Updated June 2023
…AND WE’VE GOT A FILM FESTIVAL!!! See here: www.cpiff.co.uk
FIRSTLY, A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY: Once upon a time much of this area was covered by the Great North Wood. Gipsies camped here. Paxton rebuilt the Crystal Palace here.
Camille Pissarro painted here. The artist Eleanor Fortescue Brickdale was born here, attending Crystal Palace school of art. Another woman artist, Henrietta Rae, and her artist husband Ernest Normand lived in Fox Hill Gardens and had a studio in the garden of 153 Auckland Road.
Emile Zola photographed the area. Ken Russell filmed scenes for one of his films on the long-gone Crystal Palace high level station. Many people know the area as Upper Norwood, these days it’s more commonly known as Crystal Palace…
WELCOME WELKOM VELKOMMEN WILLKOMMEN ECOUTER TO CRYSTAL PALACE
The main jewels of the area are the Upper Norwood library and our ‘own’ Everyman cinema. The library is now known as the Upper Norwood library hub which sits in Westow Hill on one side of the main ‘Triangle’ area – so called because of – doh! – its triangular shape. Because of financial cutbacks most of the permanent library staff have now gone including, sadly, one of the best children’s librarians in Greater London. But there’s still all sorts of events going on there.
The library has re-opened and people can borrow books again but not on the same scale. The building also hosts the new Crystal Palace library of things where people can borrow items – the first library of things in the UK to be housed inside a library.
In 2018 we described the arrival of the Everyman as ‘the best news for the area this year’ with Crystal Palace getting a cinema again – for the first time since 1968. (see below)
There’s the hugely popular Crystal Palace food market which began in May 2013 and its neighbour Haynes Lane collectables market and all sorts of nooks and corners where you’ll find other second hand markets, art studios, a recording studio and a plethora of shops selling loads of things retro.
Geography: The Crystal Palace area sits in, or on, the edge of five London boroughs – Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. The main shopping area is the aforementioned Triangle bordered by Westow Hill, Church Road (part) and Westow Street. (Crystal Palace is the only area covered by five boroughs. Some areas of London are covered by three boroughs, none by four boroughs.)
ESSENTIALS
If you’ve just moved here, are staying in one of the area’s hotels or with friends / relatives the first essentials are probably going to be cashpoints, supermarkets, post office, and transport.
CASHPOINTS
Sainsbury’s supermarket, Westow Street has its own – free – cashpoints (two) on the right hand side wall outside its main entrance.
There are two ATM’s on Westow Hill – outside Londis (opposite the end of St Aubyn’s Road) but there’s a charge for using this and outside Morley’s on the corner of St Aubyn’s Road and Westow Hill.
There’s also a cashpoint machine INSIDE Mace (Palace mini market) on Church Road opposite the White Hart.
POST OFFICE:
W H Smith Local (rear of shop) 55 Westow Street (opposite Sainsbury’s)
SUPERMARKETS:
Co-op Central Hill (in former Costcutter)
Iceland 19 Westow Hill
Sainsbury’s Westow Street
TRANSPORT: Most of the local bus services leave either from the bus station on Crystal Palace Parade or have stops on the Parade itself. Other routes which just miss the Parade are the 249 and 432 which go down / up Anerley Hill
The number 3 bus from the bus station at the Triangle end of Crystal Palace Parade takes you to Brixton (Underground – Victoria line) then on into central London, crossing the Thames. From Lambeth Palace, it now goes to Millbank, Marsham Street, Strutton Ground, Westminster city hall, Westminster cathedral, Victoria bus station. The route no longer turns right towards the Houses of Parliament.
IMPORTANT: London buses no longer accept cash fares as Transport for London (TfL) have changed to a cash free bus network across the capital.
This means that all passengers boarding a bus in London will need to be in possession of a prepaid or concessionary ticket, Oyster card or contactless payment card.
STATIONS: British Rail stations at Crystal Palace (just off Anerley Hill) and Gipsy Hill (on Gipsy Hill). You can also catch the Overground from Crystal Palace (part of the Undergound) which takes you into east London.
BE AWARE: Off peak cheap rail tickets are NOT valid coming back from London during certain times. Please check when you buy your tickets. (This does not apply to the Underground or Overground)
(There’s several newsagents and more restaurants – 35 different national cuisines according to one estimate – than you can throw a dead sheep at.)
