Addington Village, Croydon - some mysterious stones, why are they there?

[@peterclark9677]

The name of castle Hill ave is in new addington

[@mikekenny8789]

I’ve been in the tunnel from West Wickham end as a child but it was blocked after 100 yards I believe it was an escape route for Henry 111

[@RalphAstley]

These stones don't look prehistoric, especially as they have cuts and grooves in them. They probably relate to industrial activity, such as extraction of gravel or sand in the area, and the mounds are covering what remains of the buildings. On pre-WW1 OS maps there is what looks like a quarry on the other side of the main road. They probably are connected to that.

[@mikekenny8789]

I moved to new addington in 1960 and the electric power station suffered serious damage when a fast moving lorry travelling down lodge lane partly demolished it

[@peterclark9677]

There used to be a dangerous left hand bend at the bottom of lodge lane and where many of accidents that happened

[@mikekenny8789]

The church is was tge funeral of Ronnie corbet as he lived on top of spout hill

[@adrianrevill7686]

Could be a job for time team

[@philswallow]

Someone else mentioned that to me! Certainly to the point of getting a geophysical survey done - they’d need to work for free, though 😁

[@antoinettesym]

There needs to be a geo-phys survey done - it's really intriguing. Perhaps an arial view too - I wish Time Team was still something.

[@philswallow]

I have got some LiDAR charts which I need to revisit. They may hold a clue, perhaps

[@julieleverentz5846]

There’s an organisation Phil called the Friends of LLoyd Park (I think). There’s an old chap (if he’s still around) that knew so much about Lloyd Park and the surrounding area. Might be worth seeing if you can track him/them down.

[@davecoleman2417]

We moved there in 1960 but I only remember the stones being there after the roadworks to create the Kent Gateway. (The original works not the bus and tram area.)

[@philswallow]

Thanks Dave, the mystery might just be why they didn't clear thge whole site!!

[@peterclark9677]

There is a rumour that there was a castle in the new addington area ,one rumour that a castle remains in the woods at the end of kestrel way new addington perhaps something to do with a castle ?

[@philswallow]

There was Castle Hill Farm in New Addington, I need to check my books for the previous history there. It certainly would have had some elevation in that location.

[@mikekenny8789]

There was also a steam water pump station on Kent gate way

[@philswallow]

I'm doing some work on that at the moment - interesting stuff at that site

[@mikekenny8789]

There was a power station around tge petrol station in the sixties and before tge roundabout was built there is also a tunnel from Addington village to the church at tge end of Kent gate way from Henry v111

[@philswallow]

Thanks Mike, I think there is still a substation behind the Shell garage?

[@mikekenny8789]

@@philswallow Thé power station was very large and situated where the harvester is now and part of the petrol station

[@declantwomey7525]

I live in new addington and always wondered what they were about, I do love the history of New Addington so any book's or link's too the history would be appreciated ,just subscribed keep up the great work 👍🏻🏆

[@philswallow]

I’m always on the lookout myself. I saw an archaeological report but it wasn’t conclusive - the truth is out there! 😁

[@jamesc4949]

I too have heard of the subterranean passages apparently they crop up in birch wood somewhere, I have been looking for about a week now, nothing but badger holes so far

[@GetDarker]

Pass those stones every day and never even noticed them. Now you’ve got me mega curious!

[@philswallow]

Haha, there has to be a reason why they were left there and not taken away as building rubble. I’ve seen archaeological reports since making that and am still mystified as even though there was a farm there, those stones don’t stand out as a structure that should be kept. It’s very weird!

[@alexwatson5507]

I found you because I had the same idea (videos walk and talks in this area) and wondered if anyone else had already done this. Brilliant videos my good man.

[@philswallow]

Thanks!

[@chrisbassett-bq5lx]

Phil - I believe they are the remains of a long barrow, during Britain's Early Neolithic period - I have a memory of doing a project in school years back.

[@philswallow]

Wow! That would make sense to me. If it was more modern site they would have carted the rubble away and that would be it. Thanks Chris 👍🏻

[@XR1000]

Cracked it!👏Very interesting. New Addington resident here - and enjoying learning its unique history, so thanks for the video. You mentioned a couple of books, any recommendations?

[@philswallow]

It has great history indeed! Book suggestions: Addington, A History, by Frank Warren, also Shirley and Addington (Images of England) by Raymond Wheeler. A couple of smaller ones, The Archaeology of Addington, by Lilian Thornhill and Excavations in Addington 1973-1977 by Lilian Thornhill and Richard W Savage. Some are on eBay occasionally or Amazon as second hand. Hope that helps 👍🏻

[@XR1000]

@@philswallow Phil thanks so much the suggestions - that’s a huge help. Much appreciated. New subscriber to your videos too👍.

[@philswallow]

@@XR1000 You're welcome, and many thanks for subscribing!