West Norwood facts for kids

Quick facts for kids West Norwood
Norwood Road, West Norwood
West Norwood
OS grid reference	TQ325715
London borough	Lambeth
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	LONDON
Postcode district	SE27
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Dulwich and West Norwood
London Assembly	Lambeth and Southwark
List of places UK England London 51°25′37″N 0°05′44″W / 51.427025°N 0.095539°W / 51.427025; -0.095539

West Norwood is a lively neighborhood in south London. It is part of the London Borough of Lambeth. The area is about 5.4 miles (8.7 km) southeast of central London. West Norwood sits in a valley, surrounded by hills. From many spots, you can see far-off places. These include the City of London, Canary Wharf, and Crystal Palace.

West Norwood includes parts of three local areas. These are Gipsy Hill, Knights Hill, and West Dulwich. These areas have councillors who represent them on the Lambeth Council.

What is the History of West Norwood?

A map showing the Norwood ward of Lambeth Metropolitan Borough as it appeared in 1916.

The name "Norwood" comes from the "Great North Wood." This was an old name for the hilly, wooded area north of Croydon. Before 1885, West Norwood station was called "Lower Norwood." This was because it was at a lower height than Upper Norwood.

An old map from 1745 by John Rocque shows the Horns Tavern at Knight's Hill. This was near where West Norwood station is today. The area around it was mostly empty land. By 1795, most of the original woods were gone.

The area started to grow after 1806. This was when a law called the Lambeth Manor Enclosure Act was passed. Much of the land was owned by the Archbishop of Canterbury or Lord Thurlow. The River Effra used to flow near Elder Road. It often flooded the area.

St. Luke's Church was built in 1825. It was part of a plan to build churches in growing areas. At that time, West Norwood had large houses along the main roads. There were also smaller cottages between Knights Hill and the High Street. The West Norwood Cemetery opened in 1837. It provided a place for burials for people from crowded parts of London.

The railway line to The Crystal Palace opened in 1856. It had a station at Lower Norwood, now West Norwood. This made it easier to travel. Many large houses were replaced with smaller homes over the next 40 years.

Norwood High Street had the first shops. But the main shopping areas grew along Norwood Road around 1900. Horse-drawn trams carried people along this road. They went from St Luke's Church towards central London.

During the two World Wars, many buildings were damaged by bombs. York Hill and areas near the railway were hit hard. Chatsworth Baptist Church had to be rebuilt. Many new council homes were built after the war. They were put on sites that had been bombed or cleared.

A cinema called The Regal opened in 1930. It was an Art Deco style building. It closed in 1964 and became a bingo club. The building was taken down in 1981. Now, a B&Q store stands there.

Some parts of West Norwood are now protected areas. These include the cemetery area and Lancaster Avenue. Important buildings like St Luke's Church and the old fire station are listed buildings.

What is Knights Hill?

There are two areas called Knight's Hill nearby. Both names come from Thomas Knyght, who owned land there in 1545.

• The main Knight's Hill is a residential area. It is to the southwest by the road called Knights Hill. This area was once part of Lambeth Manor. It included land called Julian's, which is remembered in St Julian's Farm Road.
• The second Knight's Hill is above the Tulse Hill railway tunnel. It is near West Dulwich railway station. This area includes hilly land between Thurlow Park Road and Lovelace Road. Part of it is now used for Rosendale Allotments. This green area is still called Knight's Hill on large maps.

What was The Jewish Orphanage?

The main building of the Norwood Home for Jewish Children opened in 1862. It looked like a grand palace. This building was taken down in 1963. The children moved into smaller houses with house parents. A new synagogue was built on the site.

In the 1970s, the charity moved away. Lambeth Council bought the land. They built homes on most of it. A small area was kept as open space. The synagogue became a community center called Norwood Hall. Today, the West Norwood Health and Leisure Centre is on part of this open space.

Only the porter's lodge building remains from the original orphanage. It has a unique design with curving gables. The Arnold & Jane Gabriel Home was built in 1910. It became Julians Primary School in 2012. The charity that ran the orphanage is now called Norwood.

How Can I Get Around West Norwood?

West Norwood has good public transport. There are two main train stations at each end of the shopping area on Norwood Road:

• West Norwood – Trains go to Victoria, Clapham Junction, and London Bridge.
• Tulse Hill – Trains go to London Bridge, London Blackfriars, and other places like Luton Airport.

Trains from both stations also go to other places south of London.

Other nearby train stations include:

• Gipsy Hill
• Herne Hill
• West Dulwich

The closest underground (tube) stations are at Brixton and Balham. You can reach them by bus or, for Balham, also by train.

Eight bus routes run during the day, and two run at night. The West Norwood bus garage is on Ernest Avenue.

The South Circular road (A205) is close by at Tulse Hill. Streatham High Road (A23) is about one mile west of West Norwood's center.

What Schools are in West Norwood?

West Norwood has several primary and secondary schools.

