Honor Oak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Honor Oak |
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 Shops along Honor Oak Park |
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 Honor Oak
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| OS grid reference | TQ355745 |
| • Charing Cross | 5 mi (8.0 km) NW |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | SE23, SE22 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| London Assembly |
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Honor Oak is a lively area in London, mostly found in the London Borough of Lewisham. A small part of it is also in the London Borough of Southwark. This place got its name from a special oak tree on One Tree Hill. It's said that Queen Elizabeth I once had a picnic under this very tree!
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Exploring Honor Oak's History
One Tree Hill is a very important part of Honor Oak. It's at the northern end of a line of hills that stretch all the way from Croydon. Long ago, these hills were part of a huge forest called the Great North Wood.
The Famous Oak Tree
A popular story says that on May 1, 1602, Queen Elizabeth I had a picnic near an oak tree at the top of this hill. She was with Sir Richard Bulkeley. This tree became known as the "Oak of Honor." The oak tree you see there today, surrounded by railings, was planted in 1905. It's a replacement for the original historic tree.
Besides the Queen, there are other cool stories about the hill. Some say it was where Queen Boudica was finally defeated by the Romans way back in AD 61. Also, the famous highwayman Dick Turpin is rumored to have used the hill as a lookout spot!
How Honor Oak Grew
In the 1780s, new fancy houses started to be built on what is now Honor Oak Road. This helped create the communities of Honor Oak and Forest Hill, London. Over time, these two areas moved about a mile apart, helped by the arrival of a canal and then railways.
Canals and Railways
From 1809 to 1836, a canal passed through Honor Oak. It was part of a route that went from New Cross to Croydon, also passing through Forest Hill and Sydenham. After 1836, a railway line replaced the canal. This railway is now part of the line between London Bridge and Croydon.
Honor Oak Park railway station opened in 1886 on this line. Another station, Honor Oak railway station, opened in 1862 but closed in 1958. It was part of a railway line built to take people to The Crystal Palace. You can still see parts of the old railway path, which are now part of Brenchley Gardens.
Beacons and Communication
A special beacon was put on top of One Tree Hill in 1935 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George VI. It has been used for many important events since then, like the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, her silver and golden jubilees, and the Millennium celebration.
Beacons on this same spot were used long ago to warn people about invasions. They warned of the Spanish and later the French. The hill was also home to Watson's General Telegraph in 1841. This was a system that linked London with ships in the English Channel.
One Tree Hill as a Public Space
In 1896, there were plans to turn One Tree Hill into a golf club. But local people protested and even rioted! So, the plans fell through. Later, the Metropolitan Borough of Camberwell bought the hill, and by 1905, it became a public park for everyone to enjoy.
During World War I, a gun was placed on the hill. It was there to protect against attacks from Zeppelin airships.
Part of the open space eventually became a nine-hole golf course called the Aquarius Golf Club. This golf course sits on top of a huge underground water tank called the Honor Oak Reservoir. It was built between 1901 and 1909. When it was finished, it was the largest brick-built underground reservoir in the world! Even today, it's one of the biggest in Europe. This reservoir is now part of the Thames Water Ring Main.
Modern Transport Links
In 2010, Honor Oak Park railway station became part of the London Overground network. This means residents can now travel directly to places like Shoreditch and Highbury and Islington. Like its neighbor, Forest Hill, Honor Oak is becoming a popular place to live. It's a quiet, green area with good transport links to the city center.
Things to Do in Honor Oak
Honor Oak has many great restaurants and pubs.
Eating Out
- The Babur Indian Restaurant is very well-known. It has won awards and has been called "one of the best Indian restaurants in London."
- Two Spoons is a cafe during the day and a cocktail bar at night. Its drinks are inspired by the local area's history.
- Le Querce is a highly-rated Italian restaurant. Its name means "The Oaks" in Italian.
- Donde is a Spanish Tapas restaurant, serving small plates to share.
- Mamma Dough is a sourdough pizza restaurant that opened in 2014.
Local Pubs
- The Honor Oak is a new version of the old St Germans public house.
- The Chandos used to be a traditional pub. It was updated in 2016 and now serves craft beers, pizza, and antipasti.
Nearby Areas
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East Dulwich, Peckham Rye | Nunhead, Brockley | Crofton Park | |
| Dulwich |  |
Ladywell | ||
 Honor Oak  |
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| Forest Hill, London | Forest Hill, London | Catford |
