please empty your brain below
I've driven around this area many times and noticed most of the things mentioned in this post, but it takes someone like DG to put all these observations together.

I mean I vaguely knew that some parts were nicer than the other and that the roads are rather complicated (in particular a one-way system on the Croydon - Thornton Heath side that makes "rat-running" awkward**) but only after reading today's post did I realise it has to do with the borough boundaries and the higher ground being developed earlier/more affluent!

**so, when trying to drive between Croydon and NW London, there are two routes you can take, the A23 or going round (the other side of) Pollards Hill. When the A23 is congested, it is sometimes faster to go via Pollards Hill estate, but only in particular situations otherwise you end up stopping at every traffic light, some of which only let 1-2 vehicles through every 2 minutes. Yet driving is still better(cheaper/faster/more direct) than public transport for the specific route that I travel.

John | 12.03.19 - 8:46 a.m. | #

I was born in a prefab at South Lodge Avenue in Pollards Hill and spent the first five years of my life there.

fishislandskin | 12.03.19 - 9:16 a.m. | #

Lots of insight here. I am not familiar with geography field trip report marking schemes, but I would venture a mark in the high nineties.
I knew nothing about the area, but now I feel well informed.
I like the cloud reflections on the north-pole-pointer.

M6 | 12.03.19 - 9:35 a.m. | #

Pedestal? Don't you mean toposcope?

dg writes: Croydon council describe it as a pedestal.

Vic Flange | 12.03.19 - 2:14 p.m. | #

I think the toposcope is the display on top of the pedestal, not the pedestal itself.

James Webber | 12.03.19 - 6:45 p.m. | #

Good stuff.

As Nineteenth Road has no premises, it does not seem to have a postcode. It does appear in map searches, though, and it is claimed to be in "Lonesome". Which seems to be a recognised name of a suburb. Not one that I had ever heard of before, though rather fascinating.

Malcolm | 12.03.19 - 6:55 p.m. | #

Apparently it got the name as it was right on the edge of Mitcham's lavender fields and had a sparse population. Parts of now what is called Streatham Vale were previously considered as Lonesome.

The name is exists in a few places today. There's a travellers site called the Lonesome Depot, plus a primary school on Grove Road.

Ian C | 12.03.19 - 7:08 p.m. | #

As a denizen of Mitcham I am familiar with the grottier parts of Pollard's Hill but had not realised that some of it is quite nice.

JF | 12.03.19 - 7:16 p.m. | #











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