Sydenham

Overview

Sydenham is bustling with families as people flock to the area attracted by its award-winning parks, a variety of schools and properties ranging from flats to period homes to cottages to terraced properties to Victorian detached houses with sprawling gardens.

The area is served by both railway and overground. There are three stations in the area including Sydenham station, Sydenham Hill and Lower Sydenham. The stations provide connections to Victoria, Blackfriars and Charing Cross. Buses can conveniently transport you to Tottenham Court Road through Dulwich and Waterloo.

To learn more about the area’s extensive history and how it has changed over the years, keep reading.

Interesting Facts

• The Avenue, Sydenham is a famous painting by Camille Pissarro and features St Bartholomew’s Church, located in Sydenham. The church was built between 1827 and 1832. The painting, which is one of the artist’s biggest canvases in oil, is currently housed in the National Gallery.
• Sydenham has the highest number of conservation areas in the Borough of Lewisham. These seven areas include Cobbs Corner, Dulwich Village (covering Crescent Wood Road), Halifax Street, Sydenham Hill/Kirkdale, Sydenham Park and Sydenham Thorpes.

Amenities

Sydenham Green Group Practice, Wells Park Practice and the Vale Medical Centre provide comprehensive NHS primary care services in the area. King’s College Hospital in Denmark Hill is nearby. The Dulwich Community Hospital was replaced by the Tessa Jowell Health Centre in May 2020. It brings The centre also has a physiotherapy unit, renal dialysis unit, community mental health services and services for patients with long term medical conditions. Services at the centre are provided by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Omnes Healthcare, as well as other specialist, voluntary and community organisations.

Attractions

Things to do

• The area around Cobbs Corner and Sydenham High Street houses many independent shops, including bookshops, different eateries, cafes etc., as well as several chain stores . Other amenities like the post office and several banks also have branches in this commercial area.
• There is no lack of green space in the area. Sydenham Wells Park has tennis courts, a multi-sports ball court and formal gardens. Mayow Park, Lewisham’s oldest municipal park, has a cricket pitch and two tennis courts and is the perfect place to spend a day with your kids. Both these parks have been awarded a Green Flag. There are several other green spaces in the area like Alexandra Recreation Ground, Baxters Field, Home Park and Kirkdale Green. Additionally, along the borders of Sydenham you’ll find Crystal Palace Park, Dulwich Woods, Southend Park and Sydenham Hill Woods, with a variety of flora and fauna.
• Sydenham Arts Festival is an annual celebration of music, theatre, dance, art, film, spoken word, outdoor and family events held around different venues in the area. It is the perfect opportunity for creatives to showcase their work and for the local community to enjoy an array of events.

History

Sydenham, formerly known as Shippenham, used to be an area with a collection of cottages. During the 17th century, the water of what is now known as Wells Park was believed to have healing properties, inviting more people to the area.

With the opening of the Croydon Canal in 1801 and the railway in 1839, the area’s growth gained momentum. In 1854 Crystal Palace was reopened in Sydenham Hill, and the exhibitions, concerts, conferences and sporting events held at this venue attracted a lot of tourists. Hotels and houses were built to support the growing needs of the new population, This eventually led to Sydenham becoming a prime residential location. Sydenham’s population doubled every ten years until the 1870s and doubled again in the late 19th century.

With Crystal Palace’s destruction in 1936, Sydenham lost some of its appeal. As a result, Sydenham’s grand houses started being replaced by more affordable homes, and municipal estates were built in several corners.

Developments

• Maybrey Works is a popular new development located on Worsley Bridge Road, close to Lower Sydenham station. The development features 1-to-3-bedroom flats, offers parking to all residents, a gym and an on-site concierge service. There’s also a work hub for residents who work from home. The flats have balconies, some of which offer water views.
• In October 2021, property-builder Weston Homes acquired a 4.6-acre industrial land that was formerly the old Dylan factory site. The company has acquired full planning permission to construct flats at the site. According to the master plan created by Ian Ritchie Architects, the development is predicated to have 254 flats across two buildings.

Education

Education in the area

Eliot Bank and Haseltine are considered the two best primary schools in the area, with the former rated as “outstanding” by Ofsted. Fairlawn Primary School in Forest Hill is also an attractive option.

When it comes to secondary schools Sydenham School for girls and Forest Hill School for boys, located nearby, are popular among locals.

LIFE school (Learn in a Friendly Environment) in Forest Hill provides education, support and guidance to students at risk of being excluded from mainstream education.

Worship

Places of worship

There are a few different churches in the area like Forest Hill Community Church, Potters House Church, Greater Grace Christian Church and St Bartholomew’s Church. The Linh Son Temple, which is a Buddhist temple, is a short bus ride away from Lower Sydenham.