View source for Norbury

{{Short description|Area of south London, England}}
{{other places}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2010}}
{{infobox UK place
| country = England
| region = London
| official_name = Norbury
| london_borough = Croydon
| constituency_westminster = [[Streatham and Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Streatham and Croydon North]]<br>[[Croydon West (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon West]]
| population = 16,476
| population_ref = (2011 Census, [[Norbury (Croydon ward)|Norbury ward]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=13688665&c=Norbury&d=14&e=62&g=6322592&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&o=362&m=0&r=1&s=1476107935826&enc=1|title=Croydon Ward population|access-date=10 October 2016|publisher=Office for National Statistics |work=Neighbourhood Statistics}}</ref>
| post_town = LONDON
| postcode_area = SW
| postcode_district = SW16
| dial_code = 020
| os_grid_reference = TQ315695
| coordinates = {{coord|51.4092|-0.1083|display=inline,title}}
| static_image_name = Mauritius Bar and Restaurant, Norbury, SW16 (4636300431).jpg
| static_image_caption = 
| london_borough1 = Lambeth
| london_borough2 = 
}}
'''Norbury''' is an [[List of areas of London|town and suburb in south London]]. It shares the postcode [[London SW16]] with neighbouring [[Streatham]]. The area is mainly in the borough of [[Croydon London Borough Council|Croydon]], with some parts extending into the neighbouring borough of [[Lambeth London Borough Council|Lambeth]]. Norbury is {{convert|6.7|mi|km|1}} south of [[Charing Cross]].

==Etymology==
{{more citations needed|section|date=October 2016}}
The name Norbury derives from ''North [[Burh]]'', (North Borough). Some local histories note that this was due to Norbury's position on the northern boundary of the former Manor of [[Croydon]]. Others state that it takes its name from a split in the borough of Bensham, one of the former seven "boroughs" (i.e. [[tithing]]s) of Croydon. "Northbenchesham" became the Northborough, then Norbury; "Southbenchesham" later became [[Thornton Heath]].

==History==
For most of its history Norbury was rural countryside through which the [[London to Brighton Way]] Roman road passed. At Hepworth Road, the intact road, 32 feet wide, was excavated in 1961. Remnants of a metalled ford across the stream were found further south at Hermitage Bridge on the [[Norbury Brook|River Graveney]] which forms part of the boundary between Norbury and Streatham, before flowing on to the [[River Wandle]], then the [[River Thames]].<ref name=Margary>{{cite book|author=I. D. Margary|title=Roman Ways in the Weald|year=1965|publisher=Phoenix House}}</ref>

===Norbury Manor===
By the early thirteenth century, Norbury was a sub-manor within the chief manor of Croydon. The first recorded mention of Norbury Manor was in 1229 when Peter de Bendings conveyed the Manor to John de Kemsing and his wife Idonea and is referred to as the "lands stretching out either side of the London Road".<ref name="auto1">{{cite book |last=Clark |first=David |title=A History of Norbury |location=London |publisher=The Streatham Society |year=2013 |isbn=9781873520888 }}</ref> In 1269 the Manor comprised 91 acres of arable land in [[Pollards Hill]], 30 acres in [[Thornton Heath|Grandon]], 55 acres of pasture, 36 acres of heathland, 2 acres of woodland and 17 acres of meadow land.<ref name="auto1"/> In 1337, Norbury Manor was granted to Nicolas de Carew, who also held neighbouring [[Beddington|Beddington Manor]]. The Carew family remained Lords of the Manor of Norbury until 1859 except for a brief interlude during the reign of [[Henry VIII]]. Norbury remained rural and agricultural throughout this period. By 1800 most of the land in Norbury was owned by a handful of people; approximately half was owned by the Carew family, and the remaining large landowners were Peter du Cane, Croydon Hospital and [[Pembroke College, Cambridge|Pembroke College]].<ref name="auto1"/>