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ONCE YOU’VE SETTLED IN AND WANT TO START TO EXPLORE BUT PLEASE CHECK BEFORE GOING TO ANY LISTED EVENTS:
CULTURAL:
Dinosaurs: the first ‘must see’ stop. These monsters can be found in Crystal Palace park between the National Sports Centre and Thicket Road. Designed by Waterhouse Hawkins, who lived at 22 Belvedere Road. (Another dinosaur can be found in the yard in Haynes Lane where the collectables market and part of the food market are….Maybe it was hungry.)
Sphinxes: Top end of the park. The sphinxes have recently been restored and repainted in what was apparently their original colour – terracotta red. Look up old friends….
http://www.crystalpalacepark.org.uk
Friends of Crystal Palace Dinosaurs aim to promote long-term conservation of the dinosaurs and raise funds in support of this aim; encourage research, interpretation, engagement, and access related to the dinosaurs; and work with other stakeholders towards broader aims in Crystal Palace Park
The term “dinosaurs” refers to the sum total of the approximately thirty palaeontological statues, five geological displays, and related landscaping in the vicinity of the tidal lake in Crystal Palace Park. cpdinosaurs.org.
Library: Upper Norwood library hub. Westow Hill, corner of Beardell Street. uppernorwoodlibrary.org
Regular events at the library include Norwood Society local history meetings. These are held on the third Thursday of every month (excluding July and August). Admission free, all welcome. Donations for tea and cakes during the interval appreciated.
Museum: Crystal Palace museum. Close to the top of Anerley Hill in the former Crystal Palace school of engineering. Open Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holiday Mondays 11 am to 3.30 pm (winter) 4pm (summer!) Last entry half an hour before closing. Admission free.
Official Crystal Palace Museum Tours
Official Crystal Palace Museum Tours
When: 12 noon prompt, every first Sunday of the month from April – October.
Length: 1 hour and 45 minutes (starting and ending at the museum)
Prices: £5.00 adult; £4.00 concessions.
Tickets available on the day, at the museum, from 11am onwards – please allow adequate time to buy your ticket for a 12 noon start. In exceptional circumstances the tour may be cancelled in which case a message will be posted on the website homepage and on the museum answer phone.
http://www.crystalpalacemuseum.org.uk
(more museums listed below)
Subway: Reputedly designed – although there’s no evidence to support this – by Edward Barry, the son of Charles Barry who designed the Houses of Parliament, this subway was built under Crystal Palace Parade to link the already built Crystal Palace high level station (demolished in the 1960s) with the Crystal Palace. Friends of Crystal Palace Subway website: cpsubway.org.uk
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CULTURAL – THE ARTS
In the former Paxton Arms pub on Anerley Hill you’ll find the Paxton Centre, already another local ‘must visit’. A variety of artworks which are changed monthly plus cards, arty bric-a-brac etc. Plus cafe. In the open area upstairs there’s a quiet space ideal for laptop users.
Artists: There are several artists workshops in the area – Coopers Yard (off Westow Hill by the side of the Iceland store) and Paddock Passage off Westow Street. 2019 also saw the first-ever Crystal Palace Artists Open House which was repeated in 2020.Scheduled for a 2022 comeback.
Life Drawing: Classes at Paxton arts centre and Upper Norwood library hub
Paintings and prints: Inaspace gallery 16 Westow Street http://www.inaspacegallery.co.uk
Paxton arts centre – Framed works on walls change every month
Paintings and prints: Picture Palace picture framers at 65 Westow Street (opposite Sainsbury’s) has a wealth of framed and unframed paintings, posters and prints at ground level and above. http://www.the-picturepalace.com/
The Arts – GALLERIES
DULWICH PICTURE GALLERY
Significant collection of 17th-and-18th-century European Old Masters, in building by Sir John Soane. Gallery Rd, Southwark SE21 7AD Phone: 020 8693 5254
South London Gallery near Camberwell Green. 65-67 Peckham Road London SE5 8UH Opening times: Tuesday-Sunday 11am-6pm (except Wednesdays 11am-9pm)
MUSIC – CRYSTAL PALACE BAND
If you are searching for a London brass band to play in or hire, look no further! To hear the band play you can listen to a few short music recordings from concerts and rehearsals on their website at crystalpalaceband.co.uk
New players at all levels are welcome. Rehearsals take place on Wednesday Evenings at the Crystal Palace Museum from 6.30pm for the ‘Progress Band’ and at 8.00 pm for the ‘Main Band’. Please let the secretary know if you plan to visit. mail@crystalpalaceband.co.uk
LONDON MOZART PLAYERS
have their HQ at St John’s church on Auckland Road.
