For centuries, Sydenham was a small hamlet on the edge of a large tract of common land, known as Sydenham Common, in the parish of St Mary’s, Lewisham. London was more than an hour’s travel away. Over little more than half a century, three events radically altered Sydenham, turning it from a rural hamlet into a populous, even fashionable, suburb of London: the enclosure of Sydenham Common, the coming of the railway in 1839 and the construction of the Crystal Palace on Sydenham Hill.

Today, Sydenham and Forest Hill are attractive and popular places to live, with good access to green spaces and local amenities. Join local historian Steve Grindlay on a photographic tour of Sydenham and Forest Hill past and present, showcasing points of interest such as the Horniman Museum, the Kirkdale Building and Jews Walk. Sydenham and Forest Hill Through Time is an essential volume for anyone who knows and loves these leafy suburbs.