A232 (Great Britain)
Route information | |
---|---|
Length | 17.5 mi[1] (28.2 km) |
Major junctions | |
West end | Ewell |
A24 A2043 A217 A237 A23 A236 A212 A222 A215 A214 A2022 A233 A21 A224 | |
East end | Orpington |
Location | |
Country | United Kingdom |
Primary destinations | Croydon Sutton |
Road network | |
The A232 is a major road running west–east across South London, which connects the A24 in Ewell, Surrey with the A224 Orpington bypass. It passes through the major South London towns of Sutton and Croydon.
The road follows close to a ridge of chalk between Ewell and Addiscombe. Therefore a number of chalk springs are located close to the road, such as in Ewell and Carshalton.
History
In the 1970s the plans for the construction of the M23 north of Hooley had the motorway crossing the A232 Croydon Road in Wallington between Hilliers Lane (B272) and Demense Road. It is probable that a junction would have been provided here if the motorway had been built. In the late 1970s, when the M23 plan was scaled back to omit the section across Mitcham Common, the road may have ended on the A232 at this point. However no plans came to fruition.
Route
Epsom and Ewell, Surrey
The A232 starts at a crossroads with the A240 and B2200 on Cheam Road in the Borough of Epsom and Ewell, Surrey. After passing Ewell East railway station, it passes junctions with Banstead Road and Northern Avenue near Howell Hill before exiting Epsom and Ewell and Surrey.
London Borough of Sutton
The A232 enters the London Borough of Sutton near Cheam railway station. It becomes Ewell Road, passing Nonsuch and Cheam Park. The road at this point enters the historic Cheam Village, forming it's High Street before crossing the A217. It heads through East Cheam into Sutton town centre, through its one-way system.
It heads into Carshalton, past the spring of the Wandle before Carshalton High Street. In Wallington, the road intersects the A237. It then runs as Croydon Road into Beddington.
London Borough of Croydon
The road enters the London Borough of Croydon in Waddon. It soon arrives at Fiveways Corner by Waddon railway station and takes a sharp left onto Stafford Road. It goes on the high-speed Croydon Flyover which goes over the centre of Croydon. After the large roundabout with the A212 it runs as Barclay Road, Fairfield Road, Chepstow Road and Addiscombe Road in the district's of Addiscombe and Shirley. Passing a roundabout with the A215, It briefly becoming a dual-carriageway. It then becomes Wickham Road and continues more rurally for 1.5 miles (2.4 km) before exiting the borough.
London Borough of Bromley
Just before the roundabout, the road enters the London Borough of Bromley. After the roundabout, it becomes High Street (West Wickham). It comes to a crossroads with the A214 and Wickham Court Road. It carries on as Glebe Way and at a roundabout, it meets the eastern end of the A2022. Shortly afterwards, it becomes Croydon Road and runs through 2 crossroads, the first with the B265 and the second with the A233. It comes to a junction with the A21 at Locksbottom and becomes a non-primary A-road. The road then heads north-east into Orpington, firstly as Crofton Road, and secondly, as Station Road under a bridge by Orpington railway station. It passes the A223 at a roundabout and becomes Spur Road. The A232 terminates at a T-junction with the A224.
Major Settlements
- Epsom and Ewell: Ewell
- Sutton: Beddington, Wallington, Carshalton, Sutton, Cheam
- Croydon: Shirley, Addiscombe, Croydon, Waddon
- Bromley: Orpington, Farnborough, Hayes, West Wickham
Major Landmarks
- Nonsuch Park
- Cheam Park
- Carshalton Ponds
- Croydon Flyover
- Hayes Common
Major roads intersected by the A232
- A24/A240 at the western terminus in Ewell
- A217 at Cheam
- A237 at Wallington
- A23 (Purley Way) at Waddon
- A212 at Croydon
- A21 at Locksbottom
Rivers that start near the A232
The road closely follows the ridge of chalk to the south, over London clay to the north, especially between Ewell and Addiscombe. As a result, there are many springs near the route, and many of the suburbs it passes through developed out of prehistoric spring line villages.
References
- ^ "Driving directions to Spur Rd/A232". Google Maps. Retrieved 25 September 2013.