Palmer's Fields to public park
Shielded from the bustle of the London Road at Norbury by a row of shops and the local Police Station lies one of Croydon's least known public open spaces Norbury Park.
Since 1935 the public have been able to enjoy the 28.5 acres of parkland here, many visitors being unaware of the origins and history of the site. Originally open farmland, the area was referred to in a survey of 1800 simply as Palmer's Fields. This signifies that it was leased by a Mr Palmer from the landowners, Pembroke College in Cambridge.
By the 1870's it was being used to train horses for the Streatham Races which were held between 1868 and 1878 on a course laid out between Rowan Road and Northborough Road.
Following the demise of the horse races, the land subsequently became the Hermitage Sports Ground. In October 1897 the area formed part of 90 acres of land leased by the North Surrey Golf Club on which they laid out an 18 hole golf course.
The officials originally planned to use the Hermitage, a large mansion on the edge of the grounds at the junction of Green Lane and Hermitage Lane, as a club house. However, when this was destroyed by fire in February 1898, a new wooden clubhouse was built, designed by Messrs Gibson and Russell, the architects of Wakefield Town Hall.
A fascinating old photograph of the club house appears in Raymond Wheeler's book Images of Norbury, Thornton Heath and Broad Green published by Tempus.
To help keep the grass on the fairways short, sheep sent down from Scotland for the London meat market were driven onto the course to graze.
Once fattened-up they would then be rounded up into a large pen that stood Norbury Police Station now stands, before being driven off to market for slaughter.
A Scottish shepherd and his two dogs came down with the sheep and he would spend the summer living in a hut on the golf course. When all the sheep had been sold, he would then go back to Scotland for the winter, returning with a new flock the following year.
During the First World War wounded soldiers from Croydon's military hospitals were entertained at the Golf Club and various social events were organised here for their amusement.
After the war, demand for housing led to the gradual development of the surrounding area and the golf course continually shrunk in size until by 1933 only 36 acres were available for play.
The course was eventually purchased by Croydon Council and the last ball was putted on the green of the 18th hole in December 1934. Most of the land the council acquired was converted into a public park with a small part of the site being set aside for housing with the development of Granville and Heatherset Gardens.
Plans for building a public road across the park, linking Norbury Hill to the London Road by the side of Norbury Police Station, were subsequently abandoned and only a footpath survives along this route today.
Images of Norbury, Thornton Heath And Broad Green costs £10.98 including postage and packing and is available from Local History Publications, 316 Green Lane, Streatham, London SW16 3AS.