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It is believed that the name Addiscombe CR0 derives from the Saxon term Edda’s camp or estate. The name of the neighboring area, Addington, presumably has the same origin. Edda or Eadda was the name of the person who owned land in this part of South London at that time. Farming and brick-making were the main occupations in the 13th century. The Heron family owned the country estate in the 14th century. Addiscombe Place built in the 18th century replaced Thomas Heron’s 1516 Elizabethan mansion. Famous architect Sir John Vanbrugh designed the building. Tsar Peter the Great of Russia, King George III, and William Pitt stayed here.
For many years, Lord Liverpool resided at Addiscombe Place prior to becoming a prime minister. In 1703, gardener and diarist John Evelyn records this mansion as “one of the very best gentlemen’s houses in Surrey”. British East India Company bought the mansion in 1809 and transformed it into the Addiscombe Military Seminary. Notable cadets include Sir George Lawrence, Sir James Abbot, Douglas Hamilton, Francis Ward, and Sir Robert Warburton. The academy closed in 1861. Housing was built on the site of the former school. Ashleigh and India are two of the old professors’ houses that remain.
This CR0 area is the birthplace of model Kate Moss and musician Matthew Fisher. Famous residents include David Prowse, the actor who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy, teleprinter inventor Frederick George Creed, 1964 Olympic gold winner Paul Nihill, and writer D.H. Lawrence. Dramatist R.F. Delderfield based his Avenue series on his time in Addiscombe. He lived at 22 Ashburton Avenue. The local cricket club was established in 1866 and the cycling club in 1929. The railway station opened in 1864 and closed in 1997. The 1960 movie The Rebel features the station.