Croydon
491650
226110655
2008-07-16T21:31:35Z
86.131.9.136
/* Notable people associated with the town of Croydon */
{{otheruses}}
{{infobox UK place|
|country = England
|map_type = Greater London
|region= London
|population=
|official_name= Croydon
|static_image = [[Image:Skyline of Croydon.JPG|240px]]
|static_image_caption=<small>View of the Croydon skyline, which is dominated by tower blocks including the [[:Image:Nestle Tower.JPG|Nestlé Tower]] and [[Taberner House]]. Seen from the [[Colonnades Leisure Park|Croydon Colonnades]].</small>
|latitude= 51.3727
|longitude= -0.1099
|os_grid_reference= TQ335655
|london_borough= Croydon
|post_town= CROYDON
|postcode_district=CR0
|postcode_area=CR
|dial_code= 020
|constituency_westminster= [[Croydon Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon Central]]
|constituency_westminster1=[[Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon North]]
|constituency_westminster2=[[Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon South]]
}}
'''Croydon''' is a large town and major commercial centre in [[South London|South]] [[London]], and the principal settlement of the [[London Borough of Croydon]]. It is {{convert|9.5|mi|km|1|lk=on}} south of [[Charing Cross]], and is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the [[London Plan]]. It is located on the natural transport corridor between London and the South coast just to the north of a gap in the [[North Downs]]. Road traffic is now diverted away from the largely pedestrianised town centre, but its main railway station '[[East Croydon railway station|East Croydon]]' is still a major hub in the railway transport system. <br />The town is expected to have its [[urban planning]] changed as part of [[Croydon Vision 2020]].
== Etymology ==
One theory is that the name '''Croydon''' derives originally from the [[Old English language|Anglo-Saxon]] ''croh'', meaning "[[crocus]]" and ''denu'' '[[valley]]', indicating that, like [[Saffron Walden]] in [[Essex]], it was a centre for the collection of [[saffron]].<ref name=Brewer>''Brewer's Britain and Ireland'', compiled by John Ayto and Ian Crofton, [[Weidenfeld & Nicolson]], 2005, ISBN 0-304-35385-X</ref>
Another opinion<ref>[http://81.1911encyclopedia.org/C/CR/CROYDON.htm [[1911 Encyclopedia Britannica]] at Love to Know]</ref> holds that the name derives from the [[Old French]] ''croie dune'', meaning [[chalk]] hill. This was because Croydon stands at the northern edge of the chalk hills called the [[North Downs]].
According to John Corbett Anderson, (Anderson J C, "A Short Chronicle Concerning the Parish of Croydon", Reeves and Turner, London, 1882, pp19-20; republished in 1970 by SR Publishers, East Ardsley, Wakefield) "The earliest mention of Croydon is in the joint will of Beorhtric and Aelfswth, dated about the year 962. In this Anglo-Saxon document the name is spelt (here he uses original script) Crogdaene. Crog was, and still is, the Norse or Danish word for crooked, which is expressed in Anglo-Saxon by crumb, and totally different word. From the Danish came our crook and crooked. This term accurately describes the locality; it is a crooked or winding valley; in reference to the valley which runs in an oblique and serpentine course from Godstone to Croydon." Anderson rejected the claim, originally cited by Ducarel given above meaning chalk hill, for the reasons that the name was in use at least a century before the French language would have been commonly used following the Norman Invasion, and the fact that the dune part of the etymology is actually Saxon in origin and not French at all, makes the second option above, an unlikely partnership.
== Status ==
The area lay within the [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] administrative division of [[Wallington (hundred)|Wallington]] [[hundred (division)|hundred]].[http://homepages.gold.ac.uk/genuki/SRY/Croydon/WholeGaz1868.html]
Croydon was created a [[municipal borough]] in [[Surrey]] in 1883. In 1889, through its growing economic importance, it was made a [[county borough]] exempt from county administration. In 1965 the [[County Borough of Croydon]] was abolished and its former area was transferred to [[Greater London]] and combined with that of the [[Coulsdon and Purley Urban District]] to form the present-day London Borough of Croydon.
