31 replies to this topic

[charlie]

Spotted in the Croydon Advertiser. Great initiative. Some of the best ideas are thought up over a pint and every one loves a historical walk.

http://www.thisiscro...tail/story.html

"FIRST it was guided tours of Croydon, now another band of history buffs are getting in on the act – by forming The South Norwood Tourist Board.

The trio behind the SNTB are out to prove the credentials of South Norwood as a bona fide tourist destination, by citing its links to everything from the football World Cup to Sherlock Holmes.

Jason Cooper, 40, explained he thought-up the concept over a pint at the William Stanley pub in High Street, with friends Ian Woods and Richard Lammy.

Mr Cooper, of Dundee Road, South Norwood, said: "We read a book about Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes and it's strange South Norwood doesn't maximise the link. The Sherlock Holmes Society has tens of thousands of members and in America there is a huge amount of interest."

Doyle lived in Tennison Road, South Norwood, from 1891 to 1894, which is where he wrote the famous Reichenbach Falls story – the death of Holmes.

He also played cricket at Norwood Lakes.

The trio's idea is to organise a series of walks and talks around the sites of interest.

Mr Cooper said: "It would be nice for the council to erect signs saying you are entering Sherlock Holmes Country.

"People will think 'the South Norwood Tourist Board, they're having a laugh'. We're quite happy for them to have a laugh."

Another focus of the SNTB will be on one of the country's most famous dogs.

Pickles achieved overnight fame when he discovered the stolen World Cup in a garden in Beulah Hill. Three months later, England went on to win the trophy.

Mr Cooper added: "In 2016 it will be the 50th anniversary of us winning the World Cup and the interest in Pickles the dog will come again."

The SNTB is open to other ideas that will put South Norwood on the map.

Renowned engineer William Stanley is from the area and his work included building Stanley Halls and founding the Stanley Technical School, now the Harris Academy South Norwood.

Mr Cooper added: "We found out Malcolm Muggeridge lived in Birchanger Road, but there's not much mileage in that."

The official launch of the SNTB will be July 31, the centenary celebration of the "world's first concrete subway" opening by Norwood Junction.

For further information, e-mail the SNTB at southnorwoodtouristboard@gmail.com or call 07747 514712."

[andreas]

There is a fair bit in and around South Norwood. It's a well-preserved Victorian suburb, not much bombing, not much postwar redevelopment. An area that could become increasingly appreciated over the coming decades. Among the highlights, in a rather random order:

1) Davidson Road Schools: D H Lawrence taught here from 1908 to 1912,

2) Grangewood Park

3) South Norwood Lake

4) South Norwood Country Park

5) Sunny Bank – ghosts of the Croydon Canal

6) 12 Tennison Road, where Arthur Conan Doyle lived from 1891 to 1894

7) South Norwood Country Park

8) Beaulieu Heights

9) Spurgeon’s College, South Norwood Hill

10) Stanley Halls and Technical School, South Norwood Hill

But there are plenty of other things to look at and stories to hear about in between these places and others.

Edit - I meant to add Crystal Palace FC at No.7 rather than repeating South Norwood Country Park. I'm going to place a bet on whether the VN editing function gets fixed before the first tourist coaches pitch up at The Albion.

[trixie]

Thanks to you both for positive support -we've had a great response. website now up and running at www.southnorwoodtouristboard.wordpress.com

we are doing some research on Sextus Dyball architect who designed the white hart as well as lots in south norwood - any info welcome

[charlie]

Ofcourse, we also have St John the Evangelist church, Upper Norwood (although I am sure it sits in South Norwood ward) which is grade 2* listed and built between 1878 - 1887.

The architect, John Loughborough Pearson RIBA, perhaps best known for Truro Cathedral, was one of the finest exponents of the gothic revival style and one of the greatest church architects of his generation. Well worth a visit to view the magnificent interior and vaulting for which he was famous.

The church also has a famous organ and a long established musical tradition.

Loads of information to be found on both.

[Andy]

I think the world cup link to South Norwood is stretching it a bit, as Beulah Hill surely is in Upper Norwood.!!

[andreas]

Well, it is only a matter of time, as South Norwood's fame grows, estate agents will lead the way as usual... watch out Dulwich.

[Bovine Juice]

Well, it is only a matter of time, as South Norwood's fame grows, estate agents will lead the way as usual... watch out Dulwich.

Or North South Norwood as it will be rebranded...

[ISACC]

Well, it is only a matter of time, as South Norwood's fame grows, estate agents will lead the way as usual... watch out Dulwich.

I'd like to see Dulwich rebranded as South Peckham!

And on the Conan Doyle theme, wouldn't the topic "Strange goings on at South Norwood Lake" be a good sequel to "The Norwood Builder" - touch of the Hound of the Baskervilles? Attempts have been made to write in his style, by his son or grandson I think, not very successfully though IMO.

[charlie]

I think the world cup link to South Norwood is stretching it a bit, as Beulah Hill surely is in Upper Norwood.!!

I agree Andy - how does one define the area known as South Norwood? I live in South Norwood ward but my postal address is Upper Norwood.

South Norwood Country Park used to be a sewage farm btw - I reckon that could be a unique smelling selling point for the Tourist Board.

[Andy]

I thought South Norwood started somewhere towards the top of South Norwood Hill, but exactly where is for more learned minds to determine! I would hazard a guess somewhere around that park, Beulah Heights (if my memory serves me correctly).

[Michael Charles]

I was born in Upper Norwood and used to go swimming in Portland Road when I was a lad, marvelous, I always opted to buy a portion of chips and soldier may way back up the hill towards Crown Point instead of jumping on to a 196. The memories are fond but leave me with a heavy heart because they are so long ago, the smell of chlorine was diminished by the smell of fish and chips and provided me with the energy required to make that treacherous journey.

I can't really see SN as a tourist destination except for maybe The Ship and The William Stanley on a pub crawl cos of the scrumptious ales they serve.

[charlie]

Thanks to you both for positive support -we've had a great response. website now up and running at www.southnorwoodtouristboard.wordpress.com

we are doing some research on Sextus Dyball architect who designed the white hart as well as lots in south norwood - any info welcome

charleswj was trying to post some history on South Norwood back in 2010 - might provide some useful context for tours. Not sure if he is still contactable though.

http://www.virtualno...-south-norwood/

[MrsCunningham]

Well apparently we have British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum @ 23 Rosendale Road, West Dulwich, London, SE21. Who knew???

Some old royal is going to visit it today! http://www.royal.gov...ts.aspx?MRF=DOG

[Ziwa]

Good find, MrsCunningham!

BTW, the Concrete House is a bit of a fixer-upper, isn't it! I've always wondered about it. I hope Mr Duke, of Gloucester, wears a hardhat on that site.

(commas are everything, aren't they ;-)

[trixie]

SNTB now attempting to market area as LOVE CAPITALUK because the road Love Lane leads onto a tunnel - the only place in UK with Love Lane and Tunnel of Love lane...........good effort
www.southnorwoodtouristboard.wordpres.com