South Norwood
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225626412
2008-07-14T16:54:27Z
Tj9991
192259
Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/86.163.50.21|86.163.50.21]] to last version by Signalhead (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]])
{{infobox UK place|
|country=England
|map_type=Greater London
|region= London
|population=14,590
|official_name=South Norwood
|latitude=51.3995
|longitude=-0.0747
|os_grid_reference=TQ340684
|london_borough=Croydon
|post_town=LONDON
|postcode_area=SE
|postcode_district =SE25
|dial_code=020
|constituency_westminster=[[Croydon Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon Central]]
|constituency_westminster1=[[Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon North]]
|static_image=[[Image:Clocktower8.JPG|240px]]
|static_image_caption=<small>South Norwood Clock tower</small>
}}
'''South Norwood''' is a urban town and ward within the [[Greater London]] boundaries, in [[London Borough of Croydon|Croydon]], [[England]]. It is a suburban development 7.8 [[mile]]s (12.5 [[km]]) south-east of [[Charing Cross]]. South Norwood is a town comprising a resident population of just over 14,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=3&b=5942181&c=south+norwood&d=14&e=15&g=330906&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1 |title=Key Figures for 2001 Census: Key Statistics |publisher=[[Office for National Statistics]] |accessdate=2007-04-29}}</ref> A tributary of the [[River Wandle]], which rises in [[London Borough of Merton|Merton]], ends in South Norwood.
The north-eastern side of the town is dominated by the 125 acre [[South Norwood Country Park|country park]] which opened in 1989. At the other northern end of the town is [[South Norwood Lake and Grounds|South Norwood Lake]], which was created after the reservoir for the unsuccessful [[Croydon Canal]] went out of use.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/parksandopenspaces/parksatoz/491865/ |title=South Norwood Lake & Grounds webpage|publisher=Croydon Council|accessdate=2007-06-18}}</ref><ref>[http://www.londoncanals.co.uk/croydon/njct-grd.html London Canals: Croydon: Norwood]</ref> It is used by the Croydon Sailing Club and local anglers who fish for carp, bream and perch.
Together with [[Norwood New Town]], it forms the ward of South Norwood in the local authority of Croydon. There are two secondary schools in the area along with a public [[South Norwood Leisure Centre|leisure centre]]. The town has a high street which forms part of [[Selhurst Road]] which includes a number of [[Big Four (banks)|banks]], [[Estate agent|estate agents]] and a [[Coffeehouse|coffee house]]. It is a [[Commuter town|commuter town]], with many residents travelling to either the financial and insurance districts of [[Croydon]] or [[City of London|London]] for employment via the large [[Norwood Junction railway station|railway station]]. The town and surrounding areas are covered by the [[London SE25]] postcode.
==History==
Handley's Brickworks' seven chimneys once dominated the landscape of the area. It has been demolished and the site changed into a park and lake, called [[Brickfields Meadow]]. Over 20 pubs were to be found in a 1.5 mile radius, but many of these have closed. Some of South Norwood's famous pubs, such as the Jolly Sailor and The Albert, are still busy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.randompubfinder.com/review.php?Name=The_Jolly_Sailor,_64_High_St,_South_Norwood&Pub=694 |title=The Jolly Sailor history and review|publisher=Random Pub Finder |accessdate=2008-07-11}}</ref>
[[Arthur Conan Doyle]] lived on ''Tennison Road'' in South Norwood, from 1891 to 1894, and used the area as the setting for a [[Sherlock Holmes]] story ''[[The Adventure of the Norwood Builder]]''. [[D. H. Lawrence]] taught at Davidson School before the [[First World War]]. In 1966, a dog called [[Pickles (dog)|Pickles]] discovered the [[FIFA World Cup]] [[FIFA World Cup Trophy|Jules Rimet Trophy]] under a bush in [[Beulah Hill]] which was stolen during a public rare stamp exhibition at [[Westminster Central Hall]].<ref>{{cite news | first=ALASTAIR | last=REID | coauthors= | title=The World Cup | date=[[1966-09-10]] | publisher= | url =http://www.newyorker.com/archive/content/articles/060703fr_archive01 | work =The New Yorker | pages = | accessdate = 2007-02-02 | language = }}</ref>
