Farthing Downs

Farthing Downs

Farthing Downs is an open space in Coulsdon in the London Borough of Croydon. Together with New Hill to the south-east, it is owned and managed by the Corporation of London. It is also part of the Farthing Downs and Happy Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest, notified in 1975. Happy Valley is...

 And Happy Valley is a 120.5 hectare

Hectare

The hectare is a metric unit of area defined as 10,000 square metres , and primarily used in the measurement of land. In 1795, when the metric system was introduced, the are was defined as being 100 square metres and the hectare was thus 100 ares or 1/100 km2...

 biological Site of Special Scientific Interest in Coulsdon

Coulsdon

Coulsdon is a town on the southernmost boundary of the London Borough of Croydon. It is surrounded by the Metropolitan Green Belt of the Farthing Down, Coulsdon Common and Kenley Common...

 in the London Borough of Croydon

London Borough of Croydon

The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...

. It was notified in 1987 for its biological and geological interest. Ideally situated very near the centre of Coulsdon

Coulsdon

Coulsdon is a town on the southernmost boundary of the London Borough of Croydon. It is surrounded by the Metropolitan Green Belt of the Farthing Down, Coulsdon Common and Kenley Common...

, 'The Downs' are part of the Metropolitan Green Belt

Metropolitan Green Belt

The Metropolitan Green Belt is a statutory green belt around London, England. It includes designated parts of Greater London and the surrounding counties of Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey in the South East and East of England regions.-History:The...

 and a favourite haunt of dog walkers and joggers alike. There is evidence of a prehistoric enclosure system and Anglo-Saxon barrow cemetery on the site, which have been excavated by archaeologists. Brian Hope-Taylor

Brian Hope-Taylor

Dr Brian Hope-Taylor was an artist, archeologist, broadcaster and university lecturer, who made a significant contribution to the understanding of early British history.-Professional career:...

surveyed three barrows in 1948/9 finding a number of skeletons. A later survey was performed by Barry Taylor in 2005.