Primary Schools

• Crown Lane Primary School, Crown Lane, SW16 3HX
• Elm Wood Primary School, Carnac Street, SE27 9RR
• Julian's Primary School, Gabriel House, 16 Wolfington Road, SE27 0JF
• Kingswood Primary School, Gipsy Road, SE27 9RD – This school has two sites.
• St Lukes Church of England Primary School, Linton Grove, SE27 0DZ

Secondary Schools

• The Norwood School, Crown Dale, SE19 3NY
• Elmgreen School, Elmcourt Road, SE27 9BZ
• The Park Campus, Gipsy Road, SE27 9NP

Many other schools are also close to West Norwood.

What are the Main Landmarks in West Norwood?

• South London Theatre Centre: This building was West Norwood's first fire station, built in 1881. It has a tall watch tower. It is now a theatre. In 2014, it received a large grant for restoration work, which finished in 2018.
• West Norwood Health and Leisure Centre: A modern health and leisure center that opened in 2014.
• St Luke's Church: This is one of four "Waterloo churches" in Lambeth. It was built between 1822 and 1825. It faces north–south instead of east–west. This was because of a rule that no building could be too close to the Horn's Tavern. The lower part of the churchyard is now gardens.
• West Norwood Library & Nettlefold Hall: Princess Margaret opened this building in 1969. It is now the West Norwood Picturehouse and library.
• West Norwood Cemetery: One of London's "Magnificent Seven" Victorian cemeteries. It opened in 1837 and has many listed structures.
• The Old Library: This building opened in 1888 as Lambeth's first public library. It was designed by Sidney R. J. Smith. It was paid for by Henry Tate and Frederick Nettlefold. Both are buried in West Norwood Cemetery. Today, it is a cafe and a place for local events.
• Mrs Woodford Fawcett Fountain: This fountain is on a traffic island in front of St Luke's Church. Mrs Fawcett was a local campaigner for temperance (avoiding alcohol). She is also buried in West Norwood Cemetery.

What Churches are in West Norwood?

West Norwood has many churches. This shows the different backgrounds of its residents. Here are some of the churches:

• All Nations Christian Centre, 15 York Hill, SE27 0BU
• Bethel Chapel, Dunbar Street, SE27 9JY
• Cathedral of Revival Church, Beadman Street, SE27 9UR
• Chatsworth Baptist Church, Chatsworth Way, SE27 9HN
• Lansdowne Evangelical Free Church, Lansdowne Hill, SE27 0AR
• Potter's House Christian Church Norwood, 58E Knights Hill, SE27 0JD
• Salvation Army, 246 Norwood Road, SE27 9AW
• St. Luke's Anglican church, Knights Hill, SE27 0HS
• St Matthew's Catholic Church, 37 Norwood High Street, SE27 9JU
• The Messiah Cherubim & Seraphim Church, 28 Ernest Avenue, SE27 0DJ
• Trinity Baptist Church, 2 Thornlaw Road, SE27 0SA
• West Norwood Spiritualist Church, Ullswater Road, SE27 0AL
• Worldwide Mission Fellowship, 61–65 Elder Road, SE27 9NB

An old Congregational church on Chapel Road is a listed building. It is no longer used for worship. It now houses a childcare facility.

What Open Spaces are in West Norwood?

The main open space in West Norwood is Norwood Park.

West Norwood Cemetery is 45 acres (18.2 hectares) large. It is close to the railway station. The Friends of West Norwood Cemetery work to share knowledge about this place.

Peabody Hill Wood is a very important natural area. English Nature recognizes its value.

What Charities are in West Norwood?

• Emmaus South Lambeth: This group helps people who used to be homeless. They run a workshop and shops that sell renovated furniture and other items.
• L'Arche Lambeth: This charity provides homes and workshops for adults with learning disabilities. It is part of a larger international group.
• Centre 70: This charity offers free and private legal advice. They help with debt, welfare benefits, housing, and student finance. They also provide low-cost counseling.

What Clocks are in West Norwood?

• St Luke's church tower clock: This clock was made by Vulliamy, the Royal Clockmaker, in 1825. New bells were added in 1892.
• ‘The Clockworks’: Located at 6 Nettlefold Place, this is a museum, workshop, and library. It is run by a charity called The Clockworks Charitable Incorporated Organisation.

What are the Nearest Places to West Norwood?

• Crystal Palace
• Dulwich
• Gipsy Hill
• Streatham
• Tulse Hill
• Upper Norwood

Who are Some Famous People from West Norwood?

Many notable people have lived or currently live in West Norwood. Some of them include:

• Adele, a famous singer
• Bilinda Butcher, guitarist and vocalist in the band My Bloody Valentine
• Joan Clarke, a code-breaker during World War II
• Des'ree, a singer
• Edmund de Waal, a ceramic artist
• Georg Hackenschmidt, the first world wrestling champion
• Ken Livingstone, a former Mayor of London
• Maxi Jazz, vocalist in the band Faithless
• Hiram Stevens Maxim, who invented the machine gun
• The Noisettes, a rock band
• Andy Zaltzman, a comedian