The area was originally covered by the [[Great North Wood]] which was a natural oak forest that covered four miles (6 km) of South London. Apart from South Norwood, the wood covered [[Upper Norwood]], [[West Norwood]] (known as Lower Norwood until 1885) and the [[Woodside, London|Woodside]] and [[Gipsy Hill]] areas reflect the past history of the area. The wood covered more of Lambeth and Southwark than Croydon, but the name Norwood is itself a reminder that it had closer connection with Croydon than with Lambeth or London.<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=49779 'Norwood: Introduction', Survey of London: volume 26: Lambeth: Southern area (1956), pp. 167-173.]</ref>
[[Jolly-sailor station]] opened in [[1839]] by the [[London and Croydon Railway]]. It was listed as ''Jolly-sailor near Beulah Spa'' on fare lists and timetables. The station was renamed Norwood in 1846. The station was immediately adjacent to a [[level crossing]] over Portland Road, making it slightly further north than the site currently occupied by Norwood Junction. As part of the construction works for the atmospheric-propulsion system, the worlds first railway [[overpass|flyover]] (overpass) was constructed at the north end of Portland Road, to carry the new atmospheric-propulsion line over the conventional steam line below.<ref>{{cite book| last =Connor| first =J.E.| authorlink =| coauthors =| title =London's Disused Stations: The London Brighton & South Coast Railway| publisher =Connor & Butler| date =2006| location = Colchester| pages =70| url =| doi =| isbn =978 0 947699 39 2 }}</ref> In 1847, the atmospheric propulsion experiment was abandoned.
The [[Croydon Canal]] ran from [[New Cross]] to the site of [[West Croydon station]]. As it passed through South Norwood, pubs sprung up near its course. The Jolly Sailor still stands at the intersection of South Norwood Hill and High Street. The Ship, a few yards to the east, was beside the loading point for bricks from a nearby brick field across what is now the High Street. The passageway through which bricks passed to the canal is still there. The Goat House pub (which has since been demolished) was said to have been named after an island in the canal on which goats were kept. It was also home to the famous Ryan Chart.
South Norwood is now unofficially divided into the less deprived area in the north west side of the railway, which was the location of a private estate, and the generally more deprived area in the north east.<ref>[http://www.croydon.nhs.uk/reports/publichealthinf/aphr/2004part4.pdf]</ref> In the south east of the borough, where workers for a former [[brick]] [[factory]] lived, the entrance to the estate was between a pair of pillars, though they have long since been demolished. However the capitals were preserved and now sit on the two brick pillars at the [[Selhurst Road]] entrance to [[South Norwood Recreation Ground]]. In 2006, South Norwood Lakes in the north of the ward was the scene of a fatal stabbing.<ref>{{cite web | title = Girl, 16, charged with stab death|publisher = BBC News |date=2006-06-03 |accessdate=2007-03-02 | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5043628.stm}}</ref>
==Geography==
{| align="right"
|+'''Neighbouring areas'''
|
{{compass-table|place=South Norwood
|N = [[Anerley]]
|NE= [[Elmers End]]
|E = [[Woodside, London|Woodside]]
|SE= [[Croydon]]
|S = [[Selhurst]]
|SW= [[Beddington]]
|W = [[Thornton Heath]]
|NW= [[Upper Norwood]]
}}
|}
South Norwood is bordered by [[Anerley]] to the north, [[Selhurst]] to the south, [[Woodside, London|Woodside]] due east and [[Thornton Heath]] to the west. The northernmost point of South Norwood is at [[Beaulieu Heights]] (alternatively spelt Beulah Heights, Beaulah Heights and Beulieu Heights) which contains Beulah Heights Park, overlapping with Upper Norwood and New Town. The northern part of the district is situated on the lower parts of the hill that forms Upper Norwood.