MUSIC – CHOIRS:
BROWN AND GREEN CAFE CHOIR
If you are keen to develop your voice as well as just sing songs, then this is the choir for you as Hannah, the choir director, offers regular tips and exercises for singers to develop their voices, expand their range and project more. She holds a Masters degree in Voice and is a vocal coach and professional singer herself. She has also conducted her own choirs in two feature films “The Oxford Murders” (2008) and “The Riot Club” (2014).
Rehearsals are held at Brown & Green Cafe, 99 Church Road, Crystal Palace, London, SE19 2PR on Wednesdays 7.30 – 9pm during term time. The nearest stations are Crystal Palace and Gipsy Hill, just a ten minute walk away.
The choir also work towards doing public performances at least once per term and there will be opportunities to sing at festivals and fetes throughout the year.
There is no pressure to pay before trying as your first session will be a FREE taster, and if you wish to continue, you just pay a termly fee. This works out at approximately £10 per session and is paid in advance. If you join part way through a term, just pay the amount remaining for that term.
CRYSTAL PALACE TRANSITION TOWN COMMUNITY CHOIR
The Arts – Music: Crystal Palace Community choir. Classical to pop, musicals to madrigals. Tuesdays 8pm to 9.30pm Goodliffe hall 1 Highland Road next to Christ Church, Gipsy Hill. Nominal fee to cover costs. http://www.crystalpalacechoir.org.uk
Lots of events in local pubs.
FOLK OF THE WOOD evening ceilidh once a month at West Norwood’s Portico Gallery – full details at http://www.folkofthewood.co.uk/portico.html
The Arts – CINEMA
Everyman Crystal Palace
The Everyman cinema opened at 25 Church Road late in 2018, screening films for the first time in 50 years. Photo below of the main screen.
It closed in 1968 despite a 2,000-strong petition calling for it to stay a cinema, became a bingo hall under various names and was acquired from Gala bingo in secret by KICC (Kingsway International Christian Centre) in July 2009 prompting a massive public outcry by the local community.
Bromley council refused planning permission for change of use to a church in December 2009. KICC refused at least two requests by cinema operators City Screen to buy it.
“This one may run and run.” we said. The saga lasted nine years.
On January 25, 2018 News From Crystal Palace announced: GREAT NEWS CRYSTAL PALACE: WE’RE GETTING OUR CINEMA BACK!!!!!!!
Further info: http://www.picture-palace.org
Nearest main cinemas are the Odeon Beckenham (227 or 358 bus from the bus station on Crystal Palace Parade) or the Ritzy Brixton, run by the aforementioned City Screen. (Number 3 bus). All three services leave from the bus station on Crystal Palace Parade.
FILM – BROMLEY
Picturehouse cinema
Previously Cineworld and before that the Empire – and before that Odeon Bromley.
FILM – CROYDON
The David Lean cinema Croydon Clocktower Katharine Street Croydon CR9 1ET
FILM – DULWICH
Dulwich Picture Gallery Check gallery website for films / dates. Each evening includes a complimentary glass of wine and snacks and film notes. Bar at 7pm, screenings at 7.30pm Linbury Room. £9, £7 Friends
Dulwich Paradiso film society 211 Lordship Lane, East Dulwich. email info@paradisofilm.co.uk
selondonfilmclubs.wordpress.com/east-dulwich Films on the third Thursday of every month (and the occasional children’s film on Saturday afternoon), upstairs at the East Dulwich Tavern 1 Lordship Lane SE22
Dulwich Film @ The MCT – Michael Croft Theatre Alleyns school, Townley Road, Dulwich http://www.michaelcrofttheatre.org.uk
FILM – PENGE
Penge film club: Meets once a month (usually 3rd Thursday) at the Bridge House theatre close to Penge West station for “screenings, drinks, popcorn and chat.” Facebook: Penge Film Club Tickets: http://www.bhtheatre.com
FILM – SYDENHAM
At the Golden Lion pub, Sydenham Road http://www.sydenhamfilmclub.org
The Cinema Museum, London
The Cinema Museum is a charitable organisation founded in 1986 by Ronald Grant and Martin Humphries from their own private collection of cinema history and memorabilia.
Address: 2 Dugard Way, Lambeth, London SE11 4TH Phone: 020 7840 2200 (Bus 196 from the All Saints church end of Church Road goes via Crown Point and West Norwood to the stop at Renfrew Road, Kennington – then follow the signs.
