Beachgrove, 111 Sydenham Hill

The History of Sydenham from Cippenham to present day. Links to photos especially welcome!
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arklog
Posts: 1
Joined: 2 Oct 2009 12:06
Location: London

Beachgrove, 111 Sydenham Hill

Post by arklog »

Does anyone have any photos or info of Beachgrove from 1930's to 1950's.
Steve Grindlay
Posts: 606
Joined: 4 Oct 2004 05:07
Location: Upper Sydenham

Post by Steve Grindlay »

This is the only picture I know of of Beechgrove. It shows the back of the house:
Image
Beechgrove, 111 Sydenham Hill, was built in the early 1860s. It was a private home perhaps until the end of WW2. Lionel George Logue lived there from before 1933 until about 1940. A doctor,Michael Denny, was living there in 1946 and in 1952 it became the Beechgrove Home for the Aged Sick. The house was demolished in about 1983 after many years of dereliction.
Thomas
Posts: 632
Joined: 22 Feb 2007 13:08
Location: Upper Sydenham

Post by Thomas »

Thanks Steve - I notice that there is still a sign fixed to a tree at the front of the site of the house stating the house's address - I'm not sure why. Interesting to see the site reverting to nature so quickly and to explore the old gardens in the woodland.
adrian816
Posts: 2
Joined: 3 May 2010 23:22
Location: West Norwood, London

Post by adrian816 »

The street sign was put there by an elderly West Indian who lived in part of the site many years ago. There's an article on the Dulwich Society website at:
http://www.dulwichsociety.com/newslette ... s-notebook
LivesNearby
Posts: 47
Joined: 21 Feb 2008 11:44
Location: Forest Hill

Re: Beachgrove, 111 Sydenham Hill

Post by LivesNearby »

Mentioned in the Grauniad the other day in connection with the King's Speech
Hill Dweller
Posts: 500
Joined: 4 Jan 2011 19:54
Location: Upper Syd

Re:

Post by Hill Dweller »

adrian816 wrote:The street sign was put there by an elderly West Indian who lived in part of the site many years ago. There's an article on the Dulwich Society website at:
http://www.dulwichsociety.com/newslette ... s-notebook

Ah did you mean the chap who lived in what looked like a one-room brick structure right next to the fencing at the Syd Rise end of Syd Hill? My boy sprog and his chums used to go to the nearby rope swing for Tarzan-type yodelling practice but were also interested in his vegetable garden and bird-scaring devices. All of a sudden he was gone from there but I think he was moved to one of the big homes across the road and he continued his long daily walks for ages ..... but I;ve not seen him recently :(






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Kisuke
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Joined: 3 Nov 2011 19:14
Location: Forest Hill

Re: Beachgrove, 111 Sydenham Hill

Post by Kisuke »

During my exploration of the Beach Grove site, I came across what appears to be a basement tunnel..... Upon further inspection it seemed that someone was using it as a means of sleeping in. I didnt stay around too long as I expected someone to come out of it. Just wondering if anyone may know what I talking about?
jmc
Posts: 32
Joined: 25 Jan 2009 11:24
Location: Crystal Palace

Re: Beachgrove, 111 Sydenham Hill

Post by jmc »

Sydenham Hill Wood is usually "home" to someone. The remains of Beltwood House provide an obvious choice for people wanting a more sheltered location.

Over the last few years the number of people using the wood as a home appears to have risen, with the residents often appearing to be eastern Europeans. Beltwood house and under the bridge are favourite locations, but currently there is also very obvious shack/tent near the main glade.

A couple of years back I wondered if the wood could end up with it's own shantytown mirroring the whats often seen on the continent. Hasn't happened though.
krowman
Posts: 8
Joined: 22 Jul 2011 15:44
Location: sydenham

Re: Beachgrove, 111 Sydenham Hill

Post by krowman »

I went exploring with my daughter in April and came across the very same tunnel type remains.
there was a sleeping bag and a piece of carpet in there then.
Kisuke
Posts: 5
Joined: 3 Nov 2011 19:14
Location: Forest Hill

Re: Beachgrove, 111 Sydenham Hill

Post by Kisuke »

krowman wrote:I went exploring with my daughter in April and came across the very same tunnel type remains.
there was a sleeping bag and a piece of carpet in there then.
Ah.. I see I'm not the only one to find this little gem. When I discovered the tunnel there was a makeshift wall with a few items of clothing behing it. I couldnt tell whether the tunnel lead to anywhere as it was rather dark. I must take another visit up there to fully explore it. Lets hope i dont bump into any homeless people on the way!
adrian816
Posts: 2
Joined: 3 May 2010 23:22
Location: West Norwood, London

Re: Beachgrove, 111 Sydenham Hill

Post by adrian816 »

The tunnel appears to be part of the remains of the Beechgrove outbuilding. This was at street level and separate from the main house. If you walk along Sydenham Hill and look through the doorway into the site you can see a step to the left (its front door?) and steps down towards the main house. They don't go all the way now, there's a 20 foot drop where they used to continue to the back of the house.
PeteWood
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Joined: 3 Jan 2015 10:18
Location: London

Re: Beachgrove, 111 Sydenham Hill

Post by PeteWood »

The tunnel leads to what was once the greenhouse. It was destroyed on the 6th December 1917 by a German air raid, when two incendiary bombs landed on Beechgrove (the other damaged the house). The house was, at the time, owned by Mr Benson.

In 1939 a temporary air raid shelter was built on the site of the greenhouse and a slit trench was also constructed, leading from the house.
RBFriend
Posts: 1
Joined: 2 Aug 2022 15:51

Re: Beachgrove, 111 Sydenham Hill

Post by RBFriend »

Hi, can anyone one assure me that Beechgrove was actually at 111 Sydenham Hill? I found a letter directed to mr. John Benson, Samuel Herbert Benson's son, which was sended to 55 Sydenham Hill. There is another letter written by mr. Benson in which he confirmed that his family lived in Beechgrove, Sydenham Hill (no number here).
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