Coombe is a hamlet in Croydon, London, England.
Coombe is unusual in this part of South London as it had barely been urbanised and has retained its collection of large houses fairly intact. Coombe Road, becoming Coombe Lane, is the principal road. Conduit Lane is an ancient route that was never paved and is now a woodland path. Coombe is located between the green spaces of Shirley (Addington) Hills, Lloyd Park, Ballards and Coombe Wood. Its rural character is maintained by the woodland aspect of the road and an old cattle trough at the junction of Coombe and Oaks Road. Tramlink, however, runs through Coombe.
There was an estate at Coombe as far back as 1221, recorded as being held by Richard of Coombe. In Elizabethan times, it was known as Broad Coombe. In the 17th Century, it was owned by the brothers of William Harvey, who first described the circulation of blood.
The houses of Coombe
Coombe House to the North of the road dates back to 1761 on the site of an older house - the Harveys' home. William Harvey stayed at the house frequently and had caves made in the grounds in order meditate in the dark. A 145ft-deep well in the grounds of the house was said to be used by Pilgrims to Canterbury on their journey to join Pilgrims Way, having come via the Archbishop's Croydon Palace. An brick icehouse is also found in the grounds, whoch is Grade II listed in its own right. Substantial changes were made to the house in the 1830s. It bought in the 1890s by Frank Lloyd, a newspaper magnate. His father Edward Lloyd founded the Lloyd News, later known as The Sunday News, and also the Daily Chronicle. He lived in Coombe House for thirty five years until his death in 1927. Neighbouring Lloyd Park, created from land bequeathed by Lloyd, is named after him. The house is now owned by a NHS Trust and is called Geoffrey Harris House.
Coombe Lodge is a Georgian red brick mansion built by the 1760s. It was once called Coombe Gate House or Coombe Green House. In 1761 the estate joined with Coombe House and Coombe Farm, an overall estate which was split and reunited several times. A large conservatory, still there, was added in the late 19th century. After World War II, the estate was bought by Croydon Corporation who used the house as a home for the elderly. The Council's Parks Department built the Central Nursery in the grounds, which continued to be used until recently for growing Croydon's plants and making Croypost, the municipal compost. Coombe Lodge was sold in 1988 and is now a restaurant and bar, with a large garden and the conservatory for public seating.
Coombe Wood House was built in 1898 for Arthur Lloyd, brother of Frank Lloyd. Some years later, then-owner William Cash, sold the house to Croydon Corporation who used the house as a convalescent and children's home. It is now a French restaurant, the Château. The ornamental gardens and 14 acres (57,000 m²) of woodland were kept by the Council and opened to the public in 1948. Coombe Wood Gardens are very popular, with a café located in the old stable block.
Coombe Farm is a large farmhouse off Oaks Road, reached down Oaks Lane. Oaks Lane was the former main road, closed by John Maberly of Shirley House in 1803 to increase his privacy. Oaks Road was its replacement and Oaks Lane is now open again to walkers. The building probably dates from the 16th century, with 19th century additions. In 1893, another brother of Frank Lloyd, Herbert, built a much larger new building with mock-Tudor features beside the original building. The farm is now a hostel and meeting venue. There are also old farmhouses and lodges along Oaks Lane.
Towards Croydon
Between Lloyd Park and central Croydon, considerable amounts of 20th century housing was built, particularly Park Hill. There were estates here too, with two houses surviving a mile from Coombe itself.
Coombe Cliff on Coombe Road was the home of the Horniman family of tea merchants. John Horniman (1803-1893), and Frederick John Horniman (1835-1906) are known as public benefactors and politicians. Frederick is remembered as the founder of the Horniman Museum. In 1850 John Horniman bought a piece of land known as The Warren and in 1853 he employed the "Brown" building firm to build a house on the site for him. Coombe Cliff had an important example of a Victorian conservatory with fine ironwork, used for Horniman's plant collection. Its glasswork created a shimmering effect in sunlight. Sadly it fell into disrepair and was dismantled. In 1930 Croydon Corporation purchased the house and gardens for a Convalescent Home for Children, however it had several other uses before finally being used as an Adult Education Centre in 1960. Coombe Cliff's gardens were merged into neighbouring Park Hill and opened to the public.
Coombe Hill House is a red-brick townhouse on Coombe Road, now considered central Croydon but until the 20th century in a rural setting. It was built around 1713 attributed to Sir Christopher Wren although this is likely to be estate agent hype. It was expanded by Robert Amadeus Heath, 2nd Baron Heath, Italian Consul General, in the 19th century before becoming a boys' prep school. In 1966, it was bought by Croydon's labour, trade union and co-operative movement and developed into their headquarters, Ruskin House. It retains its sash windows, brick wall and large Cedar tree.
Towards Addington
The Ballards estate was a major landholding to the east of Coombe. Until the Reformation it was Prior Ballards, then passed to the Leigh family of Addington. In 1872, Charles Hermann Goschen, Lord Lieutenant of the City of London and brother of the prominent politician, George Joachim Goschen, 1st Viscount Goschen, bought the estate and built a new mansion, demolishing the old building. In the 1920s, the estate was donated to the trustees of the Warehousemen, Drapers and Haberdashers school. The new school, built to the side of the mansion, was designed by Sir Aston Webb, architect of Imperial College. The school is now known as Royal Russell School .
Heathfield House was also bought by Goschen in 1872, who rebuilt the former farmhouse and leased it to his brother Henry, one of the last serving members of the East India Comany . In 1927 Raymond Riesco bought the property, creating banks of rhododendrons and a walled garden. Riesco arranged for the house, gardens and farmland to be bought by Croydon Corporation upon his death and donated his collection of oriental ceramics. The house is now the Council's training centre with the gardens open to the public. The farm is still cultivated with part used as horse pasture and the Monks Hill estate built on the eastern end.
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