“The Cinema Museum is culturally very important to the history of movies and gives insight into how things have changed. “It was the work house where Charlie Chaplin went as a child. “It is a monument of great importance to anyone interested in Cinema.” – Sylvia Syms
…COME AND SEE US!
We are open for pre-booked visits from anyone interested in the cinema.
We host programmes of ticketed events.
We work with educational institutions on joint projects and with film archives on preservation activities.
We make items from the collection available on loan to other institutions for exhibition.
We offer a unique cinema-themed venue for hire.
We enjoy working in partnership on local wellbeing initiatives.
The Cinema Museum is a Registered Charity (No. 293285) and a company limited by guarantee 1865840, and it receives no public funding. It is also a member of Cinema For All.
The Arts
BRIDGE HOUSE THEATRE Penge West
Relaunched August 2021.
SOUTH LONDON THEATRE
South London theatre centre is now back in its old home at one of West Norwood’s two former fire stations. 2A Norwood High St, West Norwood, London SE27 9NS
Drawing courtesy Thomas Ford and partners.
The South London Theatre is a large, well-established, repertory-style non-professional theatre. The theatre was founded in 1967 in an old Victorian fire station (recently re-opened following renovation work), and has been thriving ever since. We operate as a members’ club and are therefore always keen to attract new faces to our organisation.
Each year SLT produces an inclusive and varied season, with shows ranging from Shakespeare & historical plays, to modern comedies and new writing, with at least one musical or pantomime for good measure.
All aspects of each production are run by the members themselves, so there is plenty of opportunity for everyone, not just on the stage but also behind the scenes where you can learn about lighting, sound, stage management and directing. There is also a need for members to man the box office, front of house and the members’ club bar.
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CULTURAL – BOOKS
Book clubs / reading groups / second hand books
Bookseller Crow on the Hill at 50 Westow Street have a wide range of the latest titles. Includes a book club and a reading group: booksellercrowbookclub.com
Upper Norwood joint library: Monthly book club.
Second hand books: The Lane Books, Haynes Lane off Westow Street Hundreds of second hand books on a wide variety of subjects – fiction, crime fiction, sci-fi and fantasy, art, ballet, transport, canals and waterways, esoteric, poetry, music, gardening, plays, theatre etc Just outside Haynes Lane Market. Open Saturdays from 10am to 3pm
See also: Markets (Second Hand) Haynes Lane Market.
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CULTURAL – FESTIVALS
Crystal Palace Film Festival cpiff.org.uk
Crystal Palace Overground Festival The area’s mega-event of the year. crystalpalacefestival.org
Sydenham Arts Festival
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CULTURAL – MUSEUMS
Crystal Palace Museum (see above)
Horniman Museum and Gardens 100 London Road, Forest Hill http://www.horniman.ac.uk
The Horniman Museum and Gardens opened in 1901 as a gift to the people in perpetuity from tea trader and philanthropist Frederick John Horniman, to ‘bring the world to Forest Hill’. Today the Horniman has a collection of 350,000 objects, specimens and artefacts from around the world. Its galleries include natural history, anthropology, music and an acclaimed aquarium. Indoor exhibits link to the award-winning display gardens – from food and dye gardens to an interactive sound garden – set among 16 acres of beautiful, green space offering spectacular views across London. Our visitors come time and again to participate in our exciting range of events and activities, sample the tasty delights from our popular cafe, and shop for interesting gifts in our gift shop. We also make our spaces available for hire including our stunning Grade II listed Victorian Conservatory built in 1894 and newly built Gardens Pavilion.
The Horniman Museum and Gardens is core-funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and since 1990 has been governed by an independent charitable trust, registered charity no. 802725. The Horniman Museum and Gardens also receives funding from Arts Council England as one of its major partner museums.
Opening times and admission. The Horniman Museum is open daily 10.30am-5.30pm, except 24 – 26 December, when it is closed. The Gardens open at 7.15am Monday to Saturday and 8.00am on Sunday and Bank Holidays, and close at sunset. Entry to the Museum and Gardens is free but charges apply for the Aquarium and some special exhibitions and events. Horniman Members go free –horniman.ac.uk/members
Access. The Museum and the Gardens are both wheelchair and pushchair friendly with accessible toilets. Limited on-site parking is available for disabled visitors – call 020 8699 1872.
British Vintage Wireless and Television Museum West Dulwich Telephone 020 8670 3667
The Museum is open by appointment only. Please phone in advance if you wish to visit, to arrange an appointment and request address details and directions.
