Spa Wood
| Spa Wood | |
|---|---|
 The Lawns | |
  Spa Wood | |
| Type | Park |
| Location | London Borough of Croydon |
| Coordinates | 51°24′43″N0°05′35″W/ 51.4119°N 0.09299°W |
| Operated by | London Wildlife Trust |
Spa Woodis an area of ancient woodland in theLondon Borough of Croydonthat was once a part of TheGreat North Wood.In 2017, theLondon Wildlife Trustbegan a four-year project based around the Great North Wood,[1]working withCroydon Counciland the Friends of Spa Wood to improve the site for wildlife, as a part of TheGreat North Wood Project.[2]The 15.5 acres (6.3 ha) site,[3]also known asThe Lawns,is owned by the Borough of Croydon and includes the woods, a multi-games court and playground.[4]
History
[edit]Originally, there was achalybeatespring, now lost, that could be found on the grounds that was known to locals for centuries and can be traced back, possibly even to the time ofKing John.Although the spring is now lost, the history has not been forgotten.
A map of 1800 shows that the area was known as Bewlye Coppice, adjacent to Bewlye Farm.[5]
Spa Wood takes its name from Beulah Spa, a popularmineral spabuilt on the site in 1831.[6]Decimus Burton,architect ofLondon Zooand theWellington ArchatHyde Park Corner,designed the spa gardens, spa house and lodge and grounds, which contained a circus ring, a rosery, an upper and lower lake, a maze, a camera obscura, a telescope powerful enough to seeWindsor Castleand an orchestra.[7]The spa was opened by Lady Essex and was visited byQueen Victoria,William I, German EmperorandCharles Dickens.It was immensely popular until 1856, when, two years after the arrival ofThe Crystal Palaceclose by, the spa fell into disuse. Now only the lodge remains, which has since been renamed Tivoli Lodge.
In May 1858, the estate was put up for auction and was built upon. A large mansion 'The Lawns' was built sometime later and was demolished after a fire in the 1960s.
References
[edit]- ^"The Great North Wood to get a new lease of life".Newsroom.Retrieved30 September2020.
- ^"The Great North Wood - fragments of a mighty woodland in south London".London Wildlife Trust.Retrieved13 January2018.
- ^Winterman, M.A. (1988).Croydon's Parks: An illustrated history.London Borough of Croydon, Parks and Recreation Department. p. 99.ISBN0951348108.
- ^"The Lawns".Croydon Council.Retrieved13 January2018.
- ^"066: The Lawns - History of the former Beulah Spa".norwoodsociety.co.uk.
- ^"Remembering Beulah Hill spa - The Croydon Citizen".3 August 2017.
- ^Winterman, M.A. (1988).Croydon's Parks: An illustrated history.London Borough of Croydon, Parks and Recreation Department. p. 100.ISBN0951348108.