== History ==
[[Image:CroydonTownHall.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Croydon's Victorian Town Hall and Clocktower]]
There is a plate recording a [[Bronze Age]] settlement on Croham Hurst. In addition there is evidence of a [[Roman Britain|Roman]] settlement in the area and a 5th to 6th century [[Paganism|pagan]] [[Saxon people|Saxon]] cemetery.
===Archbishops of Canterbury as lords of the manor ===
In the late Saxon period, it was the centre of a large estate belonging to the [[Archbishop of Canterbury|Archbishops of Canterbury]]. The [[church]] and the archbishops' [[manor house]] occupied the area still known as the Old Town. The archbishops used the manor house as an occasional place of residence and would continue to have important links as [[Lords of the manor]], a title originally bestowed on [[Lanfranc|Archbishop Lanfranc]] by [[William the Conqueror]],<ref name=Brewer/> and then as local patrons right up to the present day.
Croydon appears in [[Domesday Book]] as ''Croindene''. It was held by Archbishop Lanfranc of [[Canterbury]]. Its domesday assets were: 16 [[hide (unit)|hide]]s and 1 [[virgate]]; 1 church, 1 [[Mill (grinding)|mill]] worth 5s, 38 [[plough]]s, 8 acres of [[meadow]], [[woodland]] worth 200 [[hog (swine)|hog]]s. It rendered £37 10s 0d.<ref>[http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm Surrey Domesday Book]</ref>
In 1276, the archbishop acquired a [[charter]] for a weekly [[market]], and this probably marks the foundation of Croydon as an urban centre. Croydon developed into one of the main [[market town]]s of northeast Surrey. The [[market place]] was laid out on the higher ground to the east of the manor house in the triangle now bounded by High Street, Surrey Street and Crown Hill.
By the 16th century the manor house had become a substantial palace used as the main summer home of the archbishops, visited by monarchs and other dignitaries. The original palace was sold in 1781, by then dilapidated and surrounded by [[slum]]s and stagnant ponds, and a new [[Addington Palace|residence]], nearby at [[Addington, London|Addington]], purchased in its place. Many of the buildings of the original [[Croydon Palace]] survive, and are in use today as [[Old Palace School]].
=== Croydon Parish Church, St [[John the Baptist]] ===
The earliest record of [[Christian]] leaders in Croydon is in an Anglo-Saxon will made in about 960, witnessed by Elfsies, priest of Croydon. The [[Domesday Book]] has the earliest written record of Croydon Church. The earliest recording of the name of the church is [[6 December]] [[1347]], when it was recorded in the will of John de Croydon, fishmonger, containing a bequest to "the church of S John de Croydon". The church still bears the arms of [[William Courtenay|Archbishop Courtenay]] and [[Henry Chichele|Archbishop Chicheley]], presumed to be its benefactors.
The [[Gothic architecture|Perpendicular]]-style church was remodelled in 1849 but was destroyed in a great fire in 1867, following which only the tower, south porch and outer walls remained. A new church was designed by Sir [[George Gilbert Scott]], one of the greatest architects of the [[Victorian era|Victorian age]], and opened in 1870. His design loosely followed the previous layout, with knapped [[flint]] facing and many of the original features, including several important tombs. Croydon Parish Church is the burial place of six Archbishops of Canterbury: [[John Whitgift]], [[Edmund Grindal]], [[Gilbert Sheldon]], [[William Wake]], [[John Potter (Archbishop)|John Potter]] and [[Thomas Herring]].
Previously part of the [[Diocese of Canterbury]], Croydon is now in the [[Anglican Diocese of Southwark|Diocese of Southwark]]. The Vicar of Croydon is an important post, in addition to the [[Bishop#Bishops in Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican churches|suffragan]] [[Bishop of Croydon]].
=== Addington Palace ===
[[Image:Addington Palace.JPG|right|250px|thumb|Addington Palace]]
[[Addington Palace]] is a [[Palladian Architecture|Palladian-style]] mansion between [[Addington, London|Addington]] Village and [[Shirley, London|Shirley]], surrounded by park landscapes and golf courses, within the boundaries of Croydon. After an [[Act of Parliament]] enabled the mansion to be purchased for the Archbishops of Canterbury in 1807, it became the official residence of six Archbishops until it was sold in 1898.
