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| Introduction: Norwood Grove Mansion (also known as "The White House" ) is currently owned by Croydon Council. An outside view is shown on the right - it is a very impressive building. For European Heritage Open Days many places that are not usually open were opened free of charge, with help from the Civic Trust. Amongst these the building that Croydon call "Norwood Grove Mansion" was opened on Saturday 12th. September 1998 from 10:30 to 14:00 (being closed to the public the other 8756.5 hours of the year). This page is an eclectic personal view of what we saw and heard... |  |
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A Guided Tour: I was a pleasantly surprised to find that we were offered a full guided tour from a professional from Croydon Heritage. I was priviledged to take the tour in the company of the Chairman of the Friends of Norwood Grove. This started with a wonderful history of Norwood Grove. We started in the Orangery, in through the door at the top of this page and examining the "onion" cupola and the recently restored tiled floor. |
| Entrance Hall: It is hard to imagine the original layout of the driveway, perhaps down Ryecroft Road and across the top field as that would bring you to the main door. The Entrance Hall has seen better days, but the door has a couple of hundred more years life in it. You might pass by the sort of fascinating detail shown in the frieze below the skylights. This Wedgwood toned theme of classical views continues inside the music room (see below). |  |
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The Music Room: Stunning. Sorry: I didn't have a wide enough lens to bring you any good photos. Neo-classically inspired, this room runs the entire height and most of the depth of the south-east wing of the building - I guess it is something like 9 by 18 metres. A delicate roof in what looks like etched glass (with a proper roof above) gives it an excellent diffused lighting. More of the friezes below a line of windows (clerestory style?). Beautifully pierced wainscot pannelling. A niche opposite the door (string quartet or grand piano size). A wonderfully hidden set of extra doors (reminded me of the Linn room at the Heathrow Virgin Clubhouse!). Impressive fireplace with Ionic columns. As far as I found out this wonderul room is neither open to the public nor used a lot. It's transformation into a substitute village hall is completed by the addition of a set of Ikea-like dark cupboards at one end, a tea-counter towards the other end on one side and a heap of lumber, furniture etc. in the other corner. |
| Towards the Nursery. Through to a lobby area which includes the tiled floor shown on the right. The ladies includes a wonderful mosaic wall in Roman style, but with Victorian flourishes. Sadly the tour inside came to an abrupt end just as I was getting interested - not one other area was open to the public unfortunately. The Nursery room is the main bow-fronted ground-floor room (we could peep in from the outside and glimpse a Gothic-style mirror and another impressive fireplace). The bowls room (?) was closed but we were taken to see the locked door and told how magnificent was the far side (maybe next year?) |  |
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Gardens: The tour ended by a walk round the formal garden in front of the house, but concentrating on the historical aspects related to the house (including the plaques). Thus we examined the fountain with it's seasonal cherubs, the rose arbour from which thieves have now taken Anderson's hand and hammer emblems, and the bird bath to celebrate Covington's campaign to purchase the estate for the public. When Norwood Grove was opened by the then Prince of Wales in 1926 he planted a tree much closer to the house than planned beause it was raining. But in a repeat performance 50 years later the new tree was planted in the middle of the lawn between the bird bath and the house - see left. |
| Finally: back into the Music Room (the edge of the floor has
this Greek-key motif shown on the right, much in keeping with the theme)
where a group of guides and volunteers were kindly supplying tea and coffee,
leaflets and books, information and discussion.
THANKS to Croydon Heritage, for both the research and the guided tour, and to all the volunteers who made this possible and keep up the pressure on the Council. We missed the 1999 open days but any more news I'll be sure to post here. |
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A
brief introduction to the history of Norwood Grove park and Mansion.
The
historical plaques on Norwood Grove Mansion.
Norwood
Grove Mansion open day 2000
Back
to Norwood Grove home page.