How much do you know about the history of Palace Road Estate?
Roupell Park Estate
From 1810 to 1840 father and son, John and Richard Roupell, purchased a large area of farm land at Streatham Hill. From c. 1850 they built the Roupell Park Estate (not to be confused with the modern estate), which included Palace Road and Christchurch Road lined with large mansions.
Originally a park was laid out between the two roads, providing all the houses on the estate with magnificent views over the open land. By the 1890s however, the grand vision of a park at the centre of the estate was sacrificed so that houses could be built on the southern side of Christchurch Road and the northern side of Palace Road to make more money.
Our estate was built on the site of the former Roupell Park as highlighted.
William Roupell
The Roupells were a wealthy family of scrap metal dealers and landowners, who developed the Roupell Park Estate in the 1800s.
The most flamboyant member of the family was William Roupell. Scandal hit the family when William (shown in this image), forged his father’s will to inherit his property empire.
He got away with it for a while, and even became an MP for Lambeth – in what was later described as one of the most corrupt elections in London!
Things all changed when he could no longer pay his mortgages and he ran away to Spain! When he came back to England, he was caught and tried in court for fraud and forgery.
He was found guilty and spent 14 years in prison!
Palace Road used to be called Green Lane!
The Crystal Palace was a giant glass and iron building that housed the Great Exhibition of 1851 – a big show where people could see art, inventions and much more from all around the world.
The structure was moved from Hyde Park to Sydenham Hill in 1852, and Green Lane was renamed Palace Road in it’s honour, because looking up the road from west to east you once had a fine view of the Crystal Palace.
Today we can see the Crystal Palace mast from the top of our hill, where the actual Crystal Palace would of once stood.
Private Road – closed to funerals!
Palace Road was once a private road. Up until the 1970s it had a uniformed keeper and barriers each end that were closed one day in each year. Heavy traffic, funerals & hawkers were prohibited!
Post-war Palace Road
Our area was badly damaged by bombing in World War II, and many of the grand houses that lined the road, such as Ixworth Court at 22 Palace Road (shown first), fell into disrepair. London County Council bought up the old houses and demolished them to make space for the Palace Road Estate.
Ponton House is built on the site of Rookcliff, 31 Palace Road (shown second). From 1951-72, Rookcliff was the home of Lt. Commander William ‘Bill’ Boaks, who unsuccessfully fought the local authorities for over a decade against the compulsory purchase of his home.
1973-1977
Palace Road Estate was designed by Sir Roger Walters, who was the Chief Architect of the Greater London Council from 1971 to 1978.
As well as designing our estate, he was involved in some major building projects in London after World War II, such as the Thames Barrier and the redevelopment of Covent Garden.
He also introduced the idea of architects consulting with the public, which was a ground breaking approach at the time.
