Churches
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St John's C of E
The church stands on the site of an earlier wooden church
and is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086
The present building dates from 1260, and the tower from about 1400
The list of Rectors begins in the year 1269
The spire was added during a 19th century restoration
The clock was installed around 1847 at a total cost of £113.00
The bells were made in 1675, and probably installed in that year
Each bell bears a two line inscription
JOHN HODSON MADE ME 1675 CH
THOMAS WOOD JASPER WOOD CHURCH WARDENS
Each word is separated by what appear to be rosettes, fleurs-de-lys, and a lozenge
The CH stands for John Hodson's son Christopher
Not visible in the photo is the green roofed extension added in 1958
Next to the Lych gate are two steps, built into the wall, that were used for
mounting horses before the advent of the motor car
The lych gate is pretty, but has no historical associations
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Watercolour 1921
Coulsdon Manor was held by the Abbey of St.Peter, Chertsey, until the Dissolution of the Monasteries by Henry 8th in 1536, and in the left background can be seen
"The Grange"
This house was the manor house of the Byron family prior to the building of the present Coulsdon Manor in 1850. Now a hotel
"The Grange" is still occupied as a private residence
What is now Grange Park was the front garden of the house, and in very dry weather the site of the drive, up to the house, can still be seen by a ribbon of different coloured grass
The Round House was the gatehouse and stood at the road end of the drive
Church cottages still remain to the right of the lych gate, but the footpath, indicated by the signpost, on the left has since been replaced by the road known as
Canon's Hill in memory of Canon Henry Granville Dickson, Rector of Coulsdon from 1896 to 1929
In 1968 Bradmore Green, and Grange Park, adjoining the church, together with the church itself were designated by Croydon Council as a conservation area
The parish church is at the centre of the ancient village of Coulsdon
It was only in the 20th century that it was thought necessary to add the prefix "Old" to Coulsdon, to distinguish it from the more recent development at the foot
of the hill
What we now call Coulsdon was previously known as Smitham Bottom
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 St John's Church Before 1958
Probably about 1950
 Early 1960s with new extension
 St John's Church about 1920/30s
 St John's Church & War Memorial Before 1933
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