Sydenham Common in 1841

[vaslin]

Hello, I am hoping there is a history buff that can supply some information. I have tracked an ancestor to Sydenham in 1841 (census record) where his place of residence is given as "Sydenham Common". Altogether there are 7 families listed with this address. I was wondering what sort of accommodation they would have? Toyed with the idea that they were gypsies camping in the open air, but the occupation of one resident is shown as "Lodging House" which tends to discredit that idea.
I would welcome any information or comments. Thanks!

[Robin Orton]

Sydenham Common (or Westwood) used to extend over much of what is now upper Sydenham and Forest Hill - roughly anywhere west of a line between drawn between Cobb's Corner, Forest Hill station and Devonshire Road. (See map on p. 80 of John Coulter's 'Sydenham and Forest Hill Past'.) It ceased to exist in 1812, when it was enclosed and sold off for development, but I guess the area may still have been known as Sydenham Common even after it had been built up. But it's difficult to believe that 'Sydenham Common' would have been an adequate postal address in 1841!

[Falkor]

It was quite built up by the 1840s since the enclosure, so could be anywhere: Honor Oak Road (stone built houses), otherwise elsewhere would be weather-boarded: most likely Kirkdale AKA Old Sydenham High Street AKA Sydenham Common (the name of the open space had evidently passed to the road). Had they left Sydenham by the 1851/1861 census?

Here's what Kirkdale AKA Sydenham Common looked like in 1812:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/6466490459

Here's the same view in the 1830s or 1840s:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/7386029922

Here was one of the local pubs with the windmill in the background:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/2265827052
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/2265830864

[Falkor]

One more pub from those times can be seen in the distance.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/7386035628

Here's some other weather-boarded cottages from that road that survived till several decades ago:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/6398831375
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/6393034103

These cottages were here till a few years ago:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/8697318133

[Falkor]

A famous building that still survives:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/302981152
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/2981866614
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/5525399811

Today's survivals:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/2265186984

[Falkor]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/6398894183
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/1379085383

The Fox and Hounds, another pub, but no picture survives of the original "ornate" building.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/6422918521
https://www.flickr.com/photos/stevegrindlay/306882278

[vaslin]

Dear Robin and Falkor
Thank you for your replies. I now think it's highly likely he was a cottage dweller, as he was in the 1851 census (by then at Bexley).
I loved the sketch of Sydenham in 1835!
Thanks again!