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Has such a bad reputation, and some places in the borough aren’t even too bad

Fascinating history of Croydon airport, one of which I drive pass on a regualr basis.... On a further note, a subtitle glitch, at 13:44, replaces very skinny 'columns' with 'condoms' just thought an fyi

It's been a lifetime since I lived in Caterham (Up on Hill - 1949-1956). Your walks tug on my heart-springs for that so much simpler life. Thanks Phil.

Interesting that they would construct a bridge across the highway that leads to nowhere?

Thanks Phil wife knows the area well as she is a Caterham girl, walked the dog there a few times. I used to go trout fishing at the end of the Caterham by pass, there is a great trout lake. Cheers for the video

Phil, thanks so much for this series, we've really enjoyed the more rural walk and talks.

Sorry, Phil but looking at the SCC interactive map, you were on FP81, the only two rights of way from the Tillingdown Park development are BW121 going North back across the bridge, and FP29 going East across Worlds End / Park Shaw to BW30 the Woldingham School road. The next nearest would have been FP59 the other side of Birch Wood through Round Shaw to Woldingham Road. Same Rights of Way shown on the Woldingham Parish Map, tdcmaps, footpathmap, etc. I guess the signage you saw on the forest paths was not meant for the general public as there's no way to get out of Birch Wood without going through Birch Wood Farm's land, Birch Wood House access road is also gated and there's no FP signage on Woldingham Road. The Definitive Maps for Surrey are only available as a photocopy, not online but the SCC map should be good enough. You could have done the Worlds End or the Birch Wood Loops..? I remember the area south of Stony Hill from the mid-80s as there was access off the A22 to a clay shoot (which I assume is today's 'Caterham Clays'). Geograph has some content on its Grid reference TQ3554 page, and Mappiman's Real Ale Walks went through the farm in The Surrey Hills have Eyes post. It's funny, as I had only just been google earthing that area, curiosity over the new gated Tillingdown Lane access road off the A22 to the Tillingdown Park development (16 units built by Asprey Home, apparently). I was wondering if you'd find the reservoir! Yes, access from the A22 is the same road that runs over the A22 bridge that's been defoliaged recently.

Thanks Phil great upload , I had forgotten all about Albert Davidson something the bookies never did 😂,the link to the old farm and racing stables is fantastic

Report the blocked/missing path to Surrey County Council. Great video, lovely scenary. Brave crossing the A22! Its a busy old road.

I'm glad you covered this one Phil , I have been meaning to do it myself but wasn't sure if you could still get up there after the new development came along. I know what to expect now. I assume the bridge was the main access to the farm when it existed? That new build is pretty isolated with only access to the southbound lanes of the A22 bypass, which we know occasionally gets completely snarled up if there is an accident on the M25.

Have always had an interest in this aerodrome as it appears in newsreels as Neville Chamberlain proclaimed 'peace in our time' on returning from Germany. I am amazed it was never bulldozed for office development.

I lived in Croydon from 1995 to 1999. Back then it was ok. Glad I left in 1999 it is a hell hole now. I have a friend who told me in 1998 how much the place declined. It was recently claimed to be the most violent part of outer London. Shame, I used to like the place

Really interesting, Born and raised in Thornton heath, used to hang out in Croydon and visit McDonald's back in the 80's when you could drive through the town. My whole family has moved away now, its not like it used to be, very sad to see

As a old member off croydon rugby club. I found this very interesting.

Fantastic work Phil, the history is very interesting. I am a committee member of Croydon RFC and would be happy to give you a closer look at the site if you wanted 😊

The Labour council threw all of its eggs into one basket by trying to bring a Westfield to Croydon. It would have cost £1.5 BILLION, which is the SAME figure that the council is now in debt by through mismanagement and underfunding! They really believed a gigantic shopping centre built after the sub prime house market crash, rise of internet shopping and famous chain store closures was going to save the town! It shows local councillors are useless businesspeople and terrible visionaries.

I've got a great book for East Devon walks. Its called "REALLY Short Walks East Devon Coast". Suits me :) Great chat, interesting to here some of the behind the scenes stuff. Fingers crossed for Palace next season.

Not good

Does anyone remember the cinema that used to be near where mcdonalds is on high street.have vague memory of my brother taking me to see a really low budget version of spider man.late 70s i guess

Does anyone remember the cinema that used to be near where mcdonalds is on high street.have vague memory of my brother taking me to see a really low budget version of spider man.late 70s i guess

Nothing but more tower blocks going up that arent even intended for locals while losing its last bit of character.that croydon nowadays.

When allders closed it felt like the heart was pulled out of it.

Bloody hell, late again, sorry Phil.

