Tulse Hill

Why was this place named after a hill? Tulse Hill. It’s a curious name, isn’t it? We’re standing in a district of South London, but the name seems to hint at something more rural. And you know what? It wasn’t always rows of houses and bustling streets. Tulse Hill was once defined by farmland, part of a large manor that stretched across what is now Brixton, Herne Hill, and Streatham. Imagine, if you will, fields of green, a gentle breeze rustling through the leaves, and a family named Tulse who came to own this land in the 1650s. Sir Henry Tulse, a prominent figure who rose to become Lord Mayor of London, left his mark on this area, and ultimately, his family name became synonymous with this hill. Over time, the rural landscape transformed. Roads were built, connecting Tulse Hill with the growing metropolis. The rumble of carriages replaced the whisper of the wind. Grand villas sprung up, a testament to the area’s newfound desirability. The arrival of the railway in the 1860s further cemented Tulse Hill’s place within the sprawling city. While the grand estates might have made way for more modern housing, the name Tulse Hill remains, a reminder of a time when this corner of London marched to a different beat.