===Victorian period===
[[File:Norbury station building.JPG|thumb|[[Norbury railway station]]]]
At the start of the Victorian period, the population consisted of fifty six people and three main dwellings; the Hermitage, Norbury Manor Farm House and Norbury Hall.<ref name="auto1"/> The Hermitage was situated alongside Green Lane and backed onto Hermitage Sports Ground (now Norbury Park). The last resident of The Hermitage was [[Jenny Hill (music hall performer)|Jenny Hill]], a famous music hall performer in the 1890s.<ref name="auto1"/> In 1894 the North Surrey Golf Club built a 90-acre golf club on Hermitage Sports Ground and in 1896 purchased The Hermitage to use as their club house. The following year it was destroyed by fire.<ref name="auto1"/> Norbury Manor Farm House was situated on the corner where Norbury Avenue meets Kensington Avenue and was the Norbury Manor House until Norbury Hall was built in 1802.<ref name="auto1"/> The Farm House was demolished in 1914. Only Norbury Hall remains, now used as a retirement home and protected as a [[Listed building|Grade II listed building]].<ref name="auto1"/>

In 1859, the first Victorian villa, known as Norbury Villa, was built on the London Road.  A second villa followed in 1878, and thereafter followed the construction of clusters of large villas along both sides of the London Road. In 1867, the Committee of Croydon Steeple Chase and Hurdle Races leased approximately 100 acres at Lonesome Farm. The following year, the first Streatham Horse Race meeting was held and a temporary grandstand was built on Northborough Road. The two day meets, held four or five times a year, proved successful and attracted large crowds from London.<ref name="auto1"/> To cater for the crowds, [[Norbury railway station]] opened in 1878, built on a railway line which had run through Norbury since 1862. The increased crowds however led to an increase in anti-social behaviour, and local residents lobbied politicians to enact a new law in 1879 banning horse racing within ten miles of [[Westminster]], effectively ending the Streatham Races.<ref name="auto1"/>

===Urbanisation===
[[File:St. Oswald's (July 2015).JPG|thumb|right|St Oswald's Parish Church]]
By 1900, Norbury was an affluent semi-rural suburb boasting two golf courses and cricket, football, tennis and bowls clubs.<ref name="auto1"/> The first shopping parades on the London Road were constructed in 1900 and side roads behind the parades began to be laid out.<ref name="auto1"/> Electric trams were introduced in 1901 connecting the town to [[Purley, London|Purley]], however as Croydon trams and [[Trams in London|London trams]] used different systems and could not use the same tracks, when going to London passengers had to change in Norbury. During the next thirty years most of the housing in Norbury was constructed, with the houses and roads in different areas forming part of several residential estates. The most notable estate was the [[Norbury Estate|Norbury Cottage Garden Estate]] built in 1901 in thirty acres of land between Northborough Road and Semley Road, and which was the first cottage estate built by the [[London County Council]].<ref name="auto1"/> The population of Norbury had risen from 475 people in 1901 to 15,538 by 1931.<ref name="auto1"/>

During the second half of the twentieth century, many of the large Victorian villas were demolished and office blocks were built on their sites. Later many of the office blocks were themselves converted into residential apartments. In 1970 Norbury Fire Station was built to replace nearby Streatham Fire Station.<ref name="auto1"/>

=== Modern Norbury ===

Today, Norbury is a built-up residential area housing a diverse and multi-cultural community. It has a variety of local commerce, with most of Norbury High Street consisting of newsagents and various independent businesses, as well as one or two pubs.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2011-06-24|title=Let's move to: Norbury, south London|url=http://www.theguardian.com/money/2011/jun/24/lets-move-to-norbury-south-london|access-date=2021-04-04|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|language=en}}</ref> It is also very well connected to other areas, such as Crystal Palace, Croydon, Streatham and Central London. Norbury Station is in [[London fare zones|fare zone 3]]. Some locals consider the area to be in decline, with increased fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour, and a campaign has been started to reverse these changes.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About|url=http://lovenorbury.org.uk/about/|access-date=2021-04-04|website=Lovenorbury.org.uk|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Demography==
In the [[United Kingdom census, 2011|2011 census]], Norbury was [[White people|White]] or [[White British]] (37.4%), [[Asian people|Asian]] or [[British Asian|Asian British]] (28%), [[Black people|Black]] or [[Black British]] (24.8%), [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed/multiple ethnic groups]] (6.5%), and  Other ethnic group (2.2%). The largest single ethnicity is White British (24.1%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/norbury-e05000158#sthash.EQkAIZws.dpbs|title=Norbury - UK Census Data 2011|website=Ukcensusdata.com|access-date=31 January 2021}}</ref>

