Path into Grangewood Park, South Norwood

Image: © Marathon Taken: 21 Oct 2011

Grangewood was originally part of the Manor of Whitehorse and the wood known as Whitehorse Wood was part of the Great North Wood. In 1800 the wood was completely surrounded by fields but by the mid 19th century the east and west sides of Whitehorse Wood were cleared for development, whilst the remaining 30 acres to the east of Grange Road were developed as a private estate. This now forms Grangewood Park. It had a mansion at the centre with extensive gardens to the south. Croydon Corporation bought Grangewood Park in 1900. The mansion and grounds were badly damaged in the Second World War and the house was demolished in 1960. The formal garden at the centre of the park marks the site. When the Council acquired the park they built a bandstand but this was also demolished after the Second World War. On the day I was walking into the park, a nearby bonfire was adding its smoke to the autumn sunlight streaming through the trees.

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