It was built as a walled estate to separate its working-class inhabitants from the upper-class country houses and farm land, which at that time made up the district.

Its construction commenced before the rebuilding of the Crystal Palace on Norwood Hill but it became home to many of the workers employed on the construction of the Palace.

The walled-in terraced streets formed a particularly close community, which occupied an area south of Central Hill.

The enclosed streets were: The wall was demolished in 1930 and the district was integrated into the neighbouring area, which was becoming increasingly suburbanised.

The closest railway stations are West Norwood and Gipsy Hill.