Old Coulsdon & Netherne Village sits south of the town of Croydon and west of Hooley, with its boundaries stretching from Old Coulsdon to the east and the intriguing Netherne-on-the-Hill on a plateau to the west. The green spaces of Farthing Downs (a large expanse of chalk grassland) and Happy Valley Park (24 acres of wetlands), which exist around Ditches Lane, separate this area from the relatively farmland-dominated west from the suburban east (i.e. Old Coulsdon town). Situated just within the ring of the greenbelt, it’s no surprise that the area is renowned for being peaceful and popular with commuters who wish to escape the hustle and bustle of the inner city. The large Victorian and interwar homes, as well as the dotted farm houses and ancient churches only add to the outer-London feel of the neighbourhood.

Evidence of human activity dating back to the Neolithic Age has been found in Farthing Downs, with it being cultivated from at least 200 AD. The ‘Old’ in Old Coulsdon was only added when the newer settlement formed north of the area. The area has existed from at least the time of the Domesday Book, and up until the First World War was mainly a handful of cottages and farmhouses. The Byron family owned the estate for 140 years, finally relinquishing ownership of it in a sale in 1922 after the death of Edward Byron. During this time the area became home to Netherne Hospital, which was an asylum; opening in 1909. Unlike many asylums of its time, Netherne pioneered top standards for its patients, providing good food, reading materials, indoor and outdoor games and religious services. The village was then made into a golf course, and new roads were built during the interwar period, being lined with houses. During the Second World War, patients helped to assemble electrical parts for munitions. The core of Old Coulsdon has been made a conservation area since 1968, surrounding Bradmore Green farmhouse and barn.

Nicholas Carew was once granted the manor of Coulsdon, which he received after the dissolution of monastic lands under King Henry VIII. He had a complicated relationship with the crown, being regarded as a friend of France while still managing to obtain the benefits of the court. However, his luck ran out in 1538, when the out of favour Carew was convicted of trying to depose King Henry. He was executed at Tower Hill in 1539, and his manor was divided amongst other elites. Coulsdon Manor went to Hampton Court.

The areas distance from central London does not only make travel into town difficult and lengthy but also incredibly expensive. While many residents find this an appealing aspect of the area, it is also a downside for the neighbourhood’s commuters and young people.

For a few years now plans have been in the pipeline for the transformation of the nearby town of Coulsdon, which include the improvement of vehicular and pedestrian movement, definition of public space, the better use of existing underdeveloped land and the general improvement of amenities to encourage more people to work and live in the neighbourhood. That said, residents in Old Coulsdon have been actively campaigning against excessive development in their leafy knick of the woods, fearing that the council will approve too many proposals and create a domino effect leading the character of the area being damaged. The Oakwood Group was recently successful in negotiating the purchase of a site situated to the east of Coulsdon Town railway station. The proposal is for a collection of new mixed-use commercial and residential buildings, comprising of 67 apartments and 474sqm of commercial floorspace. Oakwood regards this project as a continuation of the regeneration they started in Coulsdon Town Centre.