please empty your brain below
Both thin slivers of wood are part of the Green Belt, though I'm not sure whether that was the case before or after the developers came along.

martin | 06.08.22 - 7:14 a.m. | #

I am massively surprised that there is a bus route you haven’t previously ridden that goes through the OS square

Brian | 06.08.22 - 7:16 a.m. | #

I may have ridden every London bus route, but I haven't ridden every mile of every route.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 06.08.22 - 7:32 a.m. | #

Red posts at a zebra crossing? Oh they're the tops of pencils.

The most recent Streetview for 01/21 just shows plain road, so that's quite a new crossing.

Still Anon | 06.08.22 - 8:11 a.m. | #

Ran down that wooded hill from Old Coulsdon many times, before turning right and looping up the lane towards the airfield. I always found the buses turning in the recycling bay to be a bit of an obstacle.

Jack | 06.08.22 - 8:12 a.m. | #

My sister used to live just down from the terminus. I used to get the 234 bus to school, it was a RF single decker back then! I once took it all the way to the end to see what was there & never went back until my sister moved there.

Andrew Jarman | 06.08.22 - 1:50 p.m. | #

Very interesting post. I was born in Old Lodge Lane with my parents living in the same house from 1955 to 2022. I spent much of my childhood playing in the woods bordering the golf course.

The bus used to be the 234A and the turnaround was originally just south of the foot of Coles Croft Hill (on the west side of Old Lodge Lane), before the route was extended to service the council estate.

Surprised you didn't mention the Wattenden Arms at the top of the lane, named after the 7th century lost village of Wattendone. It contains plenty of memorabilia related to the Second World War and the local airfield. I worked there in the 1980s when it was packed at weekends but these days it's rather quiet.

Rob Salter | 06.08.22 - 5:42 p.m. | #

Rob Salter,

Surprised you didn't mention the Wattenden Arms at the top of the lane

'Were you to continue south you'd eventually reach the end of Old Lodge Lane' ... but obviously I've been there already.' is a bit of a clue.

Old Lodge Lane ceases being in TQ3159 almost exactly at the bus terminus. DG was very careful to keep strictly to that square other than to add a bit of context at the end.

Pedantic of Purley | 06.08.22 - 7:15 p.m. | #

It never ceases to amaze me how you seem to know more about near where I live than I do.

A few dull personal observations about Old Lodge Lane.

When lockdown started and we weren't supposed to catch buses I ended up doing a large circular walk and had to walk the entire length of Old Lodge Lane to get home. Walking the built up section of this road must rank as one of the most boring walks I have ever done. The road is long and consists mostly of entirely uninteresting houses.

Following that, when we were allowed to drive a bit, I regularly took my dog to Kenley Common and the airfield. This involved driving the entire length of Old Lodge Lane in second gear as it is a 20mph zone. I am all for 20mph zones but this must be one of the longest 20mph roads in London.

The 455 bus along here is supposed to be replaced by an extended 312 if the consultation proposals go ahead. Route 312 is currently fully electric and there are 5 buses an hour. The 455 only runs three times an hour. I wonder what we will get?

I can't help feeling sorry for the 455 drivers as TfL really ought to provide toilet facilities at the end of the route.

Pedantic of Purley | 06.08.22 - 7:27 p.m. | #

Is it only me that thinks of In Shops when seeing In Wood?

Al | 06.08.22 - 7:29 p.m. | #

Pedantic of Purley,

The 455 bus along here is supposed to be replaced by an extended 312 if the consultation proposals go ahead.

'Route 455 is to be withdrawn, maybe in March 2024, and route 312 extended to cover Old Lodge Lane instead.' is a bit of a clue. :)

James | 06.08.22 - 7:43 p.m. | #

"...you'd eventually reach the end of Old Lodge Lane, that unexpectedly rural pond you meet halfway round London Loop section 5"
Except that the London Loop crosses Old Lodge Lane a little further along which might explain why I never saw that pond.

davews | 06.08.22 - 8:26 p.m. | #

Other Old Lodge Lane trivia: Famous residents included (Sir) Bernard Ingham and Crystal Palace footballer David Payne.

Rob Salter | 06.08.22 - 10:32 p.m. | #











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