Selsdon
Encyclopedia
Selsdon is an area located in the southern suburbs of the London Borough of Croydon
. The suburb was developed during the inter-war period during the 1920s and 1930s, and is remarkable for its many Art Deco
houses. It is also well-known for the Selsdon Park Hotel
, the venue of a 1970 meeting of the Conservative
Shadow Cabinet
to settle the party manifesto for the impending general election
. Labour Party leader Harold Wilson
coined the phrase Selsdon Man to describe the free market approach which was agreed, and the Selsdon Group
was later formed within the Conservative Party to campaign for its retention.
s.
After concerns were raised about the rapid development of the village a committee was formed to ensure that an area of 200 acre (0.809372 km²) would be set aside and saved for a nature reserve
and bird sanctuary which was opened to the public in 1936 and given to the National Trust
after Coulsdon and Purley District Council and the Corporation of Croydon agreed to manage it jointly. Selsdon Wood now consists of five large meadows surrounded by extensive woodland and ancient hedges and it still retains the character of a historical woodland. In the second meadow of the Selsdon Wood area there is a bomb crater, and another in Selsdon recreation ground just inside the woods which are closed off. Much wildlife may be found in the wooded areas of Selsdon such as deer, and more recently parakeets.
In January 2007 the prominent Selsdon Clock, in rustic style with a brushwood motif round its face, was installed on the Selsdon Triangle, on the plinth of a former public toilet, in front of the Selsdon Library and Sainsbury's Supermarket.
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...
. The suburb was developed during the inter-war period during the 1920s and 1930s, and is remarkable for its many Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
houses. It is also well-known for the Selsdon Park Hotel
Selsdon Park Hotel
Selsdon Park Hotel, a luxury hotel located in Selsdon, London, England. It is housed in a country house which was for much of the 19th century the seat of the Bishops of Rochester, although the building has since that time been greatly expanded.-History:...
, the venue of a 1970 meeting of the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Shadow Cabinet
Shadow Cabinet
The Shadow Cabinet is a senior group of opposition spokespeople in the Westminster system of government who together under the leadership of the Leader of the Opposition form an alternative cabinet to the government's, whose members shadow or mark each individual member of the government...
to settle the party manifesto for the impending general election
United Kingdom general election, 1970
The United Kingdom general election of 1970 was held on 18 June 1970, and resulted in a surprise victory for the Conservative Party under leader Edward Heath, who defeated the Labour Party under Harold Wilson. The election also saw the Liberal Party and its new leader Jeremy Thorpe lose half their...
. Labour Party leader Harold Wilson
Harold Wilson
James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, FSS, PC was a British Labour Member of Parliament, Leader of the Labour Party. He was twice Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during the 1960s and 1970s, winning four general elections, including a minority government after the...
coined the phrase Selsdon Man to describe the free market approach which was agreed, and the Selsdon Group
Selsdon Group
The Selsdon Group is a British free-market economics pressure group, closely associated with the Conservative Party. Selsdon Group members believe that economic freedom is the indispensable condition for political and social freedom. The group's President is the Rt. Hon...
was later formed within the Conservative Party to campaign for its retention.
History
One side of the residential area of Selsdon is bordered by Selsdon Wood, and the whole area used to be part of Selsdon Park Estate, once well known as hunting and shooting grounds in the area. In the early 1920s the Estate was broken up and divided into smallholdingSmallholding
A smallholding is a farm of small size.In third world countries, smallholdings are usually farms supporting a single family with a mixture of cash crops and subsistence farming. As a country becomes more affluent and farming practices become more efficient, smallholdings may persist as a legacy of...
s.
After concerns were raised about the rapid development of the village a committee was formed to ensure that an area of 200 acre (0.809372 km²) would be set aside and saved for a nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
and bird sanctuary which was opened to the public in 1936 and given to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
after Coulsdon and Purley District Council and the Corporation of Croydon agreed to manage it jointly. Selsdon Wood now consists of five large meadows surrounded by extensive woodland and ancient hedges and it still retains the character of a historical woodland. In the second meadow of the Selsdon Wood area there is a bomb crater, and another in Selsdon recreation ground just inside the woods which are closed off. Much wildlife may be found in the wooded areas of Selsdon such as deer, and more recently parakeets.
In January 2007 the prominent Selsdon Clock, in rustic style with a brushwood motif round its face, was installed on the Selsdon Triangle, on the plinth of a former public toilet, in front of the Selsdon Library and Sainsbury's Supermarket.
Nearest places
- SandersteadSandersteadSanderstead is a village in London Borough of Croydon, located on high ground at the edge of the built-up area of Greater London. From 1915 to 1965 it formed a parish in the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District of Surrey. Having been a farming community in previous centuries, Sanderstead is now...
- South CroydonSouth CroydonSouth Croydon is a locality in Greater London, the area surrounding the valley south of central Croydon about 1 km in radius, centred on the Red Deer public house on the Brighton Road. It is part of the South Croydon post town and in the London Borough of Croydon...
- FarleighFarleigh, SurreyFarleigh is a village in Surrey, England about 5 miles to the South East of Croydon.The village lay within the Anglo-Saxon administrative division of Tandridge hundred....
- WarlinghamWarlinghamWarlingham is a large village on the south-eastern boundary of London, England, just across the border in Tandridge district, east Surrey. Neighbouring villages include Sanderstead, Hamsey Green, Whyteleafe, Farleigh, Fickleshole, Tatsfield and Woldingham...
- ForestdaleForestdale, LondonForestdale is a village in southeast London, UK, part of the London Borough of Croydon. It is located to the east of Selsdon, and to the west of Addington. The main building development of the village, commenced in the late 1960s and completed in the mid 70s, took place on what was previously open...
- AddingtonAddington, LondonAddington is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross.-History:...
Nearest railway stations
- Sanderstead railway stationSanderstead railway stationSanderstead railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon, a mile from Sanderstead village. It is in Travelcard Zone 6.The station, operated by Southern, is served by Oxted Line trains from East Grinstead and Uckfield to East Croydon and London Bridge and London Victoria.On the London-bound...
- South Croydon railway stationSouth Croydon railway stationSouth Croydon railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London, in Travelcard Zone 5. It is on the Brighton Line at its junction with the Oxted Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern.-History:...
- Gravel Hill tram stopGravel Hill tram stopGravel Hill tram stop is a light rail stop serving Addington, in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London. It is the main destination for tourists visiting the historic site of Addington Palace. It is also used for students who attend the John Ruskin College...
- Selsdon railway stationSelsdon railway stationSelsdon railway station was on the Croydon, Oxted and East Grinstead Railway and the now-closed Woodside and South Croydon Railway. Opened in 1885 as "Selsdon Road", it was two miles from Selsdon village...
(closed in 1983)
See also
- John Ruskin CollegeJohn Ruskin CollegeJohn Ruskin College is now the first specialist vocational sixth form college in the country. It is situated in Forestdale on the A2022 , close to the A212 roundabout, on the southern edge of London's conurbation...
- Found It Guide covering Sanderstead, Selsdon and Ballards
- 2nd Selsdon & Addington Scout Group