There is no admission charge for individuals, but donations towards the running costs are gratefully received.
There is a small administration fee for groups of five or more people due to extra staffing required. Please contact the Museum to arrange.
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HISTORY
CRYSTAL PALACE LOCAL HISTORY TALKS
NORWOOD SOCIETY LOCAL HISTORY MEETINGS are held on the third Thursday of every month – excluding July and August – at Upper Norwood Library, 39 Westow Hill, SE19 1TJ at 7.30 pm. Admission free but donations are welcome. Interval includes our usual refreshments of tea/coffee and cakes.
BLUE PLAQUES
Many of the shops in the Triangle area – Church Road, Westow Street, Westow Hill – have blue plaques placed there by the Norwood Society in 2017 detailing one of its previous occupiers. Details on the Society’s website (www.norwoodsociety.co uk). Look for the blue plaques page and click on the pdfs to find out what were on all the plaques.
VARIOUS VINTAGE – AND MODERN – FILMS ABOUT THE CRYSTAL PALACE
…..can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpJq3oqrlDg&feature=youtube (Prepare to be amazed – Ed.)
LEISURE
LEISURE – For kids:
Upper Norwood library has an excellent childrens library with all sorts of events for youngsters of all ages (including babies).
Website lists London’s Free Attractions The link is http://www.londonwebmaps.co.uk/ and the Twitter account can be found @londonwebmaps.
LEISURE – Parks and Open Spaces:
The wildflower meadow Dulwich park (Image: Southwark.gov)
Beaulieu Heights: The official line is: 16 acres of woodland and meadow, is one of the best kept secrets of Crystal Palace. Opened by Croydon council in the sixties, having acquired the land from the Church in 1938. This beautiful park offers stunning views over the South Downs as it drops down from Church Road below the ‘other’ Crystal Palace tower and forms one of the most tranquil havens in Upper Norwood. An article about Beaulieu Heights was published in the summer 2011 edition of The Norwood Review (The official journal of theNorwood Society). http://www.norwoodsociety.co.uk
Access from South Norwood Hill which is at the far end of Church Road and at its lower end from Lancaster Road.
Wildlife on site: Surveys by volunteers of the site have resulted in a tree count of 60 species and 52 species for plants and birds. A muntjac deer was also reported in the area. A volunteer with the London Bat Group identified two types of Pipistrelle bat and Noctules. (Source: Friends of Beaulieu Heights website) beaulieuheights.org
The unofficial line: Very rarely used and best avoided because of anti-social behaviour.
Crystal Palace park
As well as Crystal Palace park there are a couple of other parks in the area which, like Crystal Palace park, have a Friends group.
Friends of Crystal Palace Park
Volunteering in the park: The Friends meet on the second Sunday of every month – 2pm at the park information centre (opposite the cafe – currently being rebuilt – at the bottom end of the park)
“Come and join us for some light gardening and tidying. “We provide all the equipment needed as well as tea and biscuits at the end of the session.” focpp.blogspot.co.uk
Norwood Park Down Central Hill (opposite Virgo Fidelis) between Elder Road and Salters Hill. http://www.friendsofnorwoodpark.co.uk
Friends of Norwood Park: “Norwood Park has some of the best panoramic views of the capital, a water play area, cafe, sporting facilities, and a unique country walk offering a place to sit and contemplate in peace surrounded by wild flowers and trees.
“The Friends of Norwood Park are always looking to the future and are dedicated to improving the facilities in the park. “In the last two years The Friends have raised funds to open an outdoor gym and refurbish the park cafe as well as launching a park safety scheme and setting up a home growing project for local people.
“The Friends now plan to improve sporting facilities and provide more amenities for young people. “By supporting us you can be part of the long-term future of this park for the whole community.”
Friends of Stambourne Woods The wood runs between Church Road (opposite Queen’s hotel) and Auckland Road. The walk up is probably nicer – and not as steep as roads it runs parallel with.)
Sydenham Hill Wood and Cox’s Walk. Close to the Dulwich Wood House pub on Sydenham Hill. Take the bus from Crystal Palace Parade to the last stop on Sydenham Hill and wander back to Cox’s Walk where an elephant called Archie once travelled. Follow the line of the old railway back towards the pub. This is a hidden gem. http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/reserves
Upper Norwood recreation ground between Chevening and Eversleigh Roads. Includes the recently renovated Chevening hub. http://www.friendsofnorwoodpark.co.uk
Westow park Behind Sainsbury’s supermarket, Westow Street, SE19. Several entrances including one from Westow Street into Coxwell Road (opposite the Secret Garden) and another on Church Road near the top of Fox Hill.
