The Norwood Ridge is a rectangular upland which occupies the geographical centre of
south London
South London is the southern part of London, England, south of the River Thames. The region consists of the Districts of England, boroughs, in whole or in part, of London Borough of Bexley, Bexley, London Borough of Bromley, Bromley, London Borou ...
, centred south of
London Bridge
Several bridges named London Bridge have spanned the River Thames between the City of London and Southwark, in central London. The current crossing, which opened to traffic in 1973, is a box girder bridge built from concrete and steel. It r ...
. Beneath its topsoil it is a ridge of
London Clay
The London Clay Formation is a marine geological formation of Ypresian (early Eocene Epoch, c. 56–49 million years ago) age which crops out in the southeast of England. The London Clay is well known for its fossil content. The fossils from t ...
that is capped on all sides (including as isolated knolls in the north) with remaining natural gravel deposits mixed with some sandy soil, which in the South Thames basin is a material known as the
Claygate Beds
The London Clay Formation is a marine geological formation of Ypresian (early Eocene Epoch, c. 56–49 million years ago) age which crops out in the southeast of England. The London Clay is well known for its fossil content. The fossils from t ...
.
Extent and components
The area is rectangular, measuring broad. Its longest side is if measured from central
Brockley
Brockley is a district and an wards of the United Kingdom, electoral ward of south London, England, in the London Borough of Lewisham south-east of Charing Cross.
History
The name Brockley is derived from "Broca's woodland clearing", a wood ...
around which are three related knolls including Rye Hill,
Nunhead or less if the start-point of the ridge is taken as
One Tree Hill, Honor Oak
One Tree Hill is a defining feature of Honor Oak, mostly in London Borough of Southwark but parts also in the London Borough of Lewisham. It includes a 7 hectare public park, local nature reserve and Site of Borough Importance for Nature Cons ...
. The upland is visible on terrain maps as three main parts of different elevation.
The high, eastern ridge (Sydenham Hill Ridge) runs from One Tree Hill
SSE forming: the high western halves of
Honor Oak
Honor Oak is an inner suburban area principally of the London Borough of Lewisham, with part in the London Borough of Southwark. It is named after the oak tree on One Tree Hill that Elizabeth I is reputed to have picnicked under.
Overview
One Tr ...
and
Forest Hill, then
Upper Sydenham
Upper may refer to:
* Shoe upper or ''vamp'', the part of a shoe on the top of the foot
* Stimulant, drugs which induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical function or both
* ''Upper'', the original film title for the 2013 found f ...
, the east of
Gipsy Hill
Gipsy Hill in south London is a hilly neighbourhood spanning the southern parts of the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark characterised for its great views of the City of London and Dulwich.
Historically, north of its traditional Westow ...
and
Crystal Palace (which has, since the station of that name was built, among many residents replaced the Sydenham Hill and Anerley Hill names, except chiefly for the road ''Sydenham Hill'' which sits on the ridge), then Upper Norwood, then
South Norwood
South Norwood is a district of south-east London, England, within the London Borough of Croydon, Greater London and formerly in the historic county of Surrey. It is located 7.8 miles (12.5 km) south-east of Charing Cross, north of Wood ...
Hill then the north-east of
Thornton Heath and far north of
Selhurst
Selhurst is an area in the London Borough of Croydon south-south-east of Charing Cross. Historically it lay in Surrey. The area is bounded to the west and south by Thornton Heath and Croydon and to the east and south by South Norwood and Woodsi ...
, in particular
Grangewood Park
Grangewood Park is an extensive woodland area situated in South Norwood, London. It is managed by the London Borough of Croydon. It is bounded by Grange Road, Wharncliffe Road, and Ross Road. It covers an area of . The park is located on the mai ...
. Upon the ridge is the
Crystal Palace transmitting station, founded in 1933, the main television transmitter for the London area, and also the
Croydon transmitting station.
The ridge is above and from a few raised west-facing places the western ridge can be seen, beyond which is similar height
Wimbledon Common
Wimbledon Common is a large open space in Wimbledon, southwest London. There are three named areas: Wimbledon Common, Putney Heath, and Putney Lower Common, which together are managed under the name Wimbledon and Putney Commons totalling 460 ...
. The north has very narrow peaks which allow views of the tall buildings of Central London, but the ridge's eastern slope widely commands unobstructed views over
Bromley
Bromley is a large town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is south-east of Charing Cross, and had an estimated population of 87,889 as of 2011.
Originally part of Kent, Bromley became a market town, char ...
and
Addiscombe to the rises of
Chislehurst
Chislehurst () is a suburban district of south-east London, England, in the London Borough of Bromley. It lies east of Bromley, south-west of Sidcup and north-west of Orpington, south-east of Charing Cross. Before the creation of Greater L ...
as well as higher
Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
parts of the
North Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. Much of the North Downs comprises two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs): the Surrey Hills and ...
