I see that there is a question-mark after Handcross Alley in your message. The Hand Cross was one of four marker stones indicating the extent of the Manor of Croydon and was reported in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I to have stood adjoining that ancient passage called Handcross Alley. This passageway was also the location of one of the two pumps owned by the parish, the other being at Pump Pail. If you look at maps of the mid-nineteenth century you will find that there is an area of fields and meadows called Hand Cross lying immediately south of that known as Parson's Mead. In modern times the name Hand Cross has been corrupted to Handcroft and is remembered in Handcross Road which runs from the London Road at Broad Green in a ESE direction until it becomes the road known as Parson's Mead. These are road that were laid out in the late Victorian period. In my opinion it is likely that the route of the Victorian road followed an ancient track which was in effect an extension of Bensham Lane towards the Parish Church. Today Parson's Mead terminates at the junction with Derby Road which marks the edge of the development of both, in turn, the Croydon canal and the later railway line. The Croydon canal may well have been in construction when your relatives were in town. As would the Surrey Iron Railway (circa 1803) that had its junction with the Canal near where the old track would have passed and the later Croydon, Godstone and Merstham Iron Railway (circa 1805). This was a boom time for Croydon. I am uncertain about the precise location of the alley but it almost certainly was lost during the construction of the canal and probably ran down the hill from near where Derby Road meets London Road today, near West Croydon station, or it ran roughly east west and was a part of the route that I describe above. Regards John

Many thanks for this information, I will examine my maps of Croydon more closely now with this knowledge. -----Original Message----- From: eng-surrey-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:eng-surrey-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of John Orchard Sent: 05 December 2009 23:54 To: Eng-Surrey-L@rootsweb.com Subject: [SRY] FW: HARTLEY name I see that there is a question-mark after Handcross Alley in your message. The Hand Cross was one of four marker stones indicating the extent of the Manor of Croydon and was reported in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I to have stood adjoining that ancient passage called Handcross Alley. This passageway was also the location of one of the two pumps owned by the parish, the other being at Pump Pail. If you look at maps of the mid-nineteenth century you will find that there is an area of fields and meadows called Hand Cross lying immediately south of that known as Parson's Mead. In modern times the name Hand Cross has been corrupted to Handcroft and is remembered in Handcross Road which runs from the London Road at Broad Green in a ESE direction until it becomes the road known as Parson's Mead. These are road that were laid out in the late Victorian period. In my opinion it is likely that the route of the Victorian road followed an ancient track which was in effect an extension of Bensham Lane towards the Parish Church. Today Parson's Mead terminates at the junction with Derby Road which marks the edge of the development of both, in turn, the Croydon canal and the later railway line. The Croydon canal may well have been in construction when your relatives were in town. As would the Surrey Iron Railway (circa 1803) that had its junction with the Canal near where the old track would have passed and the later Croydon, Godstone and Merstham Iron Railway (circa 1805). This was a boom time for Croydon. I am uncertain about the precise location of the alley but it almost certainly was lost during the construction of the canal and probably ran down the hill from near where Derby Road meets London Road today, near West Croydon station, or it ran roughly east west and was a part of the route that I describe above. Regards John *************************************** Send your List messages using **PLAIN TEXT** and always **TRIM AWAY** superfluous old messages in replies. List Admin can be contacted at: Eng-Surrey-admin@rootsweb.com. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ENG-SURREY-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.709 / Virus Database: 270.14.95/2546 - Release Date: 12/05/09 08:13:00