Waddon
Encyclopedia
Waddon is a place in the London Borough of Croydon
, to the south west of central Croydon
on the borders of the London Borough of Sutton
. Waddon has an older area with 19th century properties, some even older, close to central Croydon. Further south is a large estate of Council-owned homes and a small number of tower blocks.
Waddon is in the Wandle
river valley. Waddon Ponds is a public open space, the ponds in which are one of the sources of the river. There are plans to open up the culverted river once again at various places.
The former Croydon Airport
was on the edge of the Waddon area, with the local community consequently suffering badly in the Blitz
and subsequent bombing raids in World War II
. Land and existing buildings in this area may be found to be subject to 20th century restrictive covenants preventing new construction above a certain height due to the proximity of the former airport, but those restrictions ought to be redundant by now, given that the airport has long since gone.
The Croydon Pirates
are one of the most successful teams in the British Baseball Federation
, playing at Roundshaw
close to part of the old airport.
Running through Waddon, from Purley
to West Croydon
, is Purley Way
, the A23
, home to many superstores and light industrial units. Waddon railway station
is on the line between West Croydon railway station and Epsom
Downs or Sutton. There are Tramlink
stops at Waddon Marsh and Wandle Park.
Politically, Waddon is the most marginal ward of Croydon Council and has seen its representation swap between the Labour
and Conservative
Parties for many years. In 1994, Labour won all three seats, then in 1998, the ward returned one Labour and two Conservative councillors, one of whom defected to the Liberal Democrats. In 2002, Labour once again won all three seats, albeit with one of them scraping home with a majority of eight votes, the only Labour ward in the seat of Richard Ottaway
MP, Croydon South
. In the 2006 elections
, Waddon returned three Conservative councillors.
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
, to the south west of central Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
on the borders of the London Borough of Sutton
London Borough of Sutton
The London Borough of Sutton is a London borough in South London, England and forms part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the 80th largest local authority in England by population. It is one of the southernmost boroughs of London...
. Waddon has an older area with 19th century properties, some even older, close to central Croydon. Further south is a large estate of Council-owned homes and a small number of tower blocks.
Waddon is in the Wandle
Wandle
-Rivers:*River Wandle in South London, England*Wandle River in South Island, New Zealand-Ships:, a British cargo ship wrecked off the cost of the Netherlands in 1893, a British coastal collier that fought an engagement with UB-27 in 1916, a British coastal collier that was renamed SS Pitwines in...
river valley. Waddon Ponds is a public open space, the ponds in which are one of the sources of the river. There are plans to open up the culverted river once again at various places.
The former Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport
Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary between what are now the London boroughs of Croydon and Sutton. It was the main airport for London before it was replaced by Northolt Aerodrome, London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport...
was on the edge of the Waddon area, with the local community consequently suffering badly in the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
and subsequent bombing raids in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Land and existing buildings in this area may be found to be subject to 20th century restrictive covenants preventing new construction above a certain height due to the proximity of the former airport, but those restrictions ought to be redundant by now, given that the airport has long since gone.
The Croydon Pirates
Croydon Pirates
Croydon Pirates are a British baseball club based in South London, England, who run three teams in various national leagues. They play at Roundshaw, which is one of the best baseball diamonds in the U.K., meaning Croydon are often the hosts of the London Tournament and National Finals.The first...
are one of the most successful teams in the British Baseball Federation
British Baseball Federation
The British Baseball Federation is the national governing body of baseball within the United Kingdom, founded in .BBF is a federated member of both the Confederation of European Baseball and the International Baseball Federation...
, playing at Roundshaw
Roundshaw
Roundshaw is a housing estate and park in south Wallington on the eastern edge of the London Borough of Sutton. Grid Ref . It was built on part of the site of the former Croydon Airport, and occupying roughly the area on which once stood the buildings of the first Croydon Aerodrome which was...
close to part of the old airport.
