Coombe Wood


Coombe Wood is a small woodland and garden area in the old village of Coombe, Upper Shirley, in the London Borough of Croydon near the junction of Coombe Lane and Conduit Lane. The Coombe Wood Gardens are divided into a series of rooms which together give an all-year-round display of shrubs and plants set against a woodland backdrop.

History

More than four hundred years ago, the area was open land and part of an estate with a large common field known as Coombe Field which lay between Coombe Road and Park Hill.
The land became the property of James Bourdieu Senior in 1801, at the time of the Enclosures of Common Land Act. Bourdieu already owned The Coombe Estate, including Coombe Lodge, House and Farm which altogether amounted to approximately. Coombe Wood supplied water to the Coombe estate, via three conduits which ran along the adjacent lane leading to the name 'Conduit Lane'.
In 1898, Arthur Lloyd, brother of Frank Lloyd built Coombe Wood House.
The estate of Coombe Wood House was later purchased for £14,000, with Coombe Wood, by Croydon Council, from Mr. W Cash, for the use of the public of Croydon. The house was used as a convalescent and children's home. The 14.25 acres of parkland were opened to the public in 1948. There is a café in the old stable block.

Access

It is served by Tramlink stops at Coombe Lane and Lloyd Park.
The Vanguard Way also passes by the woods and garden.
Note: There are many other Coombe Woods all over the United Kingdom.