In 1953, it was leased to the [[Royal School of Church Music]] until 1996, when it was leased to a private company who have developed it as a conference and banqueting venue with plans for a health farm and country club.
The grounds were landscaped by [[Capability Brown]] and are mainly a golf course and public park. A famous very large [[cedar]] tree stands next to the Palace.
===Whitgift Almshouses===
[[Image:Whitgift almshouses croydon.jpg|left|250px|thumb|The "Whitgift Hospital" almshouses in the centre of Croydon]]
The Elizabethan Whitgift [[Almshouse]]s, named the "Hospital of the Holy Trinity", have stood in the centre of Croydon (at the corner of North End and George Street) since they were erected by Archbishop John Whitgift. He had petitioned for and had received permission from Queen [[Elizabeth I of England|Elizabeth I]] to establish a hospital and school in Croydon for the "poor, needy and impotent people" from the parishes of Croydon and [[Lambeth]]. The foundation stone was laid in 1596 and the building was completed in 1599.
The premises included the actual Hospital or Almshouses, providing accommodation for between 28 and 40 people, and a nearby schoolhouse and schoolmaster's house. There was a Warden in charge for the well-being of the almoners. The building is constructed with the chambers of the almoners and various offices surrounding an inner courtyard.
Threatened by various reconstruction plans and road-widening schemes, the Almshouses were saved in 1923 by intervention of the [[House of Lords]]. On [[21 June]] [[1983]], Queen [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]] visited the almshouses and unveiled a plaque celebrating the recently completed reconstruction of the building. On [[22 March]] each year the laying of the foundation stone is commemorated as Founder's Day.
=== Industrial era ===
[[Image:Derelict Croydon offices.JPG|Some offices in Croydon have now become derelict|250px|right|thumb]]
The development of [[Brighton]] as a fashionable resort in the 1780s increased Croydon's role as a significant halt for [[stage coach]]es on the road south of London. At the beginning of the 19th century, Croydon became the terminus of two pioneering commercial transport links with London. The first, opened in 1803, was the horse-drawn [[Surrey Iron Railway]] from [[Wandsworth]], which in 1805 was extended to [[Merstham]], as the [[Croydon, Merstham and Godstone Railway]]. The second, opened in 1809, was the [[Croydon Canal]], which came from the [[Grand Surrey Canal]] at [[Deptford]]. The [[London and Croydon Railway]] (an [[Atmospheric railway|atmospheric]] and steam-powered railway), opened between [[London Bridge]] and [[West Croydon]] in 1839, using much of the route of the canal, which had closed in 1836, and other connections to London and the south followed.
The arrival of the railways and other communications advances in the 19th century led to a 23-fold increase in Croydon's population between 1801 and 1901.<ref name=Brewer/>
This rapid expansion of the town led to considerable health problems, especially in the damp and overcrowded [[working class]] district of the Old Town. In response to this, in 1849 Croydon became one of the first towns in the country to acquire a [[Local board of health|Local Board of Health]]. The Board constructed [[public health]] infrastructure including a [[lake|reservoir]], and [[water supply network]], and [[sewer]]s, a pumping station, and [[sewage collection and disposal|sewage disposal]] works.
=== A growing town ===
[[Image:NLA Tower.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The growing town attracted many new buildings to be built including [[No.1 Croydon]], formerly the NLA Tower.<ref>[http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/businessnews/businessnews/display.var.1526486.0.looking_out_for_no1.php Looking Out For No1 (from Croydon Guardian)<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref><ref>[http://www.fbi-services.co.uk/article.asp?id=1137 State of the art refurbishment<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>]]
As the town continued to grow, it became especially popular as a pleasant leafy residential [[suburb]] for members of the Victorian [[middle class]]es, who could [[commuting|commute]] to the [[City of London]] by fast train in 15 minutes. In 1883, Croydon was incorporated as a borough. In 1889, it became a county borough, with a still greater degree of autonomy. The new county borough council implemented the Croydon Improvement scheme in the early 1890s, which resulted in the widening of the High Street and the clearance of much of the 'Middle Row' slum area. The remaining slums were [[gentrification|cleared]] shortly after [[World War II]], with much of the population relocated to the isolated new community at [[New Addington]]. New stores opened and expanded in central Croydon, including [[Allders]], Kennards and Grants, and the first [[Sainsbury's]] self-service shop in the country.<ref name=Brewer/> There was also a bustling market on [[Surrey Street Market|Surrey Street]].<ref>http://www.surreystreetmarket.com/</ref>
By the 1950s, with its continuing growth, the town was becoming [[traffic congestion|congested]], and the Council decided to introduce another major redevelopment scheme. The Croydon Corporation Act was passed in 1956. This, coupled with government incentives for office relocation out of London, led to the building of new offices and accompanying road schemes through the late 1950s and 1960s, and the town boomed as an important business centre in the 1960s, with the building of a large number of multi-storey office blocks, an [[underpass]], a [[flyover]] and multi-storey car parks.
