[13] When the poet Thomas Campbell lived in Sydenham (between 1805 and 1822) he visited his friend Dr Glennie, in Dulwich Grove.

[14] After the relocation of the Crystal Palace in 1854, the Dulwich Estate made plots along Sydenham Hill available on long leases, and a series of large houses was built.

[5][15] The folly was in the former grounds of Fairwood at 53 Sydenham Hill; the house was first occupied by Alderman David Henry Stone.

[17][18] Incised lines simulating stonework on the folly's arch resemble those on the bridge in Buckingham Palace Gardens.

[10][22][23] In 1871, Camille Pissarro painted the view down the tracks to Lordship Lane from the wood and brick bridge on Cox's Walk.

[29] The January inquiry heard evidence from a dozen ecologists on the Wood's wildlife diversity, other witnesses describing the Wood's educational and amenity value, visited the site and listened to views from several hundred members of the public at an evening meeting at Kingswood House.

[30][31][32] Southwark MP Simon Hughes spoke in favour of saving the wood in the House of Commons.

[33] Further, Dulwich College Estates applied for planning permission to build 36 flats on the site of Beechgrove House (former home of Lionel Logue).

[35] The written report was published in the same week that Southwark Council's planning committee rejected the Beechgrove application.

[36] In advance of a public inquiry into the Beechgrove plans held in November 1986, Gerald Bowden MP said: "I’ve never had quite such a wide range of ordinary people writing to me on one subject.

A multitude of fungi, rare insects, birds and elusive woodland mammals including the Wood mouse[42] and hedgehog are also present.

Two British woodpeckers breed, along with nuthatch, treecreeper, tawny owl, kestrel and sparrowhawk, whilst hobby bred in 2015.

Buses on route 363[48] from Crystal Palace also pass near the entrance at an adjacent 'Crescent Wood Road' stop.