A brief diversion from S.W. London.
Addiscombe Railway Station in Croydon is no more. Indeed, that's been the case for some time. Said to be haunted, it was demolished in 2001 following removal of the track in 1998 after being slowly run down since the end of WWII.
Six years after the demise of the station Addiscombe Railway Park was born when the vacated area became a 1.3 hectare linear park about 800 metres in length, located on part of the former Addiscombe railway track between Blackhorse Lane tramstop near Woodside, and East India Way. Opened in two phases over three years, the first section in May 2007, and the second in March 2010. It is managed by the London Borough of Croydon.
Over 1,500 shrubs and young trees have been planted by the British Trust for Nature Conservation and local volunteers, and the park provides a natural habitat for birds, wildlife and plants in the area. Ornamental gates and railings reflect the history of the site, and depict the railway and crossing point gates. Old railway sleepers have been repurposed for some of the signage, (see later), and other railway artefacts found at the site have been restored and are on display in the park.
Photographs of some of the sights follow.
Old railway sleepers repurposed for use as signage
A postcard of the station in the early 1900s
And in case you were wondering, no, I didn’t cycle to Croydon. I felt obliged to take another day off and join my wife in accompanying our eldest daughter and her boyfriend on a house viewing session in the area. With some time between viewings we walked the length of the park and took some photographs.
On returning home late afternoon I could’ve squeezed in a late bike ride, but miserable weather put paid to any lingering thoughts along those lines.
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