The odd-shaped park originally formed part of the grounds of the Royal Normal College for the Blind which began life in two shops on Anerley Hill. Visible from the park is the school’s old tuning house. friendsofwestowpark.ning.com
LEISURE – Walks
CRYSTAL PALACE WALKS – ORGANISED BY THE NORWOOD SOCIETY
The walks are free. Please search Norwood Society website. (The walks all last circa 90 minutes)
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FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD! – AND DRINK…..
CRYSTAL PALACE FOOD MARKET bottom of Haynes Lane / top of Bedwardine Road. Saturdays 10 am to 3pm.
“Meat, vegetables, fruit, eggs, honey, bread, cakes, salads, hot foods, coffee, tea, pastries, cheese, dairy and munch munch more.” There is also a collection box for Norwood Foodbank http://www.crystalpalacefoodmarket.co.uk
Norwood and Brixton Foodbank
St Luke’s Church
Knights Hill
West Norwood
SE27 9HS
http://www.norwood.foodbank.org.uk
FOOD – CAFES / RESTAURANTS etc
Too numerous to mention them all. They include:
Breakfasts: At Crystal Cafe 6 Church Road from 7 am Monday to Friday (Saturday 7.30am). There’s also the Arin cafe on Anerley Road (opposite Hamlet pharmacy) which is open seven days a week.
And also:
Brown and Green cafe. Already in the entrance hall and on one of the platforms at Crystal Palace station they have opened at the top of Belvedere Road in the former Casa Cuba. And you can find them in Gipsy Hill station. They have also re-opened in a new building on the site of the old park café in Crystal Palace park (no cash, plastic only). http://www.brownandgreencafe.com
Blackbird Bakery 71 Westow Street. Modern equipment, old-style feel. Miss Marple would love it. (Please see also: Bakeries)
The area has an amazing mix of restaurants.
Comfort and Joy at 79a Church Road prides itself on its ‘global’ menu.
Continuing the global theme this includes:
Chinese: Chi Oriental 14 Westow Hill http://www.chioriental.co.uk (and takeaways on Church Road and Westow Street)
Italian: Lorenzo 73 Westow Hill
Japanese: Edo 18 Westow Hill
Nepalese and Indian:
Yak and Yeti 107 Church Road (in the parade to the right of Belvedere Road)
Portuguese: A Torre 19 Westow Street http://www.atorre.co.uk
Sardinian: Mediterranea restaurant and pizzeria 21 Westow Street http://www.mediterranea.co
Thai: Tamnaq Thai 50 to 54 Westow Hill http://www.tamnagthai.com
Venezuelan: Mi Coluna es Tuya 61 Westow Street
Vietnamese: Urban Orient 74 Westow Street
BAKERIES
Blackbird bakery 71 Westow Street. Also a deli. Eat in or take away. blackbirdbakerylondon.co.uk
DELICATESSENS
Blackbird – see Bakeries
PUBS / WINE BARS
Again there’s a lot – almost as many as there are estate agents!
The Grape and Grain at the top of Anerley Hill (currently closed); the White Hart on the corner of Westow Street and Church Road; Westow House at the end of Westow Hill where it meets Crystal Palace Parade http://www.thewhitehartse19.co.uk; Numidie’s at 48 Westow Hill and The Sparrowhawk on the corner of Westow Street and Westow Hill.
And that’s just for starters!
SHOPPING – MARKETS (Second Hand)
Haynes Lane Market. Haynes Lane off Westow Street. Clothes, books, jewellery, china, tools, vinyl, CDs, small furniture, paintings, etc etc etc. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday 11 am to 5 pm.
Jasper Road Antiques Market. Jasper Road. Not just antiques. Spread over four floors
SHOPPING – CHARITY SHOPS
Cancer Research 30 Westow Hill. Open seven days a week.
RSPCA Westow Street close to the sorting office.
St Christopher’s hospice boutique Westow Street in the former South of the River shop.
Shelter 11 Westow Hill
……AND ALSO
SHOPPING
BRIDAL WEAR AND BABY ITEMS
Allbone and Trimit http://www.allboneandtrimit.co.uk bespoke wedding dress designer & maker. 4 Coopers Yard off Westow Street – the long slope down the left hand side of Iceland. Part of ‘The Overspill’ building. http://www.allboneandtrimit.co.uk
Love Bridal 57 Westow Street http://www.lovebridal.co.uk
CARPENTRY
Jake Dunn Designs Church Road in new premises opposite their previous ones.
