Forest Hill station 1944 and 2020

Forest Hill station, 1944

The station sadly suffered bomb damage in WW2, leading to the architecturally bereft structure we find today. The 1944 picture clearly shows the Barclays Bank on London Road, which closed in 2018. 

On the far left, you can see the Dartmouth Arms, which the station was originally named after when it opened in 1839.

Forest Hill station, March 2020

Perry Hill Post Office

Perry Hill Post Office circa 1885

A really proud piece of advertising from the time, showing off the shops' wares, highlighting that Post Office was only part of the shops business. It also looks like a couple of policemen are in shot as well. I've noticed a few stray policemen in the pictures - which makes some sense in that the Police station is just down the road. Presumably there were more bobbies on the beat back then.

I am not too sure on the date, but know it is before 1894 from the Ordnance Survey map of that date. From a little web-search, according to the local News Shopper newspaper, it looks like there was a Post Office on Perry Hill until 2003.  

The Ordnance Survey map shows where the Post Office was, which I wouldn't have located from this picture alone. There is a wider lens shot on a Lewisham borough website which I did initially use to find the position. It was much easier to just check the map! The map also highlights the Smithy next door, which would have been reached by the alleyway 'guarded' by the bobbies.

Today stands a Social Housing scheme, named Dowson House. It is difficult to imagine a reenactment of the original by the inhabitants, but you never know - maybe a picture for the future.

Dowson House, Perry Hill, Feb 2020

Forest Hill Library

Forest Hill Library, circa 1910

A beautiful, Arts & Crafts style building opened in 1901, built to plans by local Sydenham resident architect, Alexander Hennell who also designed High Street buildings on Kirkdale. I think the refurbishment in 2008 makes it look good as new.