please empty your brain below
6) should refer to Wells Park. Readers searching for Sydenham Spa on Google Maps are going to be needlessly confused. It's a great park, definitely worth checking out. Legend has it that the head gardener has been working there for 40 years.

I'm a local resident and this is an excellent list, I've learnt new things even though I've lived here for over a decade. Well done DG. Glad you liked Sydenham, I love it.

A G | 05.01.26 - 1:10 a.m. | #

Today I learned the word hibernaculum. How marvellous :)

DB83 | 05.01.26 - 1:46 a.m. | #

Finally a more kitten focussed post! I didn't know about him so thanks for that.

Debster | 05.01.26 - 8:15 a.m. | #

10. Your observation is correct. Sydenham Hill is on the northern flank of the Norwood Ridge.

5. The Bowl also had regular classical concerts including an annual concert with fireworks. I remember seeing many groups there including some mentioned. Even in the 70s the old stage looked shabby and the acoustics where never great but it is sad that big acts no longer play there.

13. Sydenham Hill Wood is in my opinion probably the closest to the original vegetation of the Great North Wood that still exists. Although run by the London Wildlife Trust most of the work originally cleaning up the site and making it fit for all to enjoy was done by a group of volunteers that are still active today. They have done a remarkable job both physically and in fighting development proposals. Unsung heros of SE 26

Keith the Kraut | 05.01.26 - 8:24 a.m. | #

Sydenham where two railway tunnels cross. Not sure how unique this is.

Apuldram | 05.01.26 - 8:59 a.m. | #

Your mention of the tunnel reminds me of an early journey on Eurostar from Waterloo. As the train emerged from the Sydenham tunnel to rush through Penge East, I saw the television mast on the hill top and casually mentioned to my travelling companion that 'We must be nearly in Paris, because there's the Eiffel tower'.

A family of Americans sitting close by were astonished at the fast journey time !

Petras409 | 05.01.26 - 9:14 a.m. | #

- Petras

A fun story, for sure. But an unlikely one as the TV mast would have been behind you as you emerged from the tunnel, out of sight as you travelled east.

You can see it though as you travel west though between Kent House and Penge East heading for the tunnel, because as a retired Eurostar driver I watched my French colleagues route training video back in the 90’s which does indeed refer to the Crystal Palace transmitter as being similar to the Eiffel Tower!

A superb roundup of all things SE26, dg.

Dave | 05.01.26 - 9:57 a.m. | #

Astounsing post DG - very , very well done indeed

David Smith | 05.01.26 - 10:01 a.m. | #

Ooh, Six Pillars is lovely.

Suse | 05.01.26 - 10:02 a.m. | #

10. Visited Six Pillars during Open House many moons ago. Not sure if it has participated in more recent years.

11. Wetherspoons has named its pub in nearby Hastings after him.

Man of Kent | 05.01.26 - 10:23 a.m. | #

4) As an Ishiguro fan, I never knew this, and I feel like a plaque is in order.
And not that you're wrong or anything, but Ishiguro is a Nobel prize winner too ;)

All Over 2a | Homepage | 05.01.26 - 10:28 a.m. | #

I was totally primed this morning for a mention of the blue plaque at 7 Jews Walk, just so I could proudly pontificate about the connection between it and the blue plaque for Ernest Shackleton (16 yesterday). But...

Anyway, I learnt a lot more about a lot of other things, all from such a small area - and all interesting. Thanks.

MO | 05.01.26 - 11:57 a.m. | #

For perhaps the first time ever, I not only knew about most of these, but thanks to walking the High Level route from Crystal Palace last year, have visited most of them too - including the ventilation shaft!
Pissaro also painted the view along the now disused railway from the footbridge in Sydenham Hill Wood.

Cornish Cockney | 05.01.26 - 7:42 p.m. | #

Really enjoyed your SE26 post, very local to me and an area I enjoy exploring too. Margaret Rutherford and Leslie Howard were also local residents and have blue plaques too.

Victoria | 06.01.26 - 10:37 a.m. | #











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