Description

On this walk we walk the route of the long lost Croydon Canal from West Croydon to Forest Hill exploring the delights of Selhurst, South Norwood, Anerley, Penge and Sydenham along the way.

The Croydon Canal opened in 1809 & enabled lime, timber, chalk and agricultural produce to be sent to London in exchange for coal being handled to Croydon, then an ancient market town. The canal was beset with problems as it had 28 locks between New Cross and Honor Oak, a stretch of just over 2 miles. These locks were costly to maintain, and caused queues & congestion for the barges waiting to negotiate them. The canal was a financial failure and closed in 1836 and the railway line from London Bridge to Croydon was built, generally following the route of the canal but the railway line used cuttings and embankments to avoid the twists and turns of the canal. West Croydon Station stands on the site of the Croydon Canal Basin. Lengths of canal unsuitable for the railway survived a little longer and carried on trading & used for pleasure boating though these were soon lost due to the rapid residential development as London expanded into the the suburbs.

On this walk we see remnants of the canal in Anerley and Sydenham, many other clues of the lost canal, looking at old maps and illustrations along with stories of the canal's social history plus much more along the way including the odd bit of dereliction (notably dead pubs),the home ground of Crystal Palace F.C. from 1918 until 1924 now a rail depot, the Norbury Brook, the first subway in the world to be made out of reinforced concrete and the Sensible Seat, the bench named after & unveiled by local punk rocker Captain Sensible.


The walk finishes around 5pm depending on how fast we all walk.Its a long one but not an endurance test. The walk is approx 7 miles long mainly on pavement & you are advised to have a hearty breakfast before we meet up. There will be a pub break along the walk with the opportunity to get a drink and a snack. There are also many small shops along the walk that we can stop at if required. We finish at Forest Hill Overground Station where there are several pubs and restaurants.

Dogs are welcome. The tour does not involve trespassing on private property. TIP: Arrive early and enjoy a great fry up at Golden Chef Charcoal Grill (turn right out of station)

By purchasing a ticket for a walk you are agreeing to the following terms and conditions:

Although public liability insurance is held the organiser shall not be held responsible for accidents, injury, loss or damage to persons or property as a consequence of participation in Paul Talling's walks.Ticket holders are responsible for their own safety while taking part in a walk. The guide is responsible for showing ticket holders sites of interest but not to steward ticket holders across roads etc.

The tour goes ahead regardless of the weather. No refunds due to inclement weather are given.

The walk will depart promptly at the advertised time & will not wait for late-comers. In the event that a ticket holder misses the walk no refund will be given. You are strongly urged to check TFL for weekend engineering works that may affect your journey.

Once a ticket has been purchased the agency is unable to offer a refund.

Description

London Road,

Croydon,

Greater London,

England,

CR0 2TA.