Waddon

Waddon is a neighborhood in the London Borough of Croydon, located at the western end of the town of Croydon. It is close to the London Borough of Sutton, making it part of a larger urban area. The name Waddon might sound familiar, but it is different from another place called Whaddon. This area, like many parts of Croydon, has its own unique character and history.

History

The history of Waddon goes back a very long time. It is not known exactly when the manor of Croydon was given to the See of Canterbury, but it is believed to have happened before the end of the 9th century. By the year 871, the archbishop already owned lands in Croydon. The Domesday Book from 1086 shows these lands were used for the archbishop’s own needs.

Waddon’s name was first recorded in the 12th century. It comes from an old English word meaning “the hill where woad grows.” Evidence of people living here thousands of years ago, during the Bronze Age and Iron Age, has been found.

In the 13th century, Croydon became a market town. In 1276, Archbishop Robert Kilwardby got permission to hold a market every Friday and a big fair once a year. Waddon has many old buildings, including some from the 1800s near central Croydon. In the early 1900s, many homes were built for people to live in.

Waddon is near the Wandle River. Waddon Ponds is a public park there. The river used to flow above ground in some areas but is now mostly covered. There have been many mills and other uses along the river over the years.

The area has had many different uses over time, including farms, factories, and homes. There have been places to make electricity, factories for cars and other goods, and even an airport. Today, Waddon has shops, schools, and places for people to play and exercise.

The Waddon railway station opened in 1863, and trams now make it easier to travel to nearby places.

Politics

Waddon is a neighborhood in the London Borough of Croydon. Over the years, its political representation on Croydon Council has changed between different parties.

In the early days, Labour and Ratepayers Parties took turns winning elections. In more recent times, Labour and the Conservatives have been the main parties competing for votes. Sometimes, councillors have switched parties during their time in office.

In 2022, Labour held two seats while the Conservatives won one seat. This happened after some changes to the area's boundaries and some councillors were not running for re-election.

Nearest places

Waddon is close to several other places. Some of the nearest places to Waddon include Wallington, London, Beddington, Carshalton, Croydon, and Purley.

Nearest stations

Here are the closest train and tram stops to Waddon:

• Waddon railway station
• South Croydon railway station
• West Croydon station
• Waddon Marsh tram stop
• Wandle Park tram stop