Description
The origin of Sanderstead may derive from 'sandy place', which reflects the nature of the soil beneath Sanderstead Plantation. The woodland is predominantly beech but there are other species such as oak, horse chestnut, sweet chestnut and sycamore; it is noted for its bluebells in May. A depression in the middle of the wood marks the site of a brick reservoir demolished in 1969 as unsafe. Purchased in 1958 the reservoir had previously been rented from the owners of the Sanderstead and Warlingham Estate.
Practical Information
| Site location | Addington Road, Sanderstead |
|---|---|
| Postcode | CR2 8RB |
| What3Words | ///late.equal.upon |
| Type of Site | Public Open Land |
| Borough | Croydon |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Public Transport | Rail: Sanderstead then bus. |
| Research Updated | 1 December 2006 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
The origin of the name Sanderstead may derive from 'Sandy place', which reflects the nature of the soil beneath Sanderstead Plantation. The woodland is predominantly beech but there are other species such as oak, horse chestnut, sweet chestnut and sycamore; it is noted for the display of bluebells in May when the the flowers form a blue carpet under the trees. It was formerly the site of a reservoir that was purchased in 1958, having previously been rented from the owners of the Sanderstead and Warlingham Estate. A brick reservoir in a depression in the middle of the wood was demolished in 1969 as it was believed to be unsafe and the area covered over; all that is visible today is a small mound.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ343618 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 8.8 |
| Site Ownership | LB Croydon |
| Site Management | Parks and Open Spaces. Sanderstead Plantation Group |
| 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 - Borough Importance II |
| Green Belt | Yes |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeological Priority Zone (part) |
| Other LA Designation | Partly in AP2 |
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
All Saints Churchyard is the burial ground of the medieval parish church of Sanderstead, mentioned in the Domesday Book. The lych-gate is original but was moved to its current site in the 1920s/30s, and has since been restored. In the churchyard is the grave of Sir Francis Bond Head (d.1875), once Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada and author of 'Rides across the Pampas'. A separate graveyard is situated across the road from the church.
Sanderstead Pond is a small remnant of the old village green and is almost certainly fed by rain water rather than a spring, the water level fluctuating throughout the year. Sanderstead village was once surrounded by extensive woodland and downs. There is evidence that the area had seen the presence of man as long ago as the Mesolithic Period, nearly 12000 years ago. Early mention of 'Sonderstede' occurs in 871AD and in the Domesday Survey the manor was held by the Abbey of St Peter at Westminster. In 1799 the local Squire enclosed the village green into his parkland and its layout has little changed since the mid C19th.
Selsdon was within the parish of Croydon from medieval times, from at least the C16th largely divided between two farms, Selsdon Farm in the north and Allards Farm in the south. Selsdon Farm was gentrified into a mansion by 1815, with a landscaped park and home farm. The estate was purchased in 1924 and the house converted into Selsdon Park Hotel, which opened in 1926; Selsdon Golf Course was laid out on the parkland. There are many fine trees surviving from the C19th landscape and the garden area south-east of the hotel retains the bones of the original landscape design in terms of path structure, terraces and some of the planting.