=== Modern Croydon ===
[[Image:CroydonNorthEnd.jpg|left|200px|thumb|Croydon's main shopping area, North End. Part of the front of the Whitgift Almshouses on the right-hand side]]
In more modern times Croydon has developed an important centre for shopping, with the construction of the [[Whitgift Centre]], which opened in 1969. The [[Fairfield Halls]] arts centre and event venue opened in 1962. The [[Warehouse Theatre]] opened in 1977. The 1990s saw further changes intended to give the town a more attractive image. These include the closure of [[North End, Croydon|North End]] to vehicles in 1989 and the opening of the [[Croydon Clocktower]] arts centre in 1994. [[Tramlink]] began operation in May 2000. A new equally large shopping centre, [[Centrale (shopping centre)|Centrale]], opened in 2004 opposite the Whitgift Centre, straddling the site of the smaller [[Drummond Centre]] and what was once a large branch of [[C&A]]. There are plans for a large new shopping centre, [[Park Place (Croydon)|Park Place]], which will replace most of the eastern edge of the shopping district including [[St George's Walk]]; the redevelopment of the [[Croydon Gateway]] site; and extensions of Tramlink to [[Purley, London|Purley]], [[Streatham]], [[Lewisham]] and [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]]. Croydon has become the second-largest place to shop in the south east, after [[central London]], offering a range of shops and department stores. It is also home to many high density buildings such as the [[Nestlé Tower]], being London's third main [[CBD]], after the [[City of London|Square Mile]] and the [[London Docklands|Docklands]] and [[South London]]'s main business centre. Croydon area is served by various hospitals of which the main one is [[Mayday University Hospital]] in London Road.
== Culture and the arts ==
There are several high-quality arts venues. Foremost amongst these is the [[Fairfield Halls]], opened in 1962, which consists of a large concert hall frequently used for BBC recordings, the [[Ashcroft Theatre]] and the Arnhem Gallery. The Halls are the home of the [[London Mozart Players]], whose Principal Guest Conductor is flautist Sir [[James Galway]]. Many famous faces have appeared at the Fairfield Halls, from [[the Beatles]] through [[Bucks Fizz (band)|Bucks Fizz]], [[Omid Djalili]], [[Robert Cray]], [[Chuck Berry]], [[Don McLean]], [[The Monkees]], [[Johnny Cash]], [[Dionne Warwick]], [[Gladys Knight]], [[Tom Jones (singer)|Tom Jones]], [[The Stylistics]], [[Status Quo]], [[Level 42]], [[Joe Satriani]], [[John Mayall]], [[Jools Holland]], [[Kenny Rogers]], [[James Last]] to [[Coolio]]. The main concert hall was used for the conference scene in the [[Tom Hanks]] film [[The Da Vinci Code]].
The [[Warehouse Theatre]] is a studio theatre known for promoting new writing, as well as comedy and youth theatre. [[Croydon Clocktower]], built by the London Borough of Croydon in the mid-1990s, houses a state-of-the-art library, the [[David Lean]] cinema, a performance venue in the old reference library and the town museum. The [[Pembroke Theatre, Croydon |Pembroke Theatre]] had many productions with well known actors before its closure.
