Inventory Site Record

South Norwood Lake was constructed to supply the London to Croydon Canal, which opened in 1809. No longer viable by 1836 it was purchased by the London & Croydon Railway Co., the canal then drained and used for railway track bed. In 1881 Norwood Sports Club leased 16 acres of land for a cricket field and the lake for fishing, swimming and skating. Further land was acquired and when the club was sold in 1911 its facilities included bowls, cricket and tennis. In 1931 Croydon Corporation purchased 16 acres of land, and the lake and surrounds opened to the public, although the club continued to lease the facilities. In 1933 the Corporation leased 37 acres including the former golf course and bowling green, eventually purchasing it in 1936. In 1969 all the grounds were opened to the public.

Previous / Other name:

Norwood Common

Site location:

Woodvale Avenue/Auckland Road/Sylvan Road, South Norwood

Postcode:

SE25 4DX

What 3 Words:

afford.lies.trap

Type of site:

Public Park

Borough:

Croydon

Open to public?

Yes

Opening times:

8am Mon-Fri/9am weekends - dusk

Special conditions:

Facilities:

Lake: fishing and sailing (Croydon Sailing Club). Cricket, tennis, basketball, bowling green, toilets, children's playground, trim trail.

Events:

Public transport:

Rail/London Overground: Norwood Junction c.2km to south. Bus: 410, 196, 468

Citymapper    
Google Map    
streetmap.co.uk

Research updated:

01/12/2008

Last minor changes:

19/07/2023

Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.croydon.gov.uk

The site is a relic of industrial landscape adapted to amenity use, and was once part of Norwood Common. The land to the north was owned by the Archbishops of Canterbury. The man-made lake, formerly larger, was constructed as one of two reservoirs to supply the London to Croydon Canal, designed by engineer John Rennie, which opened in October 1809. An earlier scheme by engineer Ralph Dodd was not adopted. The Canal Company owned barges, horses and crews and gained its income from tolls and from fishing licences and sale of osiers. By 1836 the canal was no longer viable and was purchased by the London and Croydon Railway Co., which drained the canal and used it for railway track bed.

The reservoir was left derelict but was restored in 1881 by the Norwood Sports Club and used for fishing, swimming and skating. The club was formed by Alfred Steer, Lord of the Manor, who leased 16 acres of land including the lake and cricket field and, in 1888 leased a further 37 acres from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners who then owned the land. The Club became the largest tennis club in the world with 54 grass courts. When the club was sold in 1911 its facilities included bowls, cricket and tennis, in addition to the lake. Messrs Middleton and Bersey then ran the club as White Lodge Ltd. A golf course on the site was used for gun sites and balloons in WWI but badly damaged.

At one time the Club had over 50 acres of land; it was taken over gradually by Croydon Corporation and finally opened to the public in 1969. In 1931 Croydon Corporation had purchased 16 acres although the Club continued to lease the facilities, while the lake was opened to the public. In 1933 the Corporation leased 37 acres including the golf course and bowling green, and eventually purchased it in 1936. Members of the public had been able to take boat trips on the lake on 'The Skylark' motor boat until 1955. In 1969 all the grounds, cricket field, tennis courts and bowling green were opened to the public.

There is basic tree planting, dominated by the straight outlines of the lake, with Willow along the lake's edge, Corsican Pines and Black Poplar at the north end and ragged grassland. The former clubhouse became derelict but is now leased to Croydon Voluntary Action for community use. A viewing platform was installed in 2006, overlooking the lake.

Sources consulted:

Winterman, M A, Croydon's parks: an illustrated history (LB Croydon, 1988) p95/6; LB Croydon, 'Local List of Historic Parks & Gardens', December 2008

Grid ref:

TQ339692 (533887,169429)

Size in hectares:

11.53

Site ownership:

LB Croydon

Site management:

Parks and Open Spaces. Friends of South Norwood Lakes

Date(s):

1809; 1881 onwards

Designer(s):

Listed structures:

None

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 Data

The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.

On Local List:

Yes

In Conservation Area:

No

Tree Preservation Order:

No

Nature Conservation Area:

Yes - Borough Importance II (part)

Green Belt:

No

Metropolitan Open Land:

Yes

Special Policy Area:

No

Other LA designation:

None