Hi Phil thanks again for another great video. Up until and from the ages 8 to about 11 I lived in Kenley (Valley View Gardens) with my nan and dad. I remember going to a round sort of roundabout out with my dad with lots of grass and no cars to practice riding my bike. Do you know this place? Or did I imagine it! We walked from Valley View Gardens. Thanks...Pam

The red lion was the Friday night out for my late brother and his friends from St bernadettes, they where all downs children, happy days for them, most now passed away but memories remain

Thx, excellent as usual - how about doing a vid or two just covering the Bourne Society plaques

Thanks for doing these, its good to see its still got shops despite the bypass taking all the passing traffic! I've not been there for about 8 years, but notice a lot of differences.

Nicely put together, it's a shame things have to change...I still haven't got over Turtles closing down in Croydon.

Fabulous...! The stretch on the north side of the bridge has hardly changed - the other side is changed completely...! I went to the pub where Aldi is in 1981 with my first girlfriend. Before that, we used to go there with my gran on shopping trips....

Spent many happy Saturday kids mornings at the Regal in the 50s & 60s watching cartoons and action/adventure movies...

What are the original businesses from years ago if any ? My father owned the jewellers in the Brighton road . I remember crook, wimpy, pay&take, FHW , sparks , Fosters chemist , Phyllis’s , verity’s, the Ladybird shop in Chipstead valley road, Coulsdon hardware, Johnson’s hardware …. I’m sure I’ve missed plenty ! 😊

Thanks For The Update ! ( I Lived In Grove Wood Hill ! New Ash Green From 1970 !😊

COYS! 😂😂😂

Thanks for this Phil, my late mum lived close by and I briefly worked in McColl’s, there was a hold up there in 2017 . There was a ver y funny lady who ran the post office called Cookie, who loved to insult all her male customers.

Interesting video,such a shame selsdon is going downhill recently it has rapidly got worse in such a short space of time,thanks to social housing and the council

I worked in the whitgift centre when i was 16-18 and it was meant to be torn down due to dilapidation. I am now 38 and it is still open, that doesn't seem right at all.

We moved to Hamsey Green in 1970 & I remember exploring all around Riddlesdown, a total contrast to where we used to live in Thornton Heath. Myself & a schoolmate did get through the quarry fence once at the top, the opposite side to the path you took. it was only a chain link fence in those days with a few holes here & there. There were signs warning of crumbling rocks etc. We didn't get close to the main cliff edge, There are some shelves with lesser drops! Crossed the railway a few times. Schoolboy adventures. Then my parents got a couple of Cocker Spaniels so I would often walk them around the downs. I recall a lot of the fields were still farmed then.

Just discovered this channel - great nostalgia-fest! Do you remember Moody's toyshop on the Express Dairy parade. (I was born in '57, lived Wentworth Way, and went to Atwood CP.)

The commentry was great mate keep it up 👍

The original old Fire Engine House was knocked down by the developer who didn't have permission. The developer was forced to rebuild it as close to the original as possible.

I thought the "old" in Woldingham was pronounced like old in hold and told, not like the "alled" walled. Is that the local pronunciation? I'm a Lancastrian living down here in the vicinity. I want to be correct.

Looks like a roe Buck to me, nice mature head. Lots of them around that patch. Although I grew up in the area I rarely ventured into the woods as was normally on my bike! Have you contacted Surrey CC to get them to clear the footpaths, especially the two fallen trees? Someone will be responsible for maintaining them, you can report them on the Surrey CC website.

Just seen this Phil. Great job and a beautiful walk! Went metal detecting with a friend around Slines Oak Pond a very long time ago! We found musket balls embedded in? , quite remember?) and around the base of what would have been a mature tree...oak? Anyway,lol,we surmised that it could have been from the musket of a highwayman! Maybe "The" highwayman that forced the coach off the road!!?? Also, the road turn off that goes back down the hill. I'm sure there is a story of a Roman Villa on the right hand side field. I remember thinking that it would be a perfect spot for a villa as views right down the valley. Metal detected there too but don't recall finding anything. Once again! Love your videos! Cheers.

Thanks so much for your work Phil. Croydon Rd was home for me from 60's to 90's. A memory in every step you took mate. Lovely to see as an expat. So green and beautiful too. Looking forward to the next episode of the other part of the road. Up the Palace! Funnily enough had a dream about the old 'Commonwealth' pub last night!

Thanks for the history Phil. This brings back memories, we used to cycle from Selsdon to the White bear keeping off road as much as possible. We used to enter Holt wood through the bridleway entrance on Church lane, and immediately on the right was a strange building with an eerie presence, we never knew what it was! At the end of the bridleway we turned right on to Farleigh court road and left onto another bridleway, down into the valley and up a killer climb to Fickleshole to get our just rewards at the pub😊. Keep up the good work.

Its a green woodpecker Phil...

There used to be a forest commission area around there somewhere, it used to cut to back of Warlingham park hospital

Great information and a lovely day. Everything is playing catch up after a wet and cold spring