[[Image:FairfieldHalls.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The Fairfield Halls, Croydon's entertainment complex]]
There are several local and small venues for live music, comedy and community events dotted around Croydon and its neighbourhoods. There is a thriving rock scene producing some local talent such as; Czagio, The Tunics, Kitty Hudson, [[Von Kleet]], Rose West, 5th Man Down, Godsized, Ten Foot Nun and [[Noisettes]]. Local bands can be found playing at the Black Sheep Bar, The Ship,[[Walkabout (bar)|Walkabout]], The Green Dragon or The George, or recording at Scream Studios. The Cartoon in [[West Croydon]] was a very popular live music venue way back from 1976, but sadly it closed down in November 2006 and is likely to end up as yet another Croydon restaurant. [[Croydon Youth Theatre Organisation]] celebrated its 40th birthday in 2005. There are several community arts groups, particularly in the large [[British Asian|Asian]] community. There are controversial plans to develop an arena for entertainment and sporting events at the Croydon Gateway site.
Croydon has been at the centre of the development of the [[dubstep]] genre, a relatively recent musical development that traces its roots from [[dub music|dub]], [[garage rock|garage]] and [[drum and bass]]. Artists such as [[Benga]] and [[Skream]], who honed their production and DJing skills whilst working at the now defunct [[Big Apple Records]] on [[Surrey Street]], along with Norwood's [[Digital Mystikz]] and Thornton Heath's [[Plastician]], form the core roster of dubstep DJs and producers.
The black composer [[Samuel Coleridge-Taylor]] (1875-1912) lived at 30 Dagnall Park, Selhurst, until his death. He grew up in Croydon and sang in the church choir at St George's and taught at the [[The Crystal Palace|Crystal Palace]] and many other schools of music. He died from pneumonia after collapsing at [[West Croydon station]]. There is an impressive grave with a touching poem at Bandon Hill Cemetery, as well as exhibits about him in the Clock Tower Museum, Katharine Street.
The town centre is home to Europe's largest second-hand record store, Beanos, offering rare vinyl, CDs and books. It is off Church Street near the Grants cinema complex.
Croydon is home to the [[BRIT School]] for performing arts and technology, based in Selhurst, which has produced stars such as [[Katie Melua]], [[Amy Winehouse]], [[Imogen Heap]], [[Dane Bowers]] and members of [[The Feeling]] & [[The Kooks]].
A calendar entitled ''Rare Roundabouts of Croydon'', with a picture of a different Croydon roundabout each month, has enjoyed some success.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hereford/worcs/3346435.stm BBC News - Roundabout calendar is gift hit]</ref>
Croydon also plays host to the filming of the popular [[Channel 4]] show, [[Peep Show (TV series)|Peep Show]].
Croydon is also home to several video game developers, including ''Crawfish''.
The ITV police drama The Bill although is set in East London is filmed in Croydon, many of the town centre locations are filmed around Surrey Street and the Nestle Building. Sun Hill Police station is situated in nearby Mitcham.
In 2007, the music [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otunlnWkxpA video] for pop star [[Mika (singer)|Mika]]'s single ''[[Big Girl (You Are Beautiful)]]'' was filmed in various locations around Croydon, including the High Street and Surrey Street market
== Transport ==
[[Image:Croydon_clocktower.jpg|thumb|right|[[Croydon Clocktower]], with Braithwaite Hall to the right]]
Croydon is near one of the sources of the River [[Wandle]]. Just to the south is a significant gap in the North Downs, which acts as a [[route focus]] for transport from London to the south coast.
The old London to Brighton road, the [[A23 road|A23]], passed through the town, as does the main railway line from London to Brighton. Today the A23 follows [[Purley Way]], to the west of the town. Croydon is the main hub of the [[South London]] [[Tramlink]], initially known as [[Croydon Tramlink]] until further expansion.
=== Croydon's early transport links ===
The horse-drawn Surrey Iron Railway was the world's first public railway. It was opened in 1803, had double track, was some {{convert|8.5|mi|km|1}} long and ran from Wandsworth to Croydon, terminating at what is now Reeves Corner. The railway boom of the 1840s brought superior and faster steam lines and it closed in 1846. The route is followed in part by [[Tramlink]]. The last remaining sections of rail can be seen behind railings in a corner of Rotary Field in Purley.
