Modern-day Forest Hill is an excellent location to live. We love the local community, and we are pleased to say we have helped many people move in the Forest Hill property market. However, there is a tremendous sense of history in the local area, and here are some awesome facts about Forest Hill.
While there is a lot of activity and excitement taking place in Forest Hill today, it wasn’t until the mid-19th century that the population notably grew. This is similar to many parts of London. As you can probably guess from the name, Forest Hill, or The Forest as it was once called, refers to the woodland area which was part of the Great North Wood.
Did you know there was a canal in Forest Hill?
One big difference to modern Forest Hill life is that there used to be a canal. The Croydon Canal was constructed in the area in 1769, but it wasn’t a success. The failure of the canal is often attributed to the high number of locks.
The canal was to eventually become an integral part of the development of the area. The London & Croydon Railway Company purchased the canal and created their railway along the route. The railway opened in 1839.
If you are looking for signs of the canal, there aren’t many, but there are some. There are ponds in the Dacres Wood Nature Reserve and the original retaining wall for the canal’s footpath is close to the station, by the pub. You’ve probably walked by these relics of a bygone age many times and never given them much thought.
Forest Hill Pools on Dartmouth Road is one of the most popular destinations in the local area today, but do you know there is an excellent history of swimming in the area? The oldest swimming pool in London was constructed here in 1884, so it seems as though Forest Hill residents have always loved cardio exercise while having fun.
Forest Hill residents love history
While there is a great sense of history in Forest Hill, people in the area have always enjoyed history. One of the most prominent examples of this can be seen in the actions of Frederick Horniman, a leading tea merchant. Frederick loved natural historical artefacts, and he added a museum to his home to correctly display these items.
In 1901, Frederick donated this building, and the garden and this is now known as the Horniman Museum. The museum has continued to evolve, with the aquarium opened in July 2006 being hugely popular. Also, if you enjoy taxidermy, the museum plays host to one of the leading collections.
At Hunters Forest Hill, we know letting and selling your home is hard, but we are here to assist you in the process. If you aim to buy, sell, let your home or rental property, we are active in New Cross, Peckham, Dulwich and Brockley, in addition to Forest Hill, so get in touch with one of the top three agents in London, and we will be happy to assist you.