CHEMISTS
Sefgrove 3 to 5 Westow Hill 020 8670 5198
CLOTHES
Backstage 47 Westow Street – see also: hairdressers
D-Solo’s Mens and ladies clothing 23 Church Road
Simon Carter* 71 Westow Street http://www.simoncarter.net
Vien vintage clothing gifts and furniture 79 Church Road
And more clothes stalls in Haynes Lane Market.
CYCLES
Blue Door Bicycles 5 and 7 Central Hill. This shop for many years was Talbot Cycles. bluedoorbicycles.com Sadly, closed its blue door on Saturday 14th September 2019.
Cadence, top of Anerley Hill (to the left of the Grape and Grain) http://www.cadenceperformance.com
DRY CLEANERS
Palace Cleaners 101 Church Road
FLOWERS/GARDENING
The Secret Garden. Access via Coxwell Road off Westow Street. Hidden at the back of the Phoenix Centre and to the left of Sainsbury’s. Just across from one of the entrances into Westow Park. http://www.thesecretgardencentre.com
FURNITURE
Do South 2 Westow Street has a mouthwatering display of wonderfully kooky items on the corner of Westow Street and Central Hill. http://www.do-south.co
Vien (see clothes)
Second hand furniture can also be found in the Haynes Lane and Jasper Road markets and in several shops on Church Road where they occupy three out of a row of five shops opposite the side of the cinema building.
These are (from left) unnamed at 38, Cartwrights at 34 and Bambino at 28 to 32 .
GIFT SHOPS
Coconut Trading Church Road (has moved across the road into new premises) http://www.coconuttrading.co.uk
HAIRDRESSERS
Backstage 47 Westow Street – see also: clothes
Special Hair Service 74 Westow Hill
Way Ahead Westow Street
Willie Smarts 1 Westow Hill at corner of Westow Hill and Gipsy Hill
HARDWARE
Hollybush Stores 24 to 28 Westow Street
Macdonalds 57 Westow Hill (corner of Woodland Road). Not the burger bar. If you can’t find it anywhere else on the Triangle then Macdonalds is the only place likely to have it. And if they haven’t you’re looking at a trip into Penge or Bromley.
HEALTH AND BEAUTY / NAIL CARE
Beauty by Renata and Dagmara 77 Church Road
Belle Vous spa and salon 64 Church Road
Crystal Nails professional nail care and waxing 40 Westow Hill
Glamour 7 Concepts beauty and medi spa 42 Westow Street
Hayleys Nails 81 Church Road
Lash Lounge 22 Church Road
Mother Earth health and beauty salon 42 Westow Street
Nature Palace 10 Church Road. Acupuncture, massage, herbals.
North Wood Clinic 36 Westow Street
Revitalize beauty salon 14 Church Road
Training Points personal training studio 5-6 Cooper’s Yard off Westow Hill (side of Iceland)
HEALTH SHOPS
Planta 32 Westow Hill http://www.planta.co.uk
INTERNET CAFES
Roast Bean cafe 23 Westow Street and
Upper Norwood Joint Library: Internet access but you do need to be a library member to use the machines.
KEY CUTTING
LAUNDERETTES
One on the parade at the top of South Norwood Hill at the far end of Church Road; another on Anerley Hill close to its junction with Hamlet Road which is nearer to the National Sports Centre. None on the Triangle anymore.
MEETING PLACES / ROOMS FOR HIRE
Antenna Studios, top of Bedwardine Road
Phoenix community centre, Westow Street (to left of Sainsbury’s)
Salvation Army centre, Westow Street
Upper Norwood library hub, Westow Hill
MINICABS
The Keen Group Crystal Palace Parade
NESTING BOXES
Jake Dunn Designs Church Road
NOTICEBOARDS
Crystal Palace is a vibrant area with lots going on – far too much for us to include and update weekly! Noticeboards for up and coming events can be found outside Sainsbury’s on Westow Street and the Venezuelan restaurant Mi Coluna es Tuya (61).
The Sparrowhawk pub on the corner of Westow Street and Westow Hill has a lot of events – many of them arts-related – in their window. There are also noticeboards inside Upper Norwood library on Westow Hill.
OPTICIANS
Crystal Eye Centre 20 Westow Hill
PAINT
Hollybush Stores Westow Street
Rafael Gabriel 36 Church Road
POLICE
The Crystal Palace area sits in, and on, the edge of five London boroughs. In an emergency dial 999. In a non-emergency dial 101.
