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St. Andrews Road, COULSDON, CR5 3HF

A branch line along the Chipstead Valley from the Brighton Main Line was first projected in 1884. This scheme failed to take off. The line from Purley East Junction to Kingswood & Burgh Heath was eventually opened on 2nd November 1897 as a single track and this was doubled during 1899. The line finally reached Tattenham Corner on 4th June 1901 - Derby Day. Woodmansterne station did not open until 17th July 1932. This is the view from the footbridge looking along the single island platform in the direction of Tattenham Corner.

The Chipstead Valley branch, which terminates at Tattenham Corner.

This was taken shortly after closure. It's Builder Centre along Chipstead Valley Road but before Build Center took over it was once called M A Rays and before this Harry Bacons. I'm still working on a date the place first opened but I do know it closed on 2nd Feb 2008 at 4pm. The site is now waiting development and this, as ever, will be houses.

St. Andrew's Road is a residential road in Woodmansterne, on the outer fringe of south London. This image was taken on a February afternoon. At this time of year, the sun is low in the sky resulting in long shadows, while trees are bare for the winter season.

My old house now long gone and demolished in 1993 to make way for Reid Close. It was a lovely house with a fantastic orchard at the rear of the garden which every year produced apples, damsons, pears and plenty of blackberries and in turn my granddad made superb wines from, quite strong as well.

Edward VIII postbox at the junction of Gidd Hill and Chipstead Valley Road For a wider view see Image

Road off Chipstead Valley Road, first shown on the 1935 1:2,500 map. On the right is an Edward VIII postbox - see Image

CR5 429 Chipstead Valley Road (417) Corner of Gidd Hill

This Edward VIII-reign postbox stands on the corner of Gidd Hill, as can be seen by the road sign alongside. As he reigned for less than a year and abdicated in frowned-upon circumstances, boxes bearing his cipher are few and far between. There are perhaps just over 100 in present-day use.

Housing in Chipstead Valley Road. The 1912-3 1:2,500 map shows a few groups of houses in this road, at which time it was called Smithambottom Road. Full development is shown on the 1935 1:2,500 map, including these houses seen here.