.
Nineteen of its access or approaching roads could be mistaken as forming separate structures, the greatest of which is the broad south slope leading west,
Beulah Hill
The A215 is an A road in south London, starting at Elephant and Castle and finishing around Shirley. It runs through the London Boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Croydon.
Beginning as Walworth Road, the A215 becomes Camberwell Road—much o ...
:-
*Beulah Hill and Upper Beulah Hill, off of which are the following approaches:
**Spa Hill
**Biggin Hill (not to be confused with
Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill is a settlement on the south-eastern outskirts of Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. Within the boundaries of the historic county of Kent, prior to 1965 it was also in the administrative county of Kent. I ...
further south at the edge of Greater London.
**Norbury Hill
**Convent Hill
**Gibson's Hill
*Grange Hill
*Sylvan Hill and
Beaulieu Heights
Beaulieu Heights ( ) is an area of ancient woodland between South Norwood and Upper Norwood in the London Borough of Croydon, London. It is located between South Norwood Hill and Auckland Road with Auckland Rise to the north and Tummonds Gardens ...
*Highfield Hill
*Fox Hill
*
Westow Hill
*Anerley Hill
*
Central Hill
*Salters Hill
*Westwood Hill
*Round Hill
*Derby Hill
*Manor Mount
*Cleve Hill
*Honor Oak Rise
The slightly lower central near-plateau is listed from the north:
East Dulwich;
Dulwich
Dulwich (; ) is an area in south London, England. The settlement is mostly in the London Borough of Southwark, with parts in the London Borough of Lambeth, and consists of Dulwich Village, East Dulwich, West Dulwich, and the Southwark half of ...
; Kingswood Estate with West Dulwich and
West Norwood
West Norwood is a largely residential area of south London within the London Borough of Lambeth, located 5.4 miles (8.7 km) south south-east of Charing Cross. The centre of West Norwood sits in a bowl surrounded by hillsides on its east ...
with
Gipsy Hill
Gipsy Hill in south London is a hilly neighbourhood spanning the southern parts of the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark characterised for its great views of the City of London and Dulwich.
Historically, north of its traditional Westow ...
. Two rises within this zone are Dawson's Rise and
Knight's Hill.
The second or western ridge is narrower and fractionally lower. It begins very broad and gradually in the south around
Furzedown
Furzedown is a ward, in both the districts of Streatham (Streatham West and part of Streatham Park) and Tooting, wholly in the Tooting Parliamentary Constituency, within the London Borough of Wandsworth in South West London. It is a mainly resi ...
,
Streatham
Streatham ( ) is a district in south London, England. Centred south of Charing Cross, it lies mostly within the London Borough of Lambeth, with some parts extending into the neighbouring London Borough of Wandsworth.
Streatham was in Surrey ...
then runs through central Streatham,
Tulse Hill
Tulse Hill is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in South London that sits on Brockwell Park. It is approximately five miles from Charing Cross and is bordered by Brixton, Dulwich, Herne Hill, Streatham and West Norwood.
History
The ar ...
,
Herne Hill
Herne Hill is a district in South London, approximately four miles from Charing Cross and bordered by Brixton, Camberwell, Dulwich, and Tulse Hill. It sits to the north and east of Brockwell Park and straddles the boundary between the boroughs ...
, Denmark Hill/Champion Hill culminating at the crossroads of Dog Kennel Hill/Grove Hill/Champion Hill. Fourteen of its access points can be said to give areas of this rise their own 'Hill' or 'Mount' names:-
*Bedford Hill
*Mount Ephraim Road and Lane
*
Streatham Hill
*
Brixton Hill
Brixton Hill is the name given to a section of road between Brixton and Streatham Hill in south London, England.
Brixton Hill and Streatham Hill form part of the traditional main London to Brighton road (A23). The road follows the line of a ...
*Upper Tulse Hill
*
Tulse Hill
Tulse Hill is a district in the London Borough of Lambeth in South London that sits on Brockwell Park. It is approximately five miles from Charing Cross and is bordered by Brixton, Dulwich, Herne Hill, Streatham and West Norwood.
History
The ar ...
*Birkbeck Hill
*
Herne Hill
Herne Hill is a district in South London, approximately four miles from Charing Cross and bordered by Brixton, Camberwell, Dulwich, and Tulse Hill. It sits to the north and east of Brockwell Park and straddles the boundary between the boroughs ...
*Red Post Hill
*
Denmark Hill
Denmark Hill is an area and road in Camberwell, in the London Borough of Southwark. It is a sub-section of the western flank of the Norwood Ridge, centred on the long, curved Ruskin Park slope of the ridge. The road is part of the A215 road, A21 ...
