Norwood Grove White House

Built in the early 1800s, the White House at Norwood Grove is one of the oldest buildings in Croydon.
The spectacular grounds have been a landmark in Upper Norwood since it came into existence in 1664.
But, after years of neglect, the grade II listed building owned by Croydon Council is slowly falling into disrepair.
Thieves have stolen the lead off the roof, vandals have smashed in the windows surrounding the covered orange-room veranda and damaged the stone garden ornaments and the wooden window frames are rotting.Councillor Pat Ryan said close circuit television is urgently needed to prevent the house and surrounding buildings from being vandalised.
A large cash injection is desperately needed to repair the window frames and replace the tacky plastic windows with glass.
He said: “It is no exaggeration to say that this house is a jewel and an important historical building in Upper Norwood, all the residents love it.
"It is a dreadful shame it has become so run down. The council needs to invest in our historical buildings and work closer with English Heritage.”
In 2005 there were proposals to hire someone to secure funding for improvements to the White House but since then nothing has happened.
The council say that they have been putting money into the house over the past two years and that plans are being made to try and secure some lottery funding.
The building’s decline has been slowed through the efforts of the private tenants who own flats on the upper floors and a private nursery school on the ground floor of the building.The mansion was probably built by the Mills family in the early 1800s who bought the property from the estate of Swiss-born Aymore Mavit.
The house was the residence of his mistress Sarah Aubert as it was secluded enough to grant the couple anonymity.
Upon his death he gave her the choice of inheriting the house or a sum of £1,000. She took the money and the property was sold to a merchant Thomas Mills.
The Mills family’s generosity in the area is well-documented. They owned the house and its grounds for 104 years, leasing it out to various people who added to the existing mansion.
The house and its grounds have come under threat of redevelopment many times over the past 100 years.
The historic landmark came into public ownership in 1926 after being saved by the heroic efforts of local residents.
They formed a preservation committee to prevent development in the park around the house.They arranged for over 4,000 people to petition the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Mayor of Croydon to save Norwood Grove. Wandsworth, Lambeth and Croydon councils banded together to purchase the land which was then handed over to the Croydon Corporation ensuring that it would remain open to the public.
In 1981, the house was in desperate need of renovation. The council spent £60,000 to get rid of the rot and beetles and then announced plans to redevelop the site.
There was a public outcry and Friends of Norwood Grove was set up to save the land. In the end the cash-strapped council converted the upper floors into three flats and the ground floor remained a community centre.
In the intervening years the magnificent music room has been refurbished but the house itself has become vulnerable to vandals and thieves due to a lack of security.
In the summer of 2005 the council received £40,000 from English Heritage Lottery Fund which the council say has been spent on the mansion.
At the time of going to print, they did not have a breakdown on what the money has been spent on.
A council spokeswoman said: “In the last couple of years the council has spent some £40,000 on the property and £7,000 on the grounds.“Work has already been done to compile a management and restoration plan which we hope could form the basis of a future bid for lottery funding. Meanwhile, we deplore the acts of criminal vandalism that have blighted this popular local landmark.”

[@V2tt1]

I've been, I've seen ... beautiful grounds

[@tommycockles66]

My family lived opposite that park for 50 years , it was a great place to play as a child and I have many happy memories of Norwood Grove .Playing out with your mates , football , 40/40 out on your bikes , heavy petting with your girlfriend s , staying out until it was dark and all the old park keepers who knew us and kept an eye on us a safe place to grow up .
It’s just a shame it got into disrepair over the years , old flower urns stolen fountains smashed.
Nice footage but not a fan of the annoying music.

[@PTREaerial]

Lovely place!

[@501Stratos]

Hermoso lugar !!

[@nazir80nazir80]

thank you

[@cymarin3d511]

This could be just like Beckenham Park Place if the will was there..