Running through Waddon, from Purley
Purley, London
Purley is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, England. It is a suburban development situated 11.7 miles south of Charing Cross.The name derives from "pirlea", which means 'Peartree lea'. Purley has a population of about 72,000....
to West Croydon
West Croydon station
West Croydon station is a transport interchange for National Rail and Tramlink services, as well as London Buses. It is in the London Borough of Croydon and Travelcard Zone 5...
, is Purley Way
Purley Way
Purley Way is a section of the A23 trunk road in the London Borough of Croydon, in the areas of Purley, Waddon and West Croydon, and has given its name to the out-of-town shopping area alongside it with a catchment area covering most of South London. It was designed as a bypass for Croydon and was...
, the A23
A23 road
The A23 road is a major road in the United Kingdom between London and Brighton, East Sussex. It became an arterial route following the construction of Westminster Bridge in 1750 and the consequent improvement of roads leading to the bridge south of the river by the Turnpike Trusts...
, home to many superstores and light industrial units. Waddon railway station
Waddon railway station
Waddon railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern. It is in Travelcard Zone 5....
is on the line between West Croydon railway station and Epsom
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
Downs or Sutton. There are Tramlink
Tramlink
Tramlink is a tramway system in south London in the United Kingdom which began operation in May 2000...
stops at Waddon Marsh and Wandle Park.
Politically, Waddon is the most marginal ward of Croydon Council and has seen its representation swap between the Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
and Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Parties for many years. In 1994, Labour won all three seats, then in 1998, the ward returned one Labour and two Conservative councillors, one of whom defected to the Liberal Democrats. In 2002, Labour once again won all three seats, albeit with one of them scraping home with a majority of eight votes, the only Labour ward in the seat of Richard Ottaway
Richard Ottaway
Richard Geoffrey James Ottaway is a British Conservative politician, and Member of Parliament for Croydon South.-Early life:...
MP, Croydon South
Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)
Croydon South is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
. In the 2006 elections
Croydon Council election 2006
Elections to Croydon Council in London, England were held on 4 May 2006. The whole council was up for election for the first time since the 2002 election. The Labour Party lost control of the council to the Conservative Party.-Election...
, Waddon returned three Conservative councillors.
Nearest places
- BeddingtonBeddingtonBeddington is a settlement between the London Boroughs of Sutton and Croydon. The BedZED low energy housing scheme is located here. In Beddington was a static inverter plant of HVDC Kingsnorth....
- CarshaltonCarshaltonCarshalton is a suburban area of the London Borough of Sutton, England. It is located 10 miles south-southwest of Charing Cross, situated in the valley of the River Wandle, one of the sources of which is Carshalton Ponds in the centre of the village. The combined population of the five wards...
- CroydonCroydonCroydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
- CroydonCroydonCroydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
- PurleyPurley, LondonPurley is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, England. It is a suburban development situated 11.7 miles south of Charing Cross.The name derives from "pirlea", which means 'Peartree lea'. Purley has a population of about 72,000....
Nearest stations
- Waddon railway stationWaddon railway stationWaddon railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern. It is in Travelcard Zone 5....
- South Croydon railway stationSouth Croydon railway stationSouth Croydon railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London, in Travelcard Zone 5. It is on the Brighton Line at its junction with the Oxted Line. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern.-History:...
- West Croydon stationWest Croydon stationWest Croydon station is a transport interchange for National Rail and Tramlink services, as well as London Buses. It is in the London Borough of Croydon and Travelcard Zone 5...
- Waddon Marsh tram stopWaddon Marsh tram stopWaddon Marsh tram stop is a halt on the Tramlink service serving the area between Waddon and Croydon in the London Borough of Croydon. It is close to the commercial areas of the Purley Way. The stop is overshadowed by the giant gasometer of Croydon Gas Works...
- Wandle Park tram stopWandle Park tram stopWandle Park tram stop is a light rail stop in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London. It serves the residential area between central Croydon and Waddon, and is adjacent to Wandle Park....