The bustling roundabout at Thornton Heath Pond holds beneath the tarmac and circling cars a hidden history.

Traces of an ancient body of water can still be seen in outline, the last reminder of the old pond which once filled the roundabout.

It was slowly encircled by widening roads as London grew after World War II, and when the shrinking pond began to dry up, the decision was taken to cover it over entirley.

It was the end of a long history.

Centuries ago, before the busy roads were built, Thornton Heath actually was a heath.

Thornton Heath Pond back in 1905
Thornton Heath Pond back in 1905

Acres of common land stretched across the area, and the ancient grazing land was used by Medieval farmers to feed their animals.

Their livestock could also take a drink at the watering-hole in at the heart of the heath which would later become the eponymous Pond.

The area – now part of London's most populous borough – was once a rural and isolated spot.

In the early 19 century the well-to-do started to build their grand houses along the London Road, and the village surrounding the pond began to attract tradesmen.

New tastes and wealthier citizens led to the one-time watering-hole being given an upgrade – formal railing were installed to circle the water-feature, which became the decorative heart of the area.

By 1887 the patriotic patrons of nearby The Wheatsheaf pub (now closed) celebrated Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee by unveiling a commemorative fountain in the centre of the pond, at a cost of £80.

"They also sent a telegram all the way to queen in Balmoral," said local historian Raymond Wheeler, who was born and and raised in Thornton Heath.

"She sent back a reply thanking them.

"The whole area was covered in bunting. The fountain was as valued like the clock on the High Street.

"It was a very different area at the time, different even to Thornton Heath High Street.

"The pond area was essentially a village, and had more of a village atmosphere. I think that distinction still exists to this day to an extent.

"But it is remarkable how things have changed over time."

Towards the end of the 19 century and leading up to the Great War in 1914, the cherished pond lay at the centre of an increasingly urban neighbourhood, and the water-feature was a welcome beauty spot.

But by the early 1950s the rapid expansion of the mighty metropolis of London, and the increased need to connect to Croydon Airport - on the Purley Way - drove the need for roads.

Work on the roundabout at Thornton Heath Pond begins
Work on the roundabout at Thornton Heath Pond begins

The London Road roundabout encircled the pond, which became smaller, until it began to dry up and was eventually covered over in 1953.

There was a modest grassy garden area for a time, but this too has shrunk since it was first established.

Now only the bustling roundabout remains.