Rock around: New Addington's infamous boulders are back - and they're everywhere

Just eight months after 22 much-maligned boulders were removed from New Addington, they're back: and this time they're ubiquitous.

The huge hunks of stone, first installed in Central Parade in 2012 to stop drivers parking on the pavement, are to be placed in 20 locations across Croydon to make the borough's 50th anniversary.

A boulder will be installed in each of the 20 original wards that made up Croydon when it became a London borough on April 1, 1965.

It means the people of New Addington will welcome back one the controversial stones they waved goodbye to in October last year. 

The boulders were controversial throughout their stay in Central Parade. Some saw them as an eyesore, others as a danger, while the council came under fire for its decision to spend £7,000 of the Mayor's Regeneration Fund on their installation.

But the council believes they will now make a "unique and fitting" tribute of the birth of the borough.

Councillor Alison Butler, the council’s deputy leader, said: "Becoming part of London 50 years ago was a key moment in Croydon’s history, and placing these beautiful recycled stones across the borough is our way of celebrating this landmark."

Some of the boulders, including Bensham Manor's in Trumble Gardens and South Norwood's in Station Road, are already in place. 

"Beautiful", apparently: South Norwood's boulder

The 1965 wards and the locations of their stones:

Addiscombe
Junction of Morland Road and Morland Avenue

Bensham Manor     
Trumble Gardens

Broad Green     
Wandle Park

Central     
Queen's Gardens

Coulsdon East    
Bradmore Green Pond

East    
Ashburton Park

New Addington      
Milne Park

Norbury     
Norbury Park

Purley        
High Street

Sanderstead North     
Sanderstead Station

Sanderstead and Selsdon     
Sanderstead Pond

Shirley    
Library

South Norwood     
Norwood Junction station

Thornton Heath     
Clocktower on Parchmore Road

Upper Norwood         
Upper Norwood Recreation Ground

Waddon        
Waddon Leisure Centre

West Thornton     
Thornton Heath Pond
 
Whitehorse Manor    
Heavers Meadow

Woodcote and Coulsdon West     
Coulsdon Library

Woodside         
Woodside Green