South London consist of a relatively narrow corridor due south of the City, towards Gatwick.

The land close to the Thames was prone to flooding regularly. South of that was a huge forest, stretching virtually all the way to Croydon.

In Medieval times, this was called Norwwood because it was north of Croydon which, at the time, was larger and more prosperous than London itself. Now, they make up the modern suburbs of East West North and South Norwood.