*
Champion Hill
*Dog Kennel Hill
*Grove Hill
*Bushey Hill
Some of the above slopes are in the catchment of the
Effra, which had widespread
Victorian
Victorian or Victorians may refer to:
19th century
* Victorian era, British history during Queen Victoria's 19th-century reign
** Victorian architecture
** Victorian house
** Victorian decorative arts
** Victorian fashion
** Victorian literature ...
housing and commercial use so has been converted into parallel combined and surface water sewers which feed into the
Crossness works and tributaries of the
tidal Thames respectively.
[''The Story of Norwood'' J.B. Wilson & H.A. Wilson ] In the east the south slopes feed the
Pool.
To the south underlying layers of London Clay and
Palaeocene
The Paleocene, ( ) or Palaeocene, is a geological epoch that lasted from about 66 to 56 million years ago (mya). It is the first epoch of the Paleogene Period in the modern Cenozoic Era. The name is a combination of the Ancient Greek ''palaià ...
between the ridge and the
dip slope of the
North Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. Much of the North Downs comprises two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs): the Surrey Hills and ...
, where on the near side is the
Graveney
Graveney is a relatively small but widely dispersed village located between Faversham and Whitstable in Kent, England. The main part of the village is located along the intersection of Seasalter Road, Sandbanks Road and Head Hill Road (at the rail ...
which feeds into the
River Wandle
The River Wandle is a right-bank tributary of the River Thames in south London, England. With a total length of about , the river passes through the London boroughs of London Borough of Croydon, Croydon, London Borough of Sutton, Sutton, Londo ...
.
Human geography
Political geography and landmark status
The ridge and the historic
oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus ''Quercus'' (; Latin "oak tree") of the beech family, Fagaceae. There are approximately 500 extant species of oaks. The common name "oak" also appears in the names of species in related genera, notably ''L ...
tree known as The Vicars Oak (at the
crossroads
Crossroads, crossroad, cross road or similar may refer to:
* Crossroads (junction), where four roads meet
Film and television Films
* ''Crossroads'' (1928 film), a 1928 Japanese film by Teinosuke Kinugasa
* ''Cross Roads'' (film), a 1930 Brit ...
of the
A212 Church Road and
A214 Westow Hill) were used to mark parish boundaries.
This has led to in particular the Crystal Palace area straddling the boundaries of five London Boroughs;
Bromley
Bromley is a large town in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is south-east of Charing Cross, and had an estimated population of 87,889 as of 2011.
Originally part of Kent, Bromley became a market town, char ...
,
Croydon
Croydon is a large town in south London, England, south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a local government district of Greater London. It is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater London, with an extensi ...
,
Lambeth
Lambeth () is a district in South London, England, in the London Borough of Lambeth, historically in the County of Surrey. It is situated south of Charing Cross. The population of the London Borough of Lambeth was 303,086 in 2011. The area expe ...
,
Southwark
Southwark ( ) is a district of Central London situated on the south bank of the River Thames, forming the north-western part of the wider modern London Borough of Southwark. The district, which is the oldest part of South London, developed ...
and
Lewisham
Lewisham () is an area of southeast London, England, south of Charing Cross. It is the principal area of the London Borough of Lewisham, and was within the Historic counties of England, historic county of Kent until 1889. It is identified i ...
. The area also straddles three
postcode districts
A postal code (also known locally in various English-speaking countries throughout the world as a postcode, post code, PIN or ZIP Code) is a series of letters or numerical digit, digits or both, sometimes including spaces or punctuation, includ ...
: , , and . The ancient boundary between
Surrey
Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...
and
Kent
Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...
passes through the area and from 1889 to 1965 the area lay on the south eastern boundary of the
County of London
The County of London was a county of England from 1889 to 1965, corresponding to the area known today as Inner London. It was created as part of the general introduction of elected county government in England, by way of the Local Government A ...
. It included parts of Kent and Surrey until 1889 and then parts of Kent, London and Surrey between 1889 and 1965.
For centuries the area was occupied by the
Great North Wood
The Great North Wood was a natural oak woodland that started south-east of central London and scaled the Norwood Ridge. At its full extent, the wood's boundaries stretched almost as far as Croydon and as far north as Camberwell. It had occa ...
, an extensive area of natural oak forest that formed a wilderness close to the southern edge of the then expanding city of London. The forest was a popular area for Londoners' recreation right up to the 19th century, when it began to be built over.
Some of the area was a home of
Gypsies, with some street names and pubs recording the link.
Industry and conservation
Beds of clay and brickearth around the ridge hosted until the 20th century some of London's brickfields. Many railway tunnels cut through the ridge. The ridge still retains many vestiges of woodland.
[
]
See also
*Great North Wood
The Great North Wood was a natural oak woodland that started south-east of central London and scaled the Norwood Ridge. At its full extent, the wood's boundaries stretched almost as far as Croydon and as far north as Camberwell. It had occa ...
of which the Norwood Ridge formed a large minority.
References
{{Coord, 51.421, -0.0761, display=title, type:landmark
Hills of London
Ridges of England