Roundshaw
Encyclopedia
Roundshaw is a housing estate and park in south Wallington
on the eastern edge of the London Borough of Sutton
. Grid Ref
. It was built on part of the site of the former Croydon Airport
, and occupying roughly the area on which once stood the buildings of the first Croydon Aerodrome (the 'Plough Lane' aerodrome) which was demolished in 1928. The name comes from Roundshaw Park on the edge of the site, itself named from a round 'shaw' or grove of trees, which is still a feature. The estate is a compact one, housing some 8,000 people. It was begun in 1965, with the first tenants moving in during August 1967. Dwellings on the estate are heated from a communal boiler house. It has its own shops, a library, and a community centre; and formerly had its own public house. Roundshaw is often used as a setting for the ITV
drama, The Bill
.
A church, opened in 1981, is used by both the Church of England
and the Free Churches, which, before it was built, had collaborated in a churchless religious venture known as the 'Roundshaw Experiment'. A cross set up outside the church is made from a four-bladed propeller, or airscrew, obtained through the Croydon Airport Society. The history of the site was commemorated in various ways, including the naming of roads, and Instone Close, the high-rise block of flats demolished in November 2000, after aircraft, personalities, and firms linked with aviation. One of the schools on the site has been renamed in recent years the Amy Johnson
Primary School, after the famous aviator of the 1930s and 40s, the first woman to fly solo to Australia, whose epic flight began at Croydon in May 1930.
The schools on Roundshaw include, since 1975, the famous Wilson's School
which moved here from Camberwell
in that year. An interesting coincidence is that Sir Alan Cobham
, pioneer aviator of Far Eastern and other routes, was at Wilson's School, and that at one time a name under consideration for what became Roundshaw was Cobham Park.
Roundshaw Fields is the host to the Croydon Pirates
, one of the most successful teams in the British Baseball Federation
. The fields have 2 of the best baseball diamonds in the U.K., meaning Croydon are often the hosts of the London Tournament and National Finals.
Wallington, London
Wallington is a town in the London Borough of Sutton situated south south-west of Charing Cross. Prior to the merger of the Municipal Borough of Beddington and Wallington into the London Borough of Sutton, it was part of the county of Surrey.- History :...
on the eastern edge of the London Borough of Sutton
London Borough of Sutton
The London Borough of Sutton is a London borough in South London, England and forms part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the 80th largest local authority in England by population. It is one of the southernmost boroughs of London...
. Grid Ref
British national grid reference system
The Ordnance Survey National Grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references used in Great Britain, different from using latitude and longitude....
. It was built on part of the site of the former Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
, and occupying roughly the area on which once stood the buildings of the first Croydon Aerodrome (the 'Plough Lane' aerodrome) which was demolished in 1928. The name comes from Roundshaw Park on the edge of the site, itself named from a round 'shaw' or grove of trees, which is still a feature. The estate is a compact one, housing some 8,000 people. It was begun in 1965, with the first tenants moving in during August 1967. Dwellings on the estate are heated from a communal boiler house. It has its own shops, a library, and a community centre; and formerly had its own public house. Roundshaw is often used as a setting for the ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
drama, The Bill
The Bill
The Bill is a police procedural television series that ran from October 1984 to August 2010. It focused on the lives and work of one shift of police officers, rather than on any particular aspect of police work...
.
A church, opened in 1981, is used by both the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
and the Free Churches, which, before it was built, had collaborated in a churchless religious venture known as the 'Roundshaw Experiment'. A cross set up outside the church is made from a four-bladed propeller, or airscrew, obtained through the Croydon Airport Society. The history of the site was commemorated in various ways, including the naming of roads, and Instone Close, the high-rise block of flats demolished in November 2000, after aircraft, personalities, and firms linked with aviation. One of the schools on the site has been renamed in recent years the Amy Johnson
Amy Johnson
Amy Johnson CBE, was a pioneering English aviator. Flying solo or with her husband, Jim Mollison, Johnson set numerous long-distance records during the 1930s...
Primary School, after the famous aviator of the 1930s and 40s, the first woman to fly solo to Australia, whose epic flight began at Croydon in May 1930.
The schools on Roundshaw include, since 1975, the famous Wilson's School
Wilson's School
Wilson's School is a boys' grammar school in Wallington, in the London Borough of Sutton, UK. Admission is based on performance in an entrance test with around 1,000 pupils being taught there....
which moved here from Camberwell
Camberwell
Camberwell is a district of south London, England, and forms part of the London Borough of Southwark. It is a built-up inner city district located southeast of Charing Cross. To the west it has a boundary with the London Borough of Lambeth.-Toponymy:...
in that year. An interesting coincidence is that Sir Alan Cobham
Alan Cobham
Sir Alan John Cobham, KBE, AFC was an English aviation pioneer.A member of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I, Alan Cobham became famous as a pioneer of long distance aviation. After the war he became a test pilot for the de Havilland aircraft company, and was the first pilot for the newly...
, pioneer aviator of Far Eastern and other routes, was at Wilson's School, and that at one time a name under consideration for what became Roundshaw was Cobham Park.
Roundshaw Fields is the host to the Croydon Pirates
Croydon Pirates
Croydon Pirates are a British baseball club based in South London, England, who run three teams in various national leagues. They play at Roundshaw, which is one of the best baseball diamonds in the U.K., meaning Croydon are often the hosts of the London Tournament and National Finals.The first...
, one of the most successful teams in the British Baseball Federation
British Baseball Federation
The British Baseball Federation is the national governing body of baseball within the United Kingdom, founded in .BBF is a federated member of both the Confederation of European Baseball and the International Baseball Federation...
. The fields have 2 of the best baseball diamonds in the U.K., meaning Croydon are often the hosts of the London Tournament and National Finals.