There are several Safer Neighbourhood Teams (SNT) for this area covering Crystal Palace Triangle; Crystal Palace; Gipsy Hill; South Norwood, College (the Southwark part of Crystal Palace) and Sydenham. Accessible via Metropolitan Police website.
POST OFFICE
At rear of WHSmith Local, 55 Westow Street. On some days prepare to queue….and queue….and queue.
POUND SHOPS
Poundland Westow Street (to right of Sainsbury’s)
Poundstretcher (former Woolworth’s building) halfway along Westow Hill where the zebra crossing is.
SHOES
Merlin Shoes 44 Westow Street (corner of Haynes Lane and opposite Grand Bay)
SHOE REPAIRS
SORTING OFFICE
On Westow Street between Hollybush Stores and the (currently closed) Enterprise Trust charity shop. There’s a red pillar box outside. Entrance at the rear on the left hand side down a flight of steps.
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00 – 13:00 Sat:08:00 – 12:30
SPORT AND RECREATION
SWIMMING at the National Sports Centre which sits in the middle of Crystal Palace park. One pool which some may find too big for a leisurely swim. CURRENTLY CLOSED.
Nearest other pools: The Spa, Beckenham; and West Norwood.
STUDIOS
ANTENNA STUDIOS Bowyers Yard, Haynes Lane, Crystal Palace, SE19 3AN, 0208 653 5200
Recording/rehearsal studios. Three music practice and recording rooms, two pianos, dance studio, classes. www.antennastudios.co.uk
VINYL
Second hand 45s LPs and the occasional 78 can be found at:
Bambino Church Road (basement); Haynes Lane Market (downstairs with vinyl sales being held every few weeks upstairs).
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Norwood Street Histories
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EDITH’S STREETS
This blog records notes about London (and Greater London) streets – what the buildings are, what the background is. These pages have been compiled over many years and from many sources – it’s not intended to copy from other people’s work.
Each post represents a square on the Ordnance Survey grid -and the vast majority of information is culled from map based source material – Ordnance Survey, A/Z, etc. edithsstreets.blogspot.com
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FIX MY STREET
Report, view, or discuss local problems (like graffiti, fly tipping, broken paving slabs, or street lighting) fixmystreet.com
BROMLEY
Report a problem in Bromley’s streets or parks: https://fix.bromley.gov.uk/
Report It – London borough of Bromley http://www.bromley.gov.uk/report
CROYDON
Report it – London borough of Croydon https://www.croydon.gov.uk/doitonline/report-it
LAMBETH
Report dumped rubbish in a public place | Lambeth council http://www.lambeth.gov.uk
LEWISHAM
Lewisham council – Report it http://www.lewisham.gov.uk › Do it online
Lewisham council – Flytipping http://www.lewisham.gov.uk › My services › Environment › Keeping our streets clean
SOUTHWARK
Report It http://www.southwark.gov.uk › Council and democracy › Government › Do it online Use the online forms to report any issues directly.
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……and now the bad bits
There’s only one set of public loos. These are behind the Phoenix Centre on Westow Street which stands to the left of Sainsbury’s and are open 7 am to 7pm – when they haven’t been closed because of vandalism. Best avoided? Some pubs and restaurants will let you use their facilities if you ask. (Please remember to say ‘Please’)
Cycling / e-scooters on pavements. Because of the one-way system many cyclists travel on the pavement going against the traffic. So much for getting fit. And healthy. (Cycles are also an ideal way of stealing people’s mobile phones.) There’s now an on-the-spot fine of £100 for cycling on the pavements.
Parking – or rather the lack of it. There are 46 public car parking spaces around the Triangle. The former public car park behind Sainsbury’s has morphed into being part of Sainsbury’s – seemingly without anyone being told about it. Maximum stay outside or inside is now THREE hours with the threat of a £70 fine for overstayers – and other transgressions.
*During the 2012 Olympics the Great Britain womens handball team stayed in the Crystal Palace area. The ladies hoped to make the quarter-finals but unfortunately failed to make the knockout stages.
Handball – which is hugely popular in other European countries – received £2.9m from UK Sport in the build-up to London 2012 but afterwards lost its ENTIRE funding towards Rio 2016.
Neither the women’s or men’s handball teams made it to Rio – along with a handful of other sports – because of a lack of funding. In September 2019 we said that may change – because Great Britain didn’t send a men’s football team to the Rio Olympics……
NEWS FROM CRYSTAL PALACE 