In 1868 the land belonging to the Truscott Family who owned Essex Lodge on Central Hill, Upper Norwood was sold by auction.  The land was then bought by Earle Bird who applied for planning permission to construct sewers and for houses to be built in newly constructed roads.   These included Troy Road, Essex Grove, Rockmount Road, Highview Road, Vermont Road and Harold Road.  According to the Croydon Poor Rates Mr Mears appeared to own six houses in Troy Road in 1885.  The 1891 census shows six houses present and five with occupants.

Reports from Newspapers

Henry Wilson of 9 Troy Road, Upper Norwood was charged on remand with attempting to commit suicide by hanging himself on February 2^nd.  Evidence was given at the previous hearing by Richard Wilson, son of the defendant, that he was in the next house when he received certain information and ran back to his home and saw his father hanging by a rope from a chimney stack.  With assistance the witness cut him down.  The defendant was mad drunk and behaved like a madman.  The Bench remanded the defendant in custody for a week for a medical examination, but it was stated that the doctor had not sent the report and the Bench remanded the defendant for another week for its production. Thursday – before Mr A Pye-Smith (in the chair), Alderman W. Lillico and Alderman F.W. M. King.

The Croydon Chronicle and East Surrey Advertiser , February 16^th, 1907

Result of drink.  Henry Wilson of 9 Troy Road, Upper Norwood was charged on remand for the second time with attempting to commit suicide by hanging himself on February 2^nd.  Evidence was given at the previous hearing by Richard Wilson, son of the defendant, that he found his father hanging by a rope from a chimney stack and cut him down.  The defendant was made drunk and behaved like a madman.  The Bench remanded the defendant for a medical examination on the defendant promising to give up drink and not repeat the offence.  He was discharged

The Croydon Chronicle and East Surrey Advertiser, February 23rd, 1907

The Second World War 1939 to 1945

Memories of the Second World War in Troy Road

Retiring tomorrow Mr Edward John Venn, of Alexandra Drive, Gipsy Hill, retires after working at Sydenham Hill Station, Penge East, and Crystal Palace High Level stations for 42 years. In the war, he and his wife they married in 1924 escaped death by a few yards.  A bomb fell on their neighbour’s house in Troy Road, Upper Norwood.  “It was 10.30 p.m. when the house got a direct hit next door, splitting ours from top to bottom.  Luckily the neighbours were away.  We got away with a bad shaking and concussion.”