| A Stagecoach Selkent TA. on service 122 emerges from Westhorne Avenue
on its way from Crystal Palace to Plumstead Garage. 28 December 2000. Westhorne
Avenue was constructed through Woolwich Borough Council's Page Estate.
The road was built as far as the Railway in 1929. A tram service started
on 1 October 1931. When the railway bridge was constructed it was opened
all the way to Eltham Road at The Yorkshire Grey. The tram service was
extended along it from 30 June 1932, so the new route 72 came into being.
The last new tramway in London.
It was planned to be extended trams along the rest of Westhorne Avenue to Grove Park via Baring Road, but as it wasn't built by the LCC (although the route had been authorised) when the LPTB took over, thus it was never constructed. Photograph. John King. 28 December 2000. |
| Another 122 negotiates the roundabout at Well Hall on its way to Crystal
Palace. It will turn off at Westhorne Avenue
In the 1920,s several new road schemes were undertaken to help relieve unemployment in the area. One of these was Rochester Way which became the A2, it can be seen behind the bus and crossed the roundabout. This was to relieve traffic on the old Dover Road at Shooters Hill. At the same time the South Circular road was taking shape. Westhorne Avenue was part of this and was another turning off the roundabout, it was fully opened in 1932, see above. The road from Woolwich to Well Hall was also part of this new road. It was already a tram route, the trams went from Well Hall to Eltham along the tuning on the right of the picture. It was named Well Hall Road in around 1909. While the new roundabout was being built in 1930/31 the Woolwich to Eltham trams continued the run through the middle of it until the new rails were put down around it. At the same time a junction was inserted to allow the new 72 route to branch off down Westhorne Avenue. The 122 bus was extended to cover part of this tram route. Photograph. John King. 28 December 2000. |
| The 122 is about to turn left into Well Hall Road on its way to Plumstead
Garage. In the distance, Shooters Hill.
Another view of Well Hall roundabout Rochester Way crosses from the bottom left to top right. Well Hall Road straight across the middle of the picture. The road at the bottom right is Westhorne Avenue (westbound). The east bound carriageway is behind (see first picture). This junction was redesigned after the withdrawal of the trams. Westhorne Avenue was only single carriageway with the trams running down the middle. It was rebuilt as a dual carriageway. Around the roundabout can be seen houses of the Progress Estate. Built in 1915 in record time to house workers in the Royal Arsenal during WW1. Built in record time with only four types of home, three houses and one flat. It was built on curving roads, and houses had different outside finishes, it looks as if every house is unique. The estate was sold to the Co-op who named it The Progress Estate. Photograph. John King 28 December 2000. |
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