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Architectural gems

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Ht
Joined 22-02-2007
Posted on Monday, 04 June, 2007 - 02:36 pm:   

I went for a bit of a stroll on Sunday, and came accross Horniman Drive and the views from Ringmore Rise for the first time. (I am still quite new to FH and don't know the area at all yet!) Does anyone know anything about the history of 30 Horniman Drive? such a lovely house, (and realised it was pictured in the recent Times article on Forest Hill too).
Robwinton
Joined 07-06-2006
Posted on Monday, 04 June, 2007 - 06:28 pm:   

I didn't see the article and but I think you mean "Welcome Aboard"
(is this the one: http://www.flickr.com/photos/robwinton/402218746/in/set-72157594420497720/ ?)
- follow the links for more background

This is a 1930's house that features in a lot of discussions on Forest Hill and has also been nominated here before as one of the "most interesting buildings in Forest Hill" - check out the other votes on this thread:
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Triangle
Joined 08-05-2007
Posted on Tuesday, 05 June, 2007 - 09:56 am:   

My dad once told me that when he was a boy (in the early 1930's) he remembers standing where Liphook Crescent now is and looking down across fields. These were later to become Ringmore Rise, Tewksbury Avenue, Westwood Park etc. However, I'm guessing that there must have been a few 1930's houses dotted about by then and you wouldn't have been able to walk very far across the fields before you came upon the older properties in Wood Vale, Underhill road etc. Similarly, walking in the opposite direction, you would have come upon the properties in Honor Oak Road. But for those who were living in the older properties at that time, the walk to the top of Forest Hill with its virtually unobstructed views must have been wonderful.
Theotherbrian
Joined 28-03-2005
Posted on Tuesday, 05 June, 2007 - 08:04 pm:   

"Welcome Aboard" - designed and built in 1932 by Robert Atkinson and Partners - most famous commission was the foyer of the Daily Express building in Fleet Street. Original drawing dated 3rd June, 1932. Originally built for one of the family who owned Salisbury's luggage shop in Oxford St. Originally had a garage which has since been converted into a bedroom. All bedrooms were on the ground floor and the living areas on the first floor to take advantage of the views. If you are interested in the more modern buildings in the area, why not join the Twentieth Century Society, from whom I found out this information?
Triangle
Joined 08-05-2007
Posted on Wednesday, 06 June, 2007 - 01:35 pm:   

Thanks for this most interesting information. Don't know when the garage was converted, but I seem to recall that in my youth (mid 60's) that it still had the garage. Neither did it have the attractive "Welcome Aboard" metalwork over the entrance, but a nice addition and arguably the property looks in even better condition now than it did then. Also, with the exception of the similar dated properties located between "Welcome Aboard" and Horniman's School, I recall that the remaining part of Horniman's Drive, (both sides) leading down to the top of Westwood Park comprised very large Victorian properties, with equally large gardens. However, I would guess that the Victorian properties never extended any further (higher) than this.
Ht
Joined 22-02-2007
Posted on Monday, 11 June, 2007 - 10:02 am:   

Thanks for this information! I really appreciate it, and I'll look at joining the Twentieth Century Society too.
Theotherbrian
Joined 28-03-2005
Posted on Tuesday, 12 June, 2007 - 08:44 pm:   

Good news and thanks HT. C20 Soc is a charity and has tried hard to protect buildings post 1918. Their website is www.c20society.org.uk. They have a pamphlet published to go with the day's tour of Forest Hill and Sydenham they organised two years ago. It is full of interesting info about the area's C20 buildings. Good luck.
Ht
Joined 22-02-2007
Posted on Thursday, 14 June, 2007 - 12:21 pm:   

Hi Theotherbrian. Have joined the Society and eagerly awaiting my membership pack!
Baggydave
Joined 19-05-2004
Posted on Thursday, 14 June, 2007 - 10:52 pm:   

There is a lovely pub/hotel in Wood Vale called the Moor Park Tavern. Well worth a walk, and you can have a stroll around the cemetery afterwards. Pub doesn't seem to be serving anymore but you can always ask.
Theotherbrian
Joined 28-03-2005
Posted on Saturday, 16 June, 2007 - 08:48 am:   

Ht - good to hear you've joined. Hope you find it worthwhile - I have.
Triangle
Joined 08-05-2007
Posted on Monday, 18 June, 2007 - 12:38 pm:   

Baggydave, In my motorcycling youth, (early 70's) I frequented a pub in Wood Vale called the Moor Park Hotel. It was located at the junction of Wood Vale and Langton rise, (which crossed the old railway line) with one end of the cemetery just opposite the pub. Are we talking about the same watering hole?
Bigjulie
Joined 09-04-2005
Posted on Monday, 18 June, 2007 - 01:19 pm:   

I had a pint in there round about '93 (when I first moved into the area).
I think they stopped serving beer very shortly after that, Triangle.
Not sure if the two events are connected.
Triangle
Joined 08-05-2007
Posted on Monday, 18 June, 2007 - 02:58 pm:   

Bigjulie, I can't confirm when the pub side of the Moor Park closed down, because long before it did I had already moved on to the Magdala pub in Lordship Lane. (Which was great for Rock music) But what I can confirm is that the Moor Park Hotel was a very comfortable pub to frequent and the management were understanding and trusting enough to permit me and my leather clad biking friends to regularly accommodate a corner of the Saloon. (Must have spent a few bob there!) Indeed, the whole pub had a very friendly atmosphere and it's surprising how many SE23 folk you bump into that used to go there. For the record, I can also confirm that it is now purely a hotel and that one of my original biking friends who used to have a pint with me in The Moor Park in the seventies is now the joint owner. He liked it so much you see that he couldn't quite let it go!


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