please empty your brain below
The London loop section 5 link at the end was the post that led to me discovering this blog 8 years ago

Tom | 12.06.22 - 7:25 a.m. | #

I wonder why I am reminded of Charles Dickens working notes number plans.

Noel | Homepage | 12.06.22 - 8:06 a.m. | #

Hooley is, as any transport nerd kno, the terminus of the M23 Pease Pottage to, er, Hooley motorway.

Lorenzo | 12.06.22 - 8:06 a.m. | #

Hooley is a depressing place that seems to be defined by it being located next to a motorway entrance and exit.

The main activity in the place seems to be filling up at one of the two fuel stations. There is also a well-used Starbucks located just before you pull onto the slip road for the M23.

One should not forget 'the bridge to nowhere'. This is a full size motorway bridge built to extend the M23 to Mitcham where it would connect with Ringway 2. It is used as a motorway maintenance depot.

Pedantic of Purley | 12.06.22 - 8:50 a.m. | #

The bridge to nowhere. Beat me to it Pedantic! My mate helped build it.

Chris | 12.06.22 - 8:58 a.m. | #

Netherne-on-the-Hill is really weird. I have never met anyone from there. Indeed, I am not even sure how to pronounce it. The place is like a maze with no obvious visible reference point so it is very easy to get lost on foot - and almost impossible not to by vehicle unless following a reliable satnav.

There never seems to be anyone around. I wonder if they are afraid to venture out on foot because they would never find their way back home.

The Lower Traffic Neighbourhood style was designed into the estate from the outset. I am not sure I really understand why. It is not on the way to anywhere so could hardly be used as a rat run.

When I first started reading this post I thought it might be about St Lawrence's at Caterham-on-the-Hill. More like a hospital and less an asylum. The Victorians seemed to like locating the unwanted long-term sick and mentally incapacitated around here. As you hint at, there is also Cane Hill nearby.

That footpath is generally nice in summer but is absolutely treacherous in muddy conditions.

Pedantic of Purley | 12.06.22 - 8:59 a.m. | #

The main attraction of Hooley (for me) has always been the one remaining bridge over the former Surrey Iron Railway at Dean Lane, next to today's Starbucks.

Petras409 | 12.06.22 - 9:00 a.m. | #

Netherne was home to one of London's least known and least publicised bus routes. The Netherne Community Bus linked the estate to Coulsdon South Station in the peak hours but ended in 2020 with a drop of passenger numbers due to the pandemic. I have no idea if it has restarted.

At one time London Transport ran a twice weekly bus route 472 from Leatherhead for hospital visitors. The Hospital ran a staff bus to the Brighton Road to link up with the 405/414 buses so staff could get to work or for resident staff to go shopping. Non-residents were also carried by prior arrangement, my mother used to use it to visit her cousin who was married to the hospital chaplain.

Alan JS | 12.06.22 - 10:20 a.m. | #

Fascinating. These old hospital sites have proved a godsend for developers, the Shenley Hospital site (on the opposite side of London, in Herts) has similarly been turned into a housing estate, surrounded by Green Belt.

Mikey C | 12.06.22 - 10:32 a.m. | #

Another former LCC asylum-turned-1990s housing estate is that at Claybury, now the gated community known as Repton Park. The entrance gates there are just in Essex, but the development itself is within LB Redbridge. It also features a swimming pool in the former chapel, and a penthouse in the water tower.

Alan S | 12.06.22 - 10:53 a.m. | #

I watched the video before I read the reveal and that was not what I was expecting to see!

Cornish Cockney | 12.06.22 - 10:56 a.m. | #

Rather intriguing that the videographer has fairly comprehensively covered Hungary - and Netherne-on-the-Hill.

Peter | 12.06.22 - 7:22 p.m. | #

I find it curious that a dead end would need to worry about rat running.

Sprout Eater | 12.06.22 - 9:02 p.m. | #

Have you blogged about Chaldon church yet? Or does its multilingual information sheet about its most famous feature make it too touristy (!) for your blog?

dg writes: Try clicking the last link in the post.

Merton walker | 12.06.22 - 9:30 p.m. | #

I saw one of the flats in the water tower up for sale recently. Given the location, it was surprisingly affordable so I can only assume that the monthly fees are ruinous.

Chz | 13.06.22 - 8:42 a.m. | #











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