The Croydon Canal ran for {{convert|9.5|mi|km|1}} from what is now [[West Croydon railway station]] north largely along the course of the present railway line to [[New Cross Gate]], where it joined the Grand Surrey Canal and went on into the [[Thames]]. It opened in 1809 and had 28 [[canal lock|locks]]. It had a strong competitor in the Surrey Iron Railway and was never a financial success. It sold out to the London & Croydon Railway in 1836. The lake at [[South Norwood]] is the former reservoir for the [[canal]].
===Croydon Airport===
{{main|Croydon Airport}}
[[Croydon Airport]] on Purley Way was the main international airport for London until it was superseded by [[London Heathrow Airport]] and [[London Gatwick Airport]]. Starting out during [[World War I]] as an airfield for protection against [[Zeppelin]]s, and developing into one of the great airports of the world during the 1920s and 1930s, it welcomed the world's pioneer aviators in its heyday. As aviation technology progressed, however, and [[aircraft]] became larger and more numerous, it was recognized in 1952 that the airport would be too small to cope with the ever-increasing volume of air traffic. The last scheduled flight departed on [[30 September]] [[1959]].
The air terminal, now known as Airport House, has been restored and has a museum open one day a month.
=== Railways and trams ===
[[Image:Tramlink East Croydon.jpg|right|250px|thumb|[[East Croydon station]] and [[Tramlink|tramstop]]]]
Croydon is the hub of [[Tramlink]] and from [[East Croydon station]].has main-line rail services to Central London, [[Gatwick Airport]] and the South Coast. Services are provided by [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]], [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]], [[First Capital Connect]] and [[Cross Country (train operating company)|Cross Country]]. There is a large bus station at [[West Croydon station|West Croydon]]. The [[East London Line]] is in the process of being extended to West Croydon and construction is due to be completed in 2010.
===Railway stations===
Stations in central Croydon:
*[[Croydon Central railway station|Croydon Central]] (closed and no trace remaining)
*Croydon (New) - absorbed by East Croydon
*[[East Croydon station|East Croydon]]
*[[South Croydon railway station|South Croydon]]
*[[West Croydon railway station|West Croydon]]
=== Tramlink stops ===
[[Tramlink]] stops near the centre of Croydon:
*[[East Croydon station]]
*[[West Croydon station]]
*[[Wellesley Road tram stop|Wellesley Road]]
*[[George Street tram stop|George Street]]
*[[Church Street tram stop|Church Street]]
*[[Reeves Corner tram stop|Reeves Corner]]
*[[Lebanon Road tram stop|Lebanon Road]]
*[[Centrale (shopping centre)|Centrale]]''
[[Image:Croydon College.JPG|300px|right|thumb|[[Croydon College]]'s main buildings]]
==Notable people associated with the town of Croydon==
See also the list of notable people from connected with the wider Borough of Croydon [[List of people associated with the London Borough of Croydon|here]].
* [[Tom Wright (British architect)|Tom Wright]], born 1957, architect of [[Burj Al Arab]]
* [[Duke McKenzie]], born 1963, world champion boxer
* [[Tasha Danvers-Smith]], born 1977, champion hurdler
* [[C.B. Fry]], 1872 - 1956, polymath - sportsman, politician, teacher, writer, editor, publisher
* [[Wilfred Wood]], born 1936, first black C of E Bishop
* [[Martyn Rooney]], born 1987, international sprinter
* [[Donna Fraser]], born 1972, international athlete
* [[William Stanley]], 1829 - 1909, inventor and philanthropist
* [[John Ruskin]], 1819 - 1900 art critic and social theorist
* [[Frederick Horniman]], 1835 - 1906, tea merchant and philanthropist (lived in Coombe Road)
* [[Neil Fraser]], born 1955, dub musician/producer (AKA [[Mad Professor]])
* [[Chris Reed]], born 1983, Grime DJ/producer (AKA [[Plastician]])
* [[Jeannie Baker]], born 1940, artist, author, designer and animator
* [[Miles Malleson]], 1888 - 1969, actor (The 39 Steps, Kind Hearts & Coronets)
* [[Simon Prebble]], born 1942, actor/narrator
* [[Bernard Spear]], 1919 - 2003, actor (Yentob)
[[Image:Croydon tower.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The proposed [[Croydon Tower]] Stanhope skyscraper.]]
