Riddlesdown

Riddlesdown is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, one mile east from the centre of Purley. The name applies to the residential district and to the green space maintained by the City of London Corporation which is also known as Riddlesdown Common.

This article is about the residential district. For the green space, see Riddlesdown Common.

Riddlesdown

St James Road, Riddlesdown
Riddlesdown
Location within Greater London
OS grid referenceTQ327608
London borough
Ceremonial countyGreater London
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townPURLEY
Postcode districtCR8
Dialling code020
PoliceMetropolitan
FireLondon
AmbulanceLondon
UK Parliament
London Assembly

History

There is evidence of human activity in the area going back at least to neolithic times. Neolithic tools such as scrapes and flakes, and Bronze Age celts have been discovered there.[1] The "Riddle" part of the name is thought to come from the Middle English ridde leah, meaning "cleared woodland".[2] The name has been referred to variously over time as Ridelesdowne (1331), Redele (1338), North Ridle (1422), Riddleys, North Riddeley (1461) and Riddles Down (1765).[2]

Local facilities

The Riddlesdown Lawn Tennis Club was opened by Fred Perry in June 1938. The club has 3 all weather tennis courts which were resurfaced in 2013. It is located on Lower Barn Road.[3]

Most of the housing stock dates from the 1930s and was developed by John Laing plc. The design of some of the houses was influenced by the Art Deco style.

Riddlesdown Collegiate is a local authority secondary school in the area.

Riddlesdown railway station is located on Lower Barn Road with Southern Rail services to London Victoria and London Bridge. Close to the station on Lower Barn Road is also a local post office, hairdressing salon and pharmacy.

Nearest places
  • Riddlesdown Residents' Association
  • Sanderstead Parish Online - Church of England Parish for Sanderstead, Riddlesdown and Hamsey Green
  • Riddlesdown Collegiate
  • H. E. Malden, ed. (1912). "A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 4". Victoria County History. pp. 199–205, Coulsdon. Retrieved 29 July 2012.

References
  1. Malden, H.E., ed. (1912). A History of the County of Surrey. Volume I. The Victoria History of the Counties of England. London: Constable & Co. pp. 234, 243.
  2. Gover, J.E.B. (1934). The place-names of Surrey. Cambridge: English Place-Name Society.
  3. Riddlesdown Tennis Club website


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