South Norwood lies on the southern slopes of the Norwood Ridge which forms the southern edge of the [[London Basin]]. This line of hills runs from north-east to south-west for about three miles and rises to approximately 110 metres above sea level at its highest point. It is formed by a ridge of grey silty deposits known as [[London Clay]], capped in places with the gravel of the Claygate Beds. Because of this gravel working was an important local industry and at one time the road along Beulah Hill was called Gravel Pit Road. South Norwood Hill is the most southerly spur of this ridge and the London Clay extends at its foot to the southern edge of the South Norwood Country Park. Here a stream marks the junction with the sands and gravels of the Blackheath Beds that rise to [[Shirley, London|Shirley]], [[Addington Hills]] and [[Croham Hurst]].
streams join the Chaffinch Brook and the Beck to form the Pool River which eventually flows into the [[River Ravensbourne|Ravensbourne]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.croydononline.org/history/topics/geology2.asp |title= The Geology of South Norwood|publisher=Croydon Online |accessdate=2008-07-11}}</ref>
==Administration==
South Norwood was part of the [[Historic counties of England|county]] of [[Surrey]] and the [[County Borough of Croydon]] until 1965, when following the enactment of the [[London Government Act 1963]] it became part of [[Greater London]]. The town is now part of the [[Ward (politics)|ward]] of South Norwood in the [[local authority]] of Croydon, which has the responsibility for providing services such as education, refuse collection, and tourism. The ward is currently represented by [[Councillor|Councillors]] Susan Bennett and Luke Clancy, members of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] as well as Cllr Jane Avis, a member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.croydon.gov.uk/democracy/elected/allcouncillors/ |title=Who are my councillors? |accessdate=2008-07-11 |format= |work=Croydon Council }}</ref> Others who stood but failed to get elected include Labour's Kathy Bee and Andy Bagnall, Conservative Mohammed Quadir, the Green Party's Tim Fernandes-Bonnar, Liberal Democrats Julie Hardy-McBride and Jan Perry, followed by Brian Hutchings of the UK Independence Party. It is also part of the ethnically diverse [[Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon North constituency]], which will have one of the largest electorates in England at [[Next United Kingdom general election|the next general election]]. The area also forms part of the [[London (European Parliament constituency)|London constituency]] of the [[European Parliament]]. The sitting [[Member of Parliament]] for [[Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon North]] is [[Malcolm Wicks]], a member of the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]].
The police service is provided by the [[Metropolitan Police]] with the new South Norwood Police Station close to the High Street. The [[London Fire Brigade]] provide services for the area and Greater London as a whole. The nearest fire station is at Woodside which has only one pumping appliance.
==Education==
[[Image:Southnorwoodlibrary.JPG|right|250px|thumb|South Norwood Library]]
There are many primary schools in the South Norwood area including Priory Special School, Heavers Farm Primary School, [[South Norwood Primary School]], Cypress Junior School and Cypress Infant School, St. Chads Roman Catholic Primary School, St. Marks Primary School and Ryelands Primary School.
The former Stanley Technical High School has been replaced and turned into an academy as part of the [[Harris Federation]]. After delibiration with local residents, it was orriginally going to be called Harris at Stanley, but the federation changed it to [[Harris Academy South Norwood]] which came with some controversy.<ref>{{cite web |title = South Norwood residents demand Stanley's name is retained at new Harris Academy|publisher= Croydon
Labour |url=http://www.croydonlabour.com/press_releases?PageId=df052888-b778-1504-c5dd-bede095be195 |accessdate=2007-03-02}}</ref> Many local residents are upset that the name Stanley was removed from the school, as William Stanley, who had the original school built in 1907, is a famous and well regarded figure in South Norwood.<ref>{{cite web |title=Harris Academy, South Norwood |publisher=Croydon Council |work=Consultation Document |date=2007-01-17 |format=DOC |url=http://www.croydon.gov.uk/candd/consultation/npinfo/southnorwood/145322/499291/499311.doc | accessdate=2007-03-02}}</ref> [[Harris City Academy Crystal Palace]] is a [[city academy]] in the north west South Norwood, but to avoid confusion with the other school it uses the Crystal Palace name.
South Norwood has also been the home of [[Spurgeon's College]], a world-famous Baptist theological college, since 1923; Spurgeon's is located on South Norwood Hill and currently has some 1000 students. It is one of only four further eductation establishments in the borough.
