Roundshaw

Roundshaw
The Phoenix Centre, Roundshaw
Roundshaw
Roundshaw shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ302633
London borough	Sutton
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Postcode district	SM6
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
London Assembly	Croydon and Sutton

Roundshaw is a housing estate and park in south Wallington and Beddington on the eastern edge of the London Borough of Sutton. Grid Ref TQ302633.

History

Roundshaw Estate as it appeared in the London A-Z map book, printed in 1990

Roundshaw was built on the site of the former Croydon Airport which once occupied the buildings of the first Croydon Aerodrome (originally named 'Plough Lane') which was demolished in 1928. The estate is commemorated in various ways; the naming of roads after aircraft, personalities, and firms linked with aviation to recall the airport's history: Mollison Drive, Lindbergh Road, Olley Close, Avro Way, Brabazon Avenue among other related aviation names.^[1] The name of the estate comes from Roundshaw Park on the edge of the site, named from a round 'shaw' or grove of trees.^[2]

The estate accommodates approximately 1,800 homes. Construction began in 1965 with the first tenants moving in August 1967. The original pre-cast concrete flats and masonettes were heated from a central communal boiler house. This was demolished during the regeneration of the estate, which the newly refurbished homes incorporate their own energy-efficient modern heating systems.

The London Borough of Sutton were the sole proprietors of the Roundshaw housing stock until 2007, when the responsibility was outsourced to Metropolitan and Hyde Housing Group who jointly created Roundshaw Homes. In 2015 the estate was transferred solely to Metropolitan.^[3]

Regeneration

During the mid 1980s and throughout the 1990s, major refurbishments on the concrete dwellings were carried out by contracted specialists^[4] commissioned by the London Borough of Sutton, as the 1960s construction and build deteriorated. The layout of the estate included underground garages and balcony passageways; this provided the opportunity for anti-social behaviour.

After consultation with residents, building contractors and social housing groups, the London Borough of Sutton addressed the problems of the original estate, resulting in a regeneration programme at a cost of £30m, commenced in 1998.^[5]

Over a ten-year period, 1,000 high-rise pre-cast concrete flats and maisonnettes were demolished. The demolition and clearance was commissioned to Gregory Demolition; the first areas regenerated were Roe Way (street level) demolished by grabbers, and Instone Close (high-rise) was imploded in November 2000; this followed a roll-out of the rest of the estate being replaced with a number of low-rise houses and brick-built flats. A further 674 low rise homes were retained and refurbished.^[6]

The final phase of the demolition and regeneration was Shaw Way in 2007. The project was completed in 2010.^[7]

Local Amenities

Wilson's School, Mollison Drive, Roundshaw

St Paul's Church was constructed and opened in 1981, which is used by the Church of England and the Free Churches. St Paul's was rebuilt and extended during the regeneration. Originally, it collaborated in a churchless religious venture known as the 'Roundshaw Experiment'. A cross was set up outside the church which is made from a four-bladed propeller, or airscrew, obtained through the Croydon Airport Society.

The primary school was named after the famous aviator, Amy Johnson, the first woman to fly solo to Australia, from Croydon Airport in May 1930.^[8]

Wilson's School was moved from Camberwell to Roundshaw in 1975.

Roundshaw Fields hosts the Croydon Pirates baseball team, one of the most successful teams in the British Baseball Federation. The fields have 2 of the best baseball diamonds in the U.K. which Croydon often hosts the London Tournament and National Finals.^[9]

There are a range of shops and take-away's based in Mollison Square.

The Phoenix Centre is the hub of the local community; in addition to the sporting and recreation activities, the centre has a library and IT Centre, Local Access Point, Youth Centre, Sensory Room and the Beehive Cafe. Charities such as Mencap run sporting sessions and community groups have access to the facilities.

The Phoenix Centre provides the following resources and activities:

• Freedom Fitness Centre
• Group Exercise Studio
• Full Sized Sports Hall
• Women's Morning
• Saturday Morning Family Fun Sessions
• Sutton Evergreens 50+ Sport Activities and Exercise Classes^[10]

Regular Bus Routes From TfL - Phoenix Centre:

• 154
• 455
• S4

(The above written on 26/09/2015)^[11]

Popular culture

Mollison Drive, Roundshaw, April 1981

• Paralympic athlete David Weir lives locally in the area. The postbox in Mollison Square was painted gold in honour of the multiple medal winning performances achieved at the 2012 Paralympics.^[12]
• Roundshaw was used as a filming location for the ITV drama, The Bill.^[13]
• Sir Alan Cobham, pioneer aviator of Far Eastern and other routes, was a pupil at Wilson's School.^[14]
• The main estate road, Mollison Drive, is named after the Scottish aviator, Jim Mollison.
• 'The London Programme', made by London Weekend Television, filmed a feature on the estate in 1976.^[15]

See also

• List of Parks and Open Spaces in Croydon

References

External links

• Hidden London
• Gregory Demolition
• The Phoenix Centre - London Borough of Sutton