Description
South Norwood Country Park was created in 1987 on land in the north east of the borough, originally used for agriculture as well as pottery and brickworks. Old maps show there may have been an C18th moated site near the open stream. From 1862 it became Croydon Corporation's sewage farm, with land acquired in a piecemeal fashion until as late as 1951. The sewage works closed in 1967 and the filter beds were dismantled to ground level. The new Country Park sought to preserve the wetlands and developed new meadowlands on areas that had previously been tipped.
Practical Information
| Site location | Albert Road, South Norwood |
|---|---|
| Postcode | SE25 4BH |
| What3Words | ///jobs.spell.rise |
| Type of Site | Public Park |
| Borough | Croydon |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted. For opening times for pitch & putt see website |
| Facilities | Children's playground, pitch & putt, visitors centre, designated cycle path, toilets, car park |
| Public Transport | Rail: Elmers End. Tramlink Route 2: Harrington Road |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2008 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
South Norwood Country Park was created in 1987 on land previously undeveloped in the north-east of the borough, originally used for agriculture as well as pottery and brickworks, with extensive quarrying carried out, later backfilled. It was the site of the Croydon Local Board of Health 'Irrigation' or sewage farm from 1862 onwards, with land acquired in a piecemeal fashion from then on until as late as 1951. An 1873 plan of the 'Irrigation Farm, South Norwood' shows the bulk of the land at that time was owned by two bodies: Cholmeley's Trustees and Dr Shorthouse's Trustees, with a small portion in the freehold of the Corporation of Croydon. The sewage works closed in 1967 and the filter beds were dismantled to ground level, the south western end of the site extensively tipped with rubbish and waste from highways.
Old plans of the area show a double-moated site near the open stream, clearly marked as La Motes on the Estate Map of Thomas Morley of 1736 and a later map of 1836, which may have been an C18th ornamental feature. Some excavation was undertaken in 1972 by the Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society. The highest point on South Norwood Country Park is a viewpoint formed from an artificial mound created from hardcore tipping from war-time demolition; this was landscaped in 1988 when the development of the country park commenced. Two streams run through the park. The park preserved the wetland habitat of the former Sewage Farm and new meadowlands have been developed on previously tipped areas. The active Friends Group works closely with the Park Wardens; projects include work on Chaffinch Brook, a wildlife garden, a tree nursery, and access improvements especially for people with disabilities. A new children's playground was provided in late 2008.
Old plans of the area show a double-moated site near the open stream, clearly marked as La Motes on the Estate Map of Thomas Morley of 1736 and a later map of 1836, which may have been an C18th ornamental feature. Some excavation was undertaken in 1972 by the Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society. The highest point on South Norwood Country Park is a viewpoint formed from an artificial mound created from hardcore tipping from war-time demolition; this was landscaped in 1988 when the development of the country park commenced. Two streams run through the park. The park preserved the wetland habitat of the former Sewage Farm and new meadowlands have been developed on previously tipped areas. The active Friends Group works closely with the Park Wardens; projects include work on Chaffinch Brook, a wildlife garden, a tree nursery, and access improvements especially for people with disabilities. A new children's playground was provided in late 2008.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ350681 |
|---|---|
| Size in hectares | 50.59 |
| Site Ownership | LB Croydon |
| Site Management | Parks and Open Spaces. Friends of South Norwood Country Park |
| Dates | 1987 |
| Designers | Mary Ann Winterman |
| Listed Structures | SAM: moated site |
| 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 | Not known |
| Nature Conservation Area | Yes - Metropolitan Importance |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | Yes |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Archaeological Priority Zone (small part) |
| Other LA Designation | Local Nature Reserve; Archaeological Site of National Importance (small area in north east) |
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
Beckenham Cemetery opened in 1876 and originally had two Gothic-style chapels, only one of which survived bombing in WWII. This is now the chapel for Beckenham Crematorium, which established in 1956. An area of artificial rockwork with cascades and pools is located behind the chapel to the west. The cemetery retains its stone gate piers, wrought iron gates and iron boundary railings and has a good collection of monuments, including that of cricketer W.G. Grace and Frederick Wolseley, inventor with Herbert Austin of the Wolseley car.
Long Lane Woods is old woodland, shown on Thomas Bainbridge's map of Croydon of 1800. The area remained unaltered although the surrounding fields have been replaced by houses and gardens. The land was in the ownership of F E Lloyd and was purchased in 1924 by Croydon Corporation for public open space. Part of the woodland, which is predominantly oak, has been fenced off as a bird sanctuary.
Woodside Green is a traditional village green, now divided into 3 parts by roads. References to the old hamlet date back to 1662 and the Green is shown on the Croydon Inclosure Map of 1800. In 1870 the north-east part was proposed as a site for a new church but local pressure opposed this and in 1871 the land was granted to Croydon Local Board of Health on condition it was 'forever kept as an open space'. In 1888 the adjacent Poplar Farm was acquired and its land later added to the Green. The Green retains a stone cattle and horse trough, and is bounded by post and rail fencing. The layout has only altered from the late C19th to accommodate road widths and the War Memorial now located at the apex of the Green.