[[South Norwood Library]] is located on Selhurst Road.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/libraries/croydonslibraries/snorwoodlibrary |title=South Norwood Library |publisher=Croydon Council |accessdate=2007-04-29}}</ref> The building is arranged over five levels split across the front and rear of the building. The front part of the building has the ground floor entrance level, which houses the reception, and the second floor which houses the children's library. The rear of the building has the basement, first and third floors. The levels are offset so that the floors in the front and rear of the building appear like mezzanine levels to each other.
==Sports and leisure==
{{seealso|List of parks and open spaces in Croydon}}
Park Road and Whitehourse Lane hold [[Selhurst Park]] where [[Crystal Palace F.C.]] play at. The ground was also home to [[Charlton Athletic F.C.]] as part of a ground sharing agreement between 1985 and 1991. It was also used by [[Wimbledon F.C.]] when they left [[Plough Lane]] and until 2003 when they moved to the [[National Hockey Stadium]] in [[Milton Keynes]].
South Norwood contains a leisure centre which is owned and maintained by Fusion on behalf of Sport Croydon.<ref>http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/sports/</ref> [[South Norwood Leisure Centre]] is situated on Portland Road and reopened in late 2007 after refurbishment. It was closed in early 2006 so that it would be knocked down and construction would start on a site next to the Croydon Sports Arena. This was so that it could be redesigned from scratch like the leisure centre in Thornton Heath, which would result in a cost of around £10 million.<ref name="South Norwood Pools close for demolition">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.londonpoolscampaign.com/discuss/msgReader$806|title = South Norwood Pools close|publisher = London Pools Campaign|accessdate = 2007-05-02}}</ref> [[Image:Countrypark2.jpg|250px|thumb|South Norwood Country Park]] In May 2006 the Conservatives gained control of Croydon and decided that doing this would cost too much money, so they decided to refurbish the centre instead, although this decision came with controversy.<ref name="South Norwood Forum">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/interactive/messageforum/view.php?threadid=829.com|title = Message Forum on South Norwood Pools|publisher = Croydon Guardian|accessdate = 2007-05-02}}</ref><ref name="Leisure Centre petition">{{cite web|year = 2006|url = http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/interactive/messageforum/view.php?threadid=829.com|title = Pool plans are approved despite 3,000 signature petition|publisher = Croydon Guardian|accessdate = 2007-05-02}}</ref> It now includes a 25m swimming pool, a gym, a crèche and a café.
South Norwood is also the home to [[South Norwood Country Park]], a former sewage farm and site of a fireworks factory now converted into a nature reserve. Other parks in the local area are [[South Norwood Recreation Ground]], [[Heavers Meadow]], [[Brickfields Meadow]], [[Beaulieu Heights]], [[South Norwood Lake and Grounds]], [[Woodside Green]] and [[Ashburton Park]].
=== Croydon Sports Arena ===
Croydon Sports Arena is a multiple use sports arena in South Norwood<ref name="ccsports">{{cite web |url=http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/sports/swim/croydonsportsarena/ |title=Croydon Sports Arena |publisher=London Borough of Croydon |accessdate=2007-04-20}}</ref>. The arena is located on the edge of [[South Norwood Country Park]]. Facilities include an eight lane 400m running track, with a centre field and training area for throwing events. The stadium is floodlit. During the winter the inner field becomes a football pitch, home to [[Croydon F.C]]
<ref name="ccsports" />. In the summer the stadium is mostly used for athletic events, hosting several large meetings such as the Surrey Athletic Championships and the occasional international event.{{Specify|date=April 2007}} The arena is used for special events as well as serious sports and training. The stands in the sports arena can hold up to 388 people.{{Specify|date=April 2007}}
Other clubs who use the stadium are athletics club Striders of London <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www20.brinkster.com/stridersac/history.html |title=Club Information |publisher=Striders of London |accessdate=2007-04-29}}</ref> and Croydon Harriers
<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.croydonharriers.com/ |title=Croydon Harriers |accessdate=2007-04-29}}</ref> an athletics club for all ages, all levels in [[track & field]] and road & country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.british-athletics.co.uk/clubs/club0096.htm |title=Croydon Harriers |publisher=The Association of Running Clubs |accessdate=2007-04-29}}</ref>
==Transport==
Two [[A road]]s, the [[A215 road|A215]] and the [[A213 road|A213]] are in the South Norwood area. The A213 is the High Street, Penge Road and [[Selhurst Road]]. The A215 is [[Portland Road]] and [[South Norwood Hill]].
