IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Benhurst Lane, LONDON, SW16 2JB

Two of a group of five large Victorian houses at the south end of the road. The one on the right has an elaborate castellated porch and a large staircase window. They are within the Leigham Court Road (South) Conservation Area. Leigham Court Road was laid out in 1839, and while development began in the early 1840s, it didn’t really take off until after the building of the Crystal Palace and West End Railway and the opening of Streatham Hill station in 1856. Quite a number of the original, large Victorian houses survive at either end of the road, and even though their grounds have in some cases since been built on, the remaining mature trees and general landscaping have enabled the area to retain “much of its original arcadian character.” Information from Lambeth Council (http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/exeres/CE4B5CE1-0387-40ED-B5A9-273A5160C34A.htm )

An inch or two of snow had been deposited in the morning, the first in this area for a couple of years if memory serves. It had mostly gone by the evening, but some persisted into the following day as temperatures dropped but everything had gone green by the day after that.

Its proper scientific name is Araucaria araucana.

The stretch of road between the junction with Ilex Way and Leaf Grove.

Rather fine deodar (Cedrus deodara), I believe. This was my initial speculation, since endorsed by a correspondent, so I am reasonably confident.

Looking south, opposite St Julian's Close. This is pretty much the reverse of this view: Image The road is named after Leigham Court, a large house which was demolished in 1908. This stretch of the road is within the Leigham Court Road (South) Conservation Area due to its remaining mature trees and general landscaping which mean it has retained “much of its original arcadian character.” Information from Lambeth Council (http://www.lambeth.gov.uk/NR/exeres/CE4B5CE1-0387-40ED-B5A9-273A5160C34A.htm )