Of those living in Norbury, the most common place of birth is [[England]] (55%), followed by [[India]] (5%), [[Pakistan]] (4%), [[Jamaica]] (4%) and [[Kenya]] (2%).<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=http://norbury.localstats.co.uk/census-demographics/england/london/croydon/norbury|title=Norbury Demographics (Croydon, England)|website=Norbury.localstats.co.uk|access-date=24 August 2025}}</ref> The main first language spoken is [[English language|English]] (76.5%), followed by [[Polish language|Polish]] (4%), [[Urdu]] (3.3%) and [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] (2.8%).<ref name="auto2"/>

The largest religious groupings are [[Christians]] (52 per cent), then [[Muslims]] (17.8 per cent), those of [[Irreligion|no religion]] (12.6 per cent), [[Hinduism|Hindus]] (7.6 per cent), no response (7.6 per cent), [[Sikhism|Sikhs]] (0.9 per cent), other (0.8 per cent), [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] (0.5 per cent) and [[Jews]] (0.1 per cent).<ref name="auto2"/>

==Politics==
Norbury is part of the [[Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon North]] constituency and the current MP is the Labour politician [[Steve Reed (politician)|Steve Reed]]. The constituency replaced the [[Croydon North East (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon North East]] constituency in 1997 and has returned [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] MPs since it was re-instated.

Norbury includes two of the twenty-eight [[ward (country subdivision)|ward]]s which make up [[Croydon London Borough Council]]. These two wards, both created in 2018, are [[Norbury and Pollards Hill (ward)|Norbury and Pollards Hill]] and [[Norbury Park (ward)|Norbury Park]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.croydon.gov.uk/aboutus|title=About us &#124; Croydon Council|website=Croydon.gov.uk|access-date=24 August 2025}}</ref>

===Norbury and Pollards Hill===
{{Election box begin | title=Norbury and Pollards Hill by election, 14 March 2019}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
 |party      = Labour Party (UK)
 |candidate  = Leila Ben-Hassel
 |votes      = 1,379
 |percentage = 
 |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
 |party      = Conservative Party (UK)
 |candidate  =Tirena Gunter
|votes      =324
 |percentage = 
 |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
 |party      = Independent (politician) 
 |candidate  =Mark O’Grady
|votes      =162
 |percentage = 
 |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
 |party      = Green Party of England and Wales
 |candidate  = Rachel Chance 
 |votes      =91
 |percentage = 
 |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate 
 |party      = Duma Polska
 |candidate  =Margret Roznerska
 |votes      =72
 |percentage = 
 |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
 |party      = Liberal Democrats (UK)
 |candidate  =  Guy Burchett 
 |votes      = 70
 |percentage = 
 |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
 |party      = UKIP
 |candidate  =Kathleen Garner 
 |votes      =40
 |percentage = 
 |change     = 
}}
{{Election box majority|
 |votes      =
 |percentage = 
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{{Election box turnout|
 |votes      =
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{{Election box hold with party link|
 |winner = Labour Party (UK)
 |loser = Labour Party (UK)
 |swing = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=Norbury and Pollards Hill - 2018 (2)}}

{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Labour Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Maggie Mansell
  |votes      = 1,981
  |percentage = 
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Labour Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Shafi Khan
  |votes      = 1,934
  |percentage = 
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Conservative Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Calum Bardsley
  |votes      = 644
  |percentage = 
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Conservative Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Mike Mogul
  |votes      = 638
  |percentage = 
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party of England and Wales
  |candidate  = Stephen Amor
  |votes      = 299
  |percentage = 
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party of England and Wales
  |candidate  = Cheryl Zimmerman
  |votes      = 291
  |percentage = 
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box majority
  |votes      = 1,290
  |percentage = 22.29
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box turnout|
  |votes      = 
  |percentage = 
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{{Election box hold with party link|
 |winner = Labour Party (UK)
 |swing = 
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{{Election box hold with party link|
 |winner = Labour Party (UK)
 |swing = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

