hill is Pollards Hill Park, an open area of 7.75 acres (3.14 hectares), managed by Croydon Council.
The nearest train stations are Eastfields
Eastfields
Eastfields is an area of South London situated between Mitcham and Streatham. The area is home to St. Marks Academy secondary school and to a new railway station, Mitcham Eastfields railway station, which opened on 2 June 2008. The area has two council estates, Laburnum and Eastfields Estate, 5...
, Norbury railway station
Norbury railway station
Norbury railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London miles from Victoria. The station is operated by Southern, who also provide the majority of services and is in Travelcard Zone 3.Ticket barriers are in operation at this station.- Service :The typical off-peak train...
and Streatham Common railway station
Streatham Common railway station
Streatham Common railway station is in Streatham in south London miles from Victoria, and is in Travelcard Zone 3.The station is managed by Southern who also operate trains from the station...
. Buses advertising 'Pollards Hill' (and road signs to Pollards Hill) take you to the western, Merton, district. The buses that serve the area are routes 60, 152 and 255.
Pollards Hill on the Merton side also contains a wide range of community facilities including a library, community centre, youth centre and a neighbourhood police station, the first in Merton. In September 2006, Harris Academy opened on the former site of Tamworth Manor High School. The academy is on the Merton side but right on the 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...
border. Tamworth Manor High School was originally Pollards Hill Secondary Modern School built in the 1950s, which became a comprehensive school, Pollards Hill High School, in 1968.
Pollards Hill has one of the largest Ghanaian community in London on the Merton side, it also has a large Asian popululation on the Croydon side and the area is home to many other different nationalities. The non-white population of both parts has grown considerably in recent years.
In 2005, a community cycling club was set up with help from the Commonside Trust. It now has over 400 members from all over South London and won the London Cycling Campaigns' award for Best Community Cycling Initiative in 2006.
In 2007 the Pollards Hill Poker Club was founded on Wide Way. It began life as a group of poker players who met weekly but soon expanded to included other games (chess, backgammon, and "euro" board games) and also began fundraising for children's charity The Evelina Family Trust. It has since grown to over 300 members and boasts five star reviews on gaming sites. In 2009 the club relocated to the Streatham and Tooting border, but it has retained the name Pollards Hill Poker Club to reflect its origins as a poker club and its roots in the area.
The area is represented at Westminster by Siobhain McDonagh
Siobhain McDonagh
Siobhain Ann McDonagh is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Mitcham and Morden since 1997. She previously served as an Assistant Whip in the Labour Government, but was fired following comments regarding a leadership contest to replace PM Gordon Brown.She...
on the Merton side and Malcolm Wicks
Malcolm Wicks
Malcolm Hunt Wicks is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Croydon North since 1997. He was MP for Croydon North West from 1992 to 1997.-Early life and education:...
on the Croydon side, both are Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
. Both sides of Pollards Hill also elected Labour Party councillors at the last Council elections in May 2010.