Warlingham, Surrey to Woldingham - a country walk and a ghostly tale

[@TheDenihunter]

Just seen this Phil. Great job and a beautiful walk! Went metal detecting with a friend around Slines Oak Pond a very long time ago! We found musket balls embedded in? , quite remember?) and around the base of what would have been a mature tree...oak? Anyway,lol,we surmised that it could have been from the musket of a highwayman! Maybe "The" highwayman that forced the coach off the road!!?? Also, the road turn off that goes back down the hill. I'm sure there is a story of a Roman Villa on the right hand side field. I remember thinking that it would be a perfect spot for a villa as views right down the valley. Metal detected there too but don't recall finding anything. Once again! Love your videos! Cheers.

[@philswallow]

Thanks, wow! I would love to find something like that! There have been Roman finds in many places, some coins were found in Ledger’s Road where I finished my last walk. Two villas are in the grounds of Titsey Place and a Temple in Clacket Lane just up from the service area. Not sure what might be visible though. Glad you like the videos - I have a great time making them 😊

[@pooooornopigeon]

​​@@philswallow I found a Roman metal horse ( rearing up ) on the corner of Cherry tree gardens and the then new builds, it was something put on a stick as a banner that was taken into battle. My dad gave it to one of the London museums but I never found out which one.

[@davehannigan7446]

Another great video Phil. Once again you have brought me home. If I had a pound for every time I had taken my Dad from Sainsbury's in Warlingham to the Knights in Warlingham, down Slines Oak Road to the other Knights in Woldingham.... Home sweet home and caught on a beautiful day. Love the stories and historical perspective. Hard to imagine an era of coaches and horses! Please do keep them coming.

[@philswallow]

Thanks Dave!

[@peterzoeftig2513]

I thought I'd leave a comment having just come across your videos, as I grew up in Croydon (Norbury) and know the area well, but long ago moved away after mum and dad passed away to rest in the Thornton Heath cemetery. Now living in the north, and I've moved around quite a bit, Marlow, Warwick, York, Ripon and now Pendle in Lancashire, but Norbury/Croydon is still "home", the family are originally from Cherry Orchard and Fulham. I used to cycle and later motorcycle to Woldingham as my sister and her family live there. Whether or not they joined any of the parties (in the 70s) you mentioned is a possibility! Seeing the Slines Oak Road pond and hearing the ghost story (which I think I heard about long ago) makes sense to me of how I slid into the pond trying to take the corner too quickly, it's a really tricky turn! If you ever consider doing a walk from Cherry Orchard to Thornton Heath and the Pond or up to Norwood Grove (a stretch from your normal routes I admit) I bet there's a lot to mention! The King William IV pub that used to be on Green Lane and where I worked behind the bar for a short while in 1977, being one such marvel.. the earliest mention of the tavern dates from March 26, 1681, when the burial of “John a lodger at the Green Man” is recorded in the Streatham parish registers, and Dick Turpin drank there it is said! Looking forward to your future videos..!

[@philswallow]

Thanks Peter. I always look to expand beyond Croydon but keep finding lots of intersting subject matter close to home! I'm glad you have enjoyed my content and it has helped to bring back some memories.

[@TheMycal246]

Remember doing all these walks as a kid (with a bike) and then lately during lockdown. Fantastic on a better day.

[@peterclark9677]

Hi Phil another great video. Opposite the site where the bus garage used to be, my cousin used to own a newsagent and sweet shop a few years back probably the seventies

[@TheMycal246]

As a kid fell through the ice at Slines oak pond......managed to get out and cycle home very wet

[@philswallow]

Was it very deep? It always seems fairly shallow.

[@TheMycal246]

I was at the edge luckily so about 3 foot I think

[@philswallow]

@@TheMycal246 phew!

[@fluffybadger9832]

I've often wondered if anyone knew how deep it was.

[@philswallow]

@fluffybadger9832 it’s not too bad, just a short way down is an old mail coach 😳🫣👻

[@jeffreyharrison]

Hi Phil. Just seen your video once again love it Are used to work at that site of ledgers rd when it was a rubbish tip in the 70s and 80s. And, I knew about the coach going into the pond I always believe that story if you want another story, if you walk up the top of that road to where it opens up into a field going towards Oxted I think on the left-hand side in the middle was a plane crash My friend, Dad was there at the time. he had to run back to the bus station to call the ambulances it was a long long time ago I think it was in the papers, All that remembers was there was people everywhere. He said he found out afterwards, the plane took off at Croydon and tried to head for Biggin Hill Keep up the workmate love it Jeff.

[@philswallow]

Cheers Jeff, I will look into that. I have some other air crash-related content that I plan to film and also I want to do some more walks in that area so all being well I can join it up 👍🏻

[@fluffybadger9832]

I seem to recall danger signs around, keep out, deep water. I now wonder what sort of rubbish was used for landfill!

[@TheMycal246]

Ledgers road gravel pits I went to loads of time very deep ponds and pits...always thought we shouldn't be here

[@philswallow]

That’s how I remember feeling!

[@guyj3025]

I remember hearing the same ghost story when I was a kid. I believe the history of the Limpsfield Road goes all the way back to the iron age, it was a ridge way. Would love to see you do the school sponsored walk route - If I recall correctly the return leg came down the limpsfield road across worms heath.

[@philswallow]

I’ve probably covered some of it without realising it. I remember some over towards the A22 and lunch near the Ridge at Woldingham?

[@billwilson1320]

Another interesting vlog...thanks! Express Dairy horse stables in Sanderstead. Any idea where they were?

[@philswallow]

Thanks Bill. I think Borough Farm had a dairy, cows were kept in the field where cricket is played now. The farm was where Waitrose is now.

[@billwilson1320]

@@philswallow Oh dear. Looks like my follow-up post disappeared?

[@philswallow]

I haven’t seen any other notifications. Bill - not sure what happened there 🤔

[@andymcgarty3099]

Great video, yet again. I used to bike around the quarry in the day I'm I'm sure we made some jumps. There is a folklore than Slines Oak pond in linked by an underground stream to the pond at Hamsey green and divers travelled through it! But never seen any evidence.

[@rogerdodger61]

Oh, and yes, I remember the Woldingham parties ;)

[@philswallow]

Haha 💃🕺🍻

[@rogerdodger61]

So, Phil....2 things. First, I can't believe you walk and talk past Gresham Avenue without name dropping me. WTF?!!!! :)....second, the Slines Oak ghost, there is more to this. Did you know, there is another part to the pond on the other side of Limpsfield Road, directly opposite where you crossed and walked towards the farm gate. It's a much smaller, and very overgrown bit, but as I say it once formed part of a bigger pond before the B269 was laid straight through it. And, apparently, the pond (or even mini-lake in those days?) had a stone bridge across it, and it was from this bridge that the coach and horses veered off and crashed into the water. Minor details, but just to add to the story!! I know of the smaller pond, because I have distinct memories of my old Labrador, Belle, jumping into the middle of it back in the 70's and getting absolutely filthy. Hope you are well old friend.

[@philswallow]

Hello matey! I knew of the other pond but not that bit of detail. I have yet to find any official record backing up the events of that time but live in hope, I’m always researching stuff. I will have to work in a name-check in a future video! Hope all is good with you 👍🏻