===Norbury Park===
{{Election box begin | title=Norbury Park - 2018 (2)}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Labour Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Sherwan Chowdhury
  |votes      =  1,730
  |percentage = 
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Labour Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Alisa Flemming
  |votes      = 1,697
  |percentage = 
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Conservative Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Blake O'Donnell
  |votes      = 1,039
  |percentage = 
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Conservative Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Ola Kolade
  |votes      = 976
  |percentage = 
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Liberal Democrats (UK)
  |candidate  = Anne Viney
  |votes      = 259
  |percentage = 
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party of England and Wales
  |candidate  = Rebecca Weighell
  |votes      = 249
  |percentage = 
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party of England and Wales
  |candidate  = Graham Jones
  |votes      = 199
  |percentage = 
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Liberal Democrats (UK)
  |candidate  = Stephen Viney
  |votes      = 121
  |percentage = 
  |change     = 
}}

{{Election box majority
  |votes      = 658
  |percentage = 10.66
  |change     = 
}}

{{Election box turnout|
  |votes      = 
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{{Election box hold with party link|
 |winner = Labour Party (UK)
 |swing = 
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
 |winner = Labour Party (UK)
 |swing = 
}}

{{Election box end}}

==Nearest places==
* [[Streatham]]
* [[Streatham Common]]
* [[West Norwood]]
* [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]] / [[Upper Norwood]]
* [[Mitcham, London, England|Mitcham]]
* [[Pollards Hill]]
* [[Thornton Heath]]
* [[Croydon]]
* [[Purley, London|Purley]] 

== Notable people and residents ==
* [[Kingsley Amis]] (1922–1995), novelist
* [[Correlli Barnett]] (1927–2022), military historian
* [[Derek Bentley case|Derek Bentley]] (1933–1953), a burglar who was controversially hanged for the death of a police officer in 1952 (subject of the film ''[[Let Him Have It]]'').
* [[Edwy Searles Brooks]] (1889–1965), novelist
* [[Samuel Coleridge-Taylor]] (1875–1912), composer
* [[John Creasey]] (1908–1973), detective-story writer
* [[Dave (rapper)|Dave]] (born 1998), rapper
* [[Jan Francis|Janet Francis]] (born 1947), actress
* [[Deryck Guyler]] (1914–1999), actor
* [[Wee Willie Harris]] (1933–2023), singer
* [[Will Hay]] (1888–1949), comedian and actor
* [[Libera (choir)|Libera]], boys' choir
* [[Michael Moorcock]] (born 1939), writer and musician
* [[Osh (singer)|Osh]] (born 1995), singer
* [[Robert Prizeman]] (1952–2021), composer
* [[Ralph Reader]] (1903–1982), actor
* [[Stormzy]] (born 1993), rapper
* [[Roxanne Tataei]] (born 1988), singer

==Nearest railway stations==
*[[Norbury railway station]]
*[[Mitcham Eastfields railway station]]
*[[Streatham Common railway station]]
*[[Streatham railway station]]
*[[Mitcham Junction railway station]]
*[[Thornton Heath railway station]]

==In fiction==
Norbury is portrayed in a [[Sherlock Holmes]] short story, "[[The Adventure of the Yellow Face]]", as one of the few places in which the detective turned out to be wrong regarding his theories (as referenced in the episode "[[The Six Thatchers]]" of the [[BBC]] television series ''[[Sherlock (TV series)|Sherlock]]'').

Norbury is mentioned in [[Penelope Fitzgerald]]'s ''[[The Beginning of Spring]]'' (1988). The character of Nellie Reid, who is central to the plot, but who does not appear until the book's final sentence, is from Norbury; and it is repeatedly mentioned throughout the book in contrast to a very different type of life in Moscow.

Norbury station features in the song "Lesley", from rapper [[Dave (rapper)|Dave]]'s debut album ''[[Psychodrama (album)|Psychodrama]]'' (2019).{{citation needed|date=August 2025}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{commons category}}

{{LB Croydon}}
{{LB Lambeth}}
{{LB Merton}}
{{London Districts}}

[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Lambeth]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Merton]]
[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:District centres of London]]