| Coulsdon | |
Coulsdon in 1983 |
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Coulsdon
Coulsdon shown within Greater London |
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| OS grid reference | TQ298596 |
|---|---|
| London borough | Croydon |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | COULSDON |
| Postcode district | CR5 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| 01737 | |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Croydon South |
| London Assembly | Croydon and Sutton |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
Coulsdon (pronounced /ˈkuːlzdən/ by the majority of its inhabitants now, although well into the 20th century the local pronunciation was 'Colesdon') is a town on the southernmost boundary of the London Borough of Croydon. It is surrounded by the Metropolitan Green Belt of the Farthing Down, Coulsdon Common and Kenley Common. The modern area designated Coulsdon comprises Old Coulsdon, which was the older and first settlement, and Smitham Bottom, which grew substantially with the coming of the railways.
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Coulsdon is a small suburban district in South London, England. It has a strong and vibrant local history, which includes Saxon burial mounds and an Iron Age Field System on Farthing Downs,[1] an ancient church recorded in the Domesday book, Marlpit, a former industrial chalk quarry, and the former Cane Hill Mental Hospital (a site currently under development). Appearing in the Domesday Book as Colesdone it boasted one church and rendered £7[2] to Chertsey Abbey. Its only other Domesday assets were 3½ hide, 7 ploughs, and woodland worth 3 hogs.
Prior to Domesday, the village's name appears to have gone through a number of changes. Originally it seems to have derived from Cuðrædsdun, i.e. Cuthred's down (or hill), via Curedesdone (675), subsequently elided to Curresdone and Cullesdune.[3]
The town later lay within the Anglo-Saxon administrative division of Wallington hundred, but is now firmly established as a locality in its own right. Indeed, Coulsdon now covers a multitude of geographical settlements - from Old Coulsdon, through Coulsdon Woods, the High Street (Brighton Road), properly Smitham Bottom, to the Mount (Clockhouse).
The local history of Cousldon, together with that of other former villages in the surrounding area, is included within the scope of the The Bourne Society [4]. This takes its name from the seasonal 'bourne' or stream that runs through local valleys following unusually wet winters in the district and by tradition foretells national or local disaster.
Formerly within the administrative county of Surrey, as part of the Urban District of Coulsdon and Purley, boundary changes, London Government Act 1963, meant that in 1965 it became part of the Greater London Borough of Croydon. Coulsdon remains postally as 'Surrey'.
The area between Smitham and Old Coulsdon was filled by housing development in the later 19th and especially the 20th centuries. The two centres still, however, have separate characters, with the village green, parade of shops and mediaeval church giving a 'village' feel to Old Coulsdon, while the Brighton Road and the railway give the old Smitham Bottom a bustling, busier atmosphere.
Coulsdon has recently benefited from the long awaited bypass, a relief road called the Farthing Way, which opened in December 2006 as part of The Coulsdon Town Centre Improvement Scheme. Whilst mourning the loss of Woolworth's and the local bookstore in recent years, the pub The Pembroke and Café Nero opened in the past few years. Coulsdon also contains the head office of Jane's Information Group. Tesco have opened an 'Express' branch in the old Woolworths store.
Around Coulsdon are attractive and important open spaces, largely chalk downland set upon the northern edge of the North Downs. Farthing Downs and New Hill are owned by the City of London Corporation, and Happy Valley Park by Croydon Council. Farthing Downs and Happy Valley are a Site of Special Scientific Interest.[5] Farthing Downs is also a scheduled ancient monument, showing evidence of human occupation going back to the Neolithic period, including Iron Age fields and Anglo-Saxon barrows.[6] The London LOOP footpath around the capital passes through Farthing Downs in the section of the route between Hamsey Green and Banstead. The Coulsdon section was the first of the 24 to be opened.
Places of worship in Coulsdon include:
Purley John Fisher Rugby Football Club[10] in the splendidly named Parsons Pightle in Old Coulsdon. Coulsdon United Football Club participate in the Combined Counties League Division One. Chipstead Rugby CLub [11] play locally at The Meads, Chipstead, offering mini, youth, adult social and adult league rugby.
Old Coulsdon once boasted one of the oldest cricket clubs in the world – founded in 1762. Old Coulsdon were one of the strongest teams in the country in the late 18th century / early 19th century and once boasted 8 Internationals (England) in their ranks, as well as a young Stuart Surridge. The club was quite possibly the first to use three stumps and two bails and frequently played matches on the most famous early Cricket grounds such as Mitcham, and later in Grange Park in the village. In 1995 falling player numbers forced the club to merge with the nearby Redhill Cricket Club and the newly formed club still exists to this day, playing at the Ring on Earlswood Common in Redhill as Redhill & Old Coulsdon Cricket Club.
The Coulsdon Martial Arts Club (also known as Yoshin Ryu) is long established and very popular with children and adults. Founded and led by Errol Field, 6th dan Judo, 4rd dan Karate, 6th dan Ju Jitsu.
Old Coulsdon Hash House Harriers [4] combine fitness with a post-run pub drink.
An eighteen hole golf course is available in the grounds of Coulsdon Manor Hotel [5]. Green bowls is available next door [12]!
There are several public parks which host a range of sporting activities. The Memorial Gardens has an adventure park, crazy golf, basketball, tennis, cricket and, in the summer, 'beach games' and events organised by the café. Grange Park (Old Coulsdon) has a playground, football pitches and is widely used for picnics. Rickman Hill Park hosts football, and has a children's playground, and tennis courts that (2009) are being refurbished.
Ten pin bowling,[13] Fitness First [14] and Fight Factory [6] are to be found in the locality, near Reedham rail station.
Walking, and horse riding are popular activities on the downs. And, of course, Coulsdon is a key vantage point from which to witness any of the London-Brighton rallies http://www.lbvcr.com/; http://www.london-to-brighton.co.uk/ .
The railway stations in the Coulsdon area are:
There was previously a station at Coulsdon North, adjacent to Smitham station.
| Section 5: | London Outer Orbital Path | Section 6: |
|---|---|---|
| Hamsey Green | Coulsdon | Banstead |