[[Image:Arena tram junction.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The junction to the north of [[Arena tram stop|Arena]]. This tram is entering South Norwood Country Park]]
[[Norwood Junction railway station]] is situated in the centre of South Norwood just off the High Street. It has 7 platforms but only 5 are in use at the present time. [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] and [[Southeastern]] trains run to [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]], [[East Croydon station|East and]] [[West Croydon station]]s and urban and rural stations thereafter. The other nearest stations include [[Selhurst railway station|Selhurst]], [[Anerley railway station|Anerley]] and [[Thornton Heath railway station]]s.
The [[Thameslink Programme]] (formerly known as Thameslink 2000), is a £3.5 billion major project to expand the [[Thameslink|Thameslink network]] from 51 to 172 [[train station|stations]]<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=2413&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=8 |title=Good news for South London as £3.5BN Thameslink project clears major hurdle | date=2006-10-18 |accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref>
spreading northwards to [[Bedford]], [[Peterborough]], [[Cambridge]] and [[King's Lynn]] and southwards to [[Guildford]], [[Eastbourne]], [[Horsham]], [[Hove]] to [[Littlehampton]], [[East Grinstead]], [[Ashford]] and [[Dartford]]. The project includes the lengthening of platforms, station remodelling, new railway infrastructure (e.g. viaduct) and additional rolling stock. If implemented, [[First Capital Connect]] services would call at the station.
[[Transport for London]] has begun work on the southern extension of the [[East London Line]] as part of the [[London Overground]]. On completion, proposed services would run between [[West Croydon railway station|West Croydon]] and [[Dalston Junction]] via [[London Docklands]].
Trams do not run through the town centre of South Norwood, however the nearest tram stop on the [[Tramlink]] network is [[Harrington Road tram stop]]. If current proposals for an extension to Crystal Palace<ref>{{cite web |title=Croydon Tramlink Crystal Palace extension - Public consultation on route options in Anerley and Crystal Palace |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/Consultation-Brochure-2006-10-19.pdf |format=PDF |publisher=Transport for London |date=2006-10-19 |accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref> are approved, then a second stop at Penge Road will be opened. There is also another tram stop next to Croydon Sports Arena called [[Arena]]. South Norwood is served by many [[London Buses|London bus routes]].
For buses to central London,<ref>{{cite web |title=Central London Bus Map |publisher=Transport for London |url= http://www.tfl.gov.uk/assets/downloads/centlond.pdf |format=PDF |accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref> daytime routes [[London Buses route 196|196]] and [[London Buses route 468|468]] run to [[Elephant and Castle]],<ref>{{cite web | title = Bus Services from Norwood Junction |work=Transport for London |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/norwoodjunction-2195.pdf |accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref> while night time route N68 will get you to Tottenham Court Road.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bus Route N68 |publisher=Transport for London |url=http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/?route=N68 |accessdate=2007-04-12}}</ref> Route [[London Buses route 75|75]] is a 24-hour route. There are also two bus stands in South Norwood both at [[Norwood Junction railway station]], one on the west side of the rail lines (for the [[London Buses route 197|197]] and the [[London Buses route 312|312]] bus routes) and the east side of the lines (for the [[London Buses route 130|130]] and [[London Buses route 196|196]] bus routes). Other routes include the [[London Buses route 157]] and [[London Buses route 410|410]]. All of these services are operated by either [[Selkent]], [[Travel London]], [[Arriva London]], [[Metrobus (Go-Ahead Group)|Metrobus]], [[London Central]] and [[London General]].
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=252356&command=newPage News, Sport and information - ''This is... Network'']
*[http://www.virtualnorwood.com/ Virtual Norwood]
*[http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Atlantis/8556/ Arthur Conan Doyle's house in South Norwood]
{{London Districts}}
{{LB Croydon}}
[[Category:Neighbourhoods of Croydon]]
[[Category:Arthur Conan Doyle]]
[[Category:Districts of London]]
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