Description
Norbury Hall was built in 1802 within the Manor of Norbury. The grounds comprised 30 acres of ornamental gardens with a large lake fed by the River Graveny. From the main entrance on London Road, a drive led through woodland to the house. In the C19th it was owned by James William Hobbs, Mayor of Croydon in 1887; it remained in his family until 1957. Hobbs had a private cricket field laid out in the grounds, now a private leisure club. Croydon Corporation acquired the estate in 1956. The Hall and 9 acres of gardens were fenced off for an old people's home, now privately run, and the grounds were taken over by the Council's Parks Department. The lake was dry by 1954, its site marked by a depression, but many mature trees remain in the public park.
Practical Information
| Site location | Craignish Avenue/Gibson's Hill/Ederline Avenue, Norbury |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SW16 4RW |
| What3Words | ///feed.weedy.brick |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Croydon |
| Open to Public | Partially |
| Opening Times | Public park: 8am Mon-Fri/9am weekends - dusk. House not open. |
| Public Transport | Rail: Norbury. Bus: 50, 109, 255 |
| Research Updated | 1 December 2008 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
Norbury Hall is a grand Georgian villa built in 1802 within the Manor of Norbury, although the original manor house of the estate had been to the north-east, at the junction of what is now Norbury Avenue and Kensington Avenue. The grounds of Norbury Hall comprised 30 acres of ornamental gardens with a large lake fed by the River Graveny, later piped. Beyond the lake was pasture with a footpath running across it leading from Norbury Farm to the north-east of the house. The Lodge and the main gates to Norbury Estate were on London Road, later the site of the Post Office, from where the drive led up to the house through woodland, later cleared when Craignish Avenue was built. The stable yard to the Hall was described in 1855 as having 'standing room for several carriages, stabling for seven horses, loose boxes, harness and men servants rooms, hay and corn rooms, granary and a hen house'.
James William Hobbs purchased Norbury Hall in the C19th and it remained in his family until 1957. Hobbs became Mayor of Croydon in 1887, and, a keen fan of cricket, he had a private cricket field laid out in the grounds. W G Grace is known to have played here in 1888. Hobbs later sold the cricket pitch to Barclays Bank, now owned by a private leisure club, Norbury Park Cricket Ground. He kept his lake stocked with fish and his weekend guests enjoyed fishing and shooting.
Croydon Corporation acquired the estate in 1956 to provide accommodation for the elderly through its Welfare Department. Additions were then made to Norbury Hall as part of change of use to an old people's home; trellis woodwork on the veranda is remarked upon in Pevsner.
The Hall and 9 acres of the gardens were then fenced off from the grounds, which were taken over by the Council's Parks Department. The lake was once crossed by a wooden footbridge but by c.1954 it was dry although its site is marked by a depression in the ground. A large number of mature trees survive including Lebanon Cedars and yews standing among modern bedding schemes. An early C20th Gazebo with a first floor balustraded veranda over a chinoiserie patterned concrete base was built in the grounds to provide views of the garden, but it was destroyed by arson in 2002. The walled garden was sold off for office development in the early 1980s but a section of the original wall remains and a fig tree still hangs over the wall. The former meadows are now playing fields. A small section of the original block that still exists was used as a mess room/store.
Norbury Hall was sold by Croydon Council in 1987 and continues to be run as a private residential care home.
James William Hobbs purchased Norbury Hall in the C19th and it remained in his family until 1957. Hobbs became Mayor of Croydon in 1887, and, a keen fan of cricket, he had a private cricket field laid out in the grounds. W G Grace is known to have played here in 1888. Hobbs later sold the cricket pitch to Barclays Bank, now owned by a private leisure club, Norbury Park Cricket Ground. He kept his lake stocked with fish and his weekend guests enjoyed fishing and shooting.
Croydon Corporation acquired the estate in 1956 to provide accommodation for the elderly through its Welfare Department. Additions were then made to Norbury Hall as part of change of use to an old people's home; trellis woodwork on the veranda is remarked upon in Pevsner.
The Hall and 9 acres of the gardens were then fenced off from the grounds, which were taken over by the Council's Parks Department. The lake was once crossed by a wooden footbridge but by c.1954 it was dry although its site is marked by a depression in the ground. A large number of mature trees survive including Lebanon Cedars and yews standing among modern bedding schemes. An early C20th Gazebo with a first floor balustraded veranda over a chinoiserie patterned concrete base was built in the grounds to provide views of the garden, but it was destroyed by arson in 2002. The walled garden was sold off for office development in the early 1980s but a section of the original wall remains and a fig tree still hangs over the wall. The former meadows are now playing fields. A small section of the original block that still exists was used as a mess room/store.
Norbury Hall was sold by Croydon Council in 1987 and continues to be run as a private residential care home.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ309692 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 3.24 |
| Site Ownership | LB Croydon (park). Norbury Hall Residential Care Home |
| Site Management | Parks and Open Spaces (park). Norbury Hall Residential Care Home |
| Dates | early C19th; 1950s |
| Listed Structures | LBII: Norbury Hall |
| 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 - Local importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | No |
| Other LA Designation | Local Open Land. Partly in Area at Risk of Flooding. |
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
Development of the Norbury area began after the arrival of the railway in 1878, and Nos. 2-8 St Helen's Road are among the oldest houses in Norbury. These houses and those of St Helen's Crescent and Norbury Crescent face onto this triangular green space, which acts as a focal point. There are mature plane trees around the perimeter, which is bordered by privet hedging, with a single path across the grass.
The site for Norbury Park was purchased by Croydon Corporation in 1935 on land formerly North Surrey Golf Course, which dated back to 1920. Prior to this the land had been fields, once owned by Pembroke College. In the park is a relatively rare circular cattle trough, which was relocated here after the closure of the Croydon Cattle Market and was the gift of H Pratter Esq. MD in 1882. The market had operated from 1844, originally in the yard of the Greyhound Hotel, and then from 1848-1935 on a substantial site in Selsdon Road.
Pollards Hill occupies the highest point in Norbury with good views of the surrounding area. It was formerly part of the Great North Wood and the name Pollard probably refers to the management of the woodland. It was retained as open space after the surrounding land was developed in the late C19th although roads lined with avenues of trees were evidently laid out by the 1860s. In 1913 the then owner and former Mayor of Croydon, Sir Frederick Edridge, gave the site to Croydon Corporation to be used as public open space. The park has a Victorian drinking fountain in recognition of his gift.