Finding the Villas....Part 2 It is surprisingly difficult to find out exact dates for when the villas were demolished. However, an Ordnance Survey map of 1959 shows all eight villas whereas one revised and published in 1968 show that The Hoo, Fairwood and Fernbank had, by that time, been demolished. Lapsewood Demolished sometime in the early 1970s, very little remains of this substantial house. Adjacent to Sydenham Hill, the levelled ground is some 2-3 metres lower and this marks the site of the house. There is a high brick retaining wall that divided the grounds of Lapsewood from those of Beechgrove next door. Although not shown on the 1870 map, that of 1916 shows the gap between Lapsewood House and this wall had been filled in by a glass structure, perhaps a conservatory. Further along Cox's Walk, the remains of the greenhouses can be found emerging from the ivy. Mainly brick footings and retaining walls, also there are some tiling panels still to be found. The mul...
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New Developments in the Wood It's been a few months since the last post and the rhythm of work in the Wood has settled down to general maintenance of paths, fences and dead hedges, along with routine surveys of the wildlife that makes its home here. However, there are two major developments which, it is expected, will bring huge benefits to the Wood and its users in the near future. Firstly, the Wildlife Trust has been successful in its bid for funding to put together a plan to reunite both Sydenham Hill and Dulwich Woods. Although, in effect, the same fragment of the Great North Wood, they have very different characteristics and management. The majority of Sydenham Hill Wood lies to the east of the old railway track alignment of the High Level line that used to bring visitors to Crystal Palace. Closed in 1954, the route has, in parts returned to nature and the longest section of this runs through the Wood to the tunnel which took it through t...
The Wood That Built London A new book has been published which charts the importance of the Great North Wood to the life and development of London. Written by Chris Schüler, who volunteers regularly in the Wood, this book is a must for anyone who knows the Wood and is interested in its place in the history of the area. Of course, as the title suggests, it covers not only Sydenham Hill Wood but the Great North Wood as a whole, fragments of which include the likes of Dulwich Wood, Beaulieu Heights and One Tree Hill. It can be obtained from local booksellers and from internet sites such as Waterstones and Amazon. More information can be found here.... https://sandstonepress.com/books/the-wood-that-built-london
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