Duppas Hill

[6] The workhouse moved to a new building at Thornton Heath in 1866, but the infirmary remained in the Duppas Hill buildings until 1885 and the establishment of a new infirmary (later Mayday Hospital, and now Croydon University Hospital) close to the new workhouse.

The Board had proposed enclosing it with iron posts and railings intending to turn the area into a park rather than a recreation ground for all to enjoy sports and games freely, and in particular aimed to restrict horse-riding.

Sir Francis Head, a famous soldier who lived at Duppas Hall overlooking the park, chaired a large public meeting to prevent the enclosure, wrote letters and memoranda to the press and headed a memorial of 3,500 people protesting against enclosure.

On the eve of the 1926 General Strike, it was the venue of a mass rally of trade unionists and workers.

In World War II it hosted a baseball match between American and Canadian soldiers.