Description
Addington Hills is a large natural area that rises from Oaks Road up to a high plateau. The land was acquired in four stages over a period of some 45 years, Croydon Board of Health purchasing the first area in 1874 following a public meeting. The birch wood from Oaks Road to Coombe Lane was a gift from the late Frank Lloyd of Coombe Park Estate. When the pine woods in the south-east corner were added in 1919 it became the largest public open space in Croydon at the time. In 1963 the commemorative Viewing Platform was provided by Alderman Basil Monk.
Practical Information
| Site location | Coombe Lane/Oaks Road/Shirley Hill Road, Upper Shirley |
|---|---|
| Postcode | CR0 5HQ |
| What3Words | ///cared.edit.jaws |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Croydon |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Facilities | toilets, horse rides, trim trail |
| Public Transport | Tram: route 3. |
| Research Updated | 1 June 2005 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Addington Hills is a large natural area that rises from Oaks Road up to a plateau 460 feet above sea level. The land was acquired in four stages over a period of 45 years. In 1874 the Croydon Board of Health purchased the first area following a public meeting, the lower part towards Shirley was added in 1903, the Birch wood from Oaks Road to Coombe Lane was a gift from the late Frank Lloyd of Coombe Park Estate (after whom Lloyd Park was named), and finally the pine woods in the south east corner were added in 1919 making it the largest public open space in Croydon at the time.
Addington Hills is on a plateau of Blackheath Pebbles which has been colonized by heather with scattered groups of pines and mixed plantations. The north west side of 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 although these have now disappeared possibly due to a lowering of the water table.
The seasonal changes of the colourful heather, birch, oak and pine and the variety of birds and other wildlife as well as the bracing situation on top of the plateau, attract visitors to the area at all times of the year. In 1963 a Viewing Platform of granite construction was provided by Alderman Basil Monk as a permanent commemoration of Croydon's Millenary. The platform, which is north west of the restaurant, is situated at the top of steeply sloping ground and provides extensive views over Croydon. A low wall around the platform is engraved with directional lines and inscriptions indicating the main view points, which include Shooters Hill, Epping Forest, Fulham, the Town Hall and skyscrapers of Croydon and on a clear day the towers of Windsor Castle. 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.
Unfortunately 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 and at the foot of Addington Hills. Also in this vicinity was the Lamb Inn, which according to tradition was the site of a fierce affray between smugglers and revenue officers.
Addington Hills is on a plateau of Blackheath Pebbles which has been colonized by heather with scattered groups of pines and mixed plantations. The north west side of 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 although these have now disappeared possibly due to a lowering of the water table.
The seasonal changes of the colourful heather, birch, oak and pine and the variety of birds and other wildlife as well as the bracing situation on top of the plateau, attract visitors to the area at all times of the year. In 1963 a Viewing Platform of granite construction was provided by Alderman Basil Monk as a permanent commemoration of Croydon's Millenary. The platform, which is north west of the restaurant, is situated at the top of steeply sloping ground and provides extensive views over Croydon. A low wall around the platform is engraved with directional lines and inscriptions indicating the main view points, which include Shooters Hill, Epping Forest, Fulham, the Town Hall and skyscrapers of Croydon and on a clear day the towers of Windsor Castle. 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.
Unfortunately 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 and at the foot of Addington Hills. Also in this vicinity was the Lamb Inn, which according to tradition was the site of a fierce affray between smugglers and revenue officers.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ354642 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 52.62 |
| Site Ownership | LB Croydon |
| Site Management | Parks and Open Spaces |
| Dates | 1874 - 1919 |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Croydon |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Metropolitan Importance |
| Green Belt | Yes |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeological Priority Zone (part) |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
The house was originally an early C19th farmhouse. Henry Goschen, 2nd son of Viscount Goschen, bought the estate in 1866/72 and enlarged the property into Heathfield House. The estate fell into disrepair after WWI, but in 1927 it was purchased and restored by Raymond Riesco. He had formal gardens and terraces laid out, established a small nursery and walled garden, and later created a model farm. In adjoining woodland he planted rhododendrons and azaleas. From 1958 his gardens were open to the public and he entered into an agreement whereby Croydon Corporation would purchase the estate after his death. This took place in 1964 and Heathfield continues to be run by Croydon Council. The former orchard is now an ecology centre.
The site was part of the large Coombe estate, including woods and commonland, privately owned until the mid C20th. Croydon Corporation then purchased Coombe Wood and Coombe Wood House, and 14 acres of woodland and ornamentatl garden were opened to the public in 1948. The gardens were laid out as a series of 'garden rooms', with a rock garden by an existing pond, and a terrace garden that was once a Fernery. Over the years the gardens have evolved, to include a rose garden, mixed borders and a winter garden of heathers, conifers and shrubs. Coombe Wood House, built in 1898, had a number of public uses, including a convalescent home for Croydon Hospital, a Children's Home, and is now a restaurant. The stableyard, built in a gravel pit and hidden from view of the house, is now the park café.
Royal Russell School, then known as Ballards School, was built in 1924 on the former Ballards Estate. The school's origins date back to 1853 when a charity was established by a group of City clerks to clothe, support and educate orphaned children from deceased colleagues in warehousing and manufacturing trades. Initially in New Cross, the school moved to larger premises in Caterham Junction in 1862, and then to the current site after WWI. The land was donated by Lord Hollingsworth, of the retailer Bourne and Hollingsworth, who had purchased 44.5 hectares of the Ballards Estate in the early 1920s. The school is named after its first president, former Prime Minister Lord John Russell.