Dulwich Wood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dulwich Wood |
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A view from Dulwich Wood in the early spring, with Battersea Power Station in the distance.
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| Type | Woodland |
| Location | Dulwich |
| Operated by | Dulwich Estate |
| Public transit access | Sydenham Hill railway station |
Dulwich Wood is a beautiful forest area located in London. It's part of a much older, bigger forest called the Great North Wood. Dulwich Wood is right next to Sydenham Hill Wood, and together, they form the largest remaining part of that ancient forest in the London Borough of Southwark. These two woods became separate when the famous Crystal Palace building was moved nearby in 1854, and a new railway line was built in 1865. Today, the Dulwich Estate owns and looks after Dulwich Wood.
Contents
History of Dulwich Wood
Early History of the Land
In the Middle Ages, a long time ago, the area known as the Manor of Dulwich belonged to a place called Bermondsey Abbey. This land was given to the abbey by King Henry I in the year 1127. Later, in 1542, King Henry VIII closed down many monasteries, including Bermondsey Abbey. He then had the Dulwich Estate surveyed to see what was there.
Royal Visits and Hunting
The royal family and their friends, known as the Court, often visited Dulwich and its woods. King Charles I especially enjoyed coming here to hunt deer. Imagine kings and queens walking through these very woods!
Edward Alleyn Buys the Manor
By 1605, a very rich man named Edward Alleyn bought the Manor of Dulwich. He paid a huge amount of money for it – £5,000! This family, the Caltons, had owned the land since the monasteries were closed. Edward Alleyn was very good at managing his money and his land. He decided to manage the woods in a smart way.
He divided the woods into ten sections, called coppices. A coppice is an area of woodland where trees are regularly cut back to the ground to encourage new growth. Edward Alleyn planned to cut down one coppice each year when the trees were ten years old. This way, he always had wood to sell. One of these coppices, called Peckarman's Wood, is now a place where houses are built.
How to Visit Dulwich Wood
Dulwich Wood is easy to get to, especially if you use public transport.
Getting There by Train
You can reach the wood from Sydenham Hill railway station.
- When you leave the station, walk straight ahead.
- You will go through a small car park.
- Cross College Road carefully.
- On the other side of the road, you'll see a white gate. Go through this gate into Low Cross Wood Lane.
- Just ahead on your left, you will find a gate that leads right into Dulwich Wood.
Other Entrances
There is another way to enter the wood. You can find an entrance by the footbridge on Cox's Walk. This path is located just off the Dulwich Common road.