* [[James Booth]], 1927 - 2005, actor (Zulu)
* [[Emile Zola]], 1840 - 1902, French author and political figure, lived in Croydon for a time
* [[Deryck Guyler]], 1914 - 1999, actor
* [[Derek Bentley]], 1933 - 1953, victim of injustice
* [[Tracey Emin]], born 1963, artist
* [[Joseph Holbrooke]], 1822 - 1876, composer of stage, choral, and orchestral music
* [[Graham Moodie]], born 1981, olympic hockey player
* [[Matthew Fisher]], born 1946, musician, Procol Harum, Composer of Whiter Shade of Pale
* [[Allan Ahlberg]], born 1938, children's writer (Penguin)
* [[Alfred Russel Wallace]], 1823 – 1913, naturalist, co-discoverer of the theory of evolution
* [[Peggy Ashcroft|Dame Peggy Ashcroft]], 1907 – 1991, actress
* [[Cicely Mary Barker]], 1895 - 1973, artist, lifelong resident
* [[Jeff Beck]], born 1944, guitarist
* [[Keith Berry]], born 1973, musician & composer
* [[Dane Bowers]], born 1979, singer
* [[Derren Brown]], born 1971, psychological illusionist
* [[Sue Perkins]], born 1969, comedienne, writer, performer
* [[Mark Butcher]], born 1972 in Croydon - Surrey and England cricketer
* [[Martin Clunes]], born 1961, actor - resident
[[Image:Lunar House 86.jpg|right|256px|thumb|[[Lunar House]]]]
* [[Samuel Coleridge-Taylor]] 1875-1912, composer
* [[Sir Arthur Conan Doyle]], lived in South Norwood, Croydon
* [[Ronnie Corbett]], born 1930, comedian - resident
* [[Luol Deng]], born 1985, basketball player and 2012 Olympic hopeful
* [[Will Hay]], comic actor, lived Norbury, Croydon
* [[Roy Hudd]], born 1936 in Croydon, comic actor
* [[Steve Kember]], born 1948 in Croydon, footballer
* [[D. H. Lawrence]], teacher at Davidson Road School, lived in Addiscombe, Croydon
* [[David Lean]], 1908–1991, film director
* [[Kirsty MacColl]], 1959 – 2000, musician and singer-songwriter
* [[Captain Sensible]], born 1954, musician
* [[Kate Moss]], born 1974, model
* [[Malcolm Muggeridge]], 1903–1990), journalist, author, and satirist
* [[Jamie Reid]], born 1947 - situationist, artist, graphic designer
* [[Kellie Shirley]], [[EastEnders]] actress
* [[Peter Sarstedt]], born 1942, singer, winner of Ivor Novello Award - resident
* [[Edward Woodward]], born 1930 in Croydon, actor
* [[Ian Wright]], played for [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]], lived in Shirley, Croydon
* [[Havelock Ellis]], born February 2 1859 - 8-Jul-1939, Victorian sexologist
* [[Ian Frazer (poker player)|Ian Frazer]], poker player*
* [[Katie Melua]], singer, songwriter, musician who went to the [[Brit School]] for Performing Arts at Selhurst, Croydon
* [[Kate Nash]] Singer/ songwriter born July 6 1987. Attended [[Brit School]], Croydon
* [[Luke Pritchard]] Lead singer of [[The Kooks]]. Attended [[Brit School]], Croydon
* [[Amy Winehouse]] Singer, Attended [[Brit School]], Croydon
<ref>http://news.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/hi/music/newsid_7258000/7258517.stm Accessed March 05,2008 former Brit School student</ref>
* [[Roy Hodgson]], football manager and former player, born in Croydon
== See also ==
*[[Park Hill Recreation Ground]] - park in central Croydon
*[[Arnhem]] - Partner city of Croydon in the Netherlands
*[[South Croydon]]
*[[West Croydon]]
==External links==
*[http://www.croydon.gov.uk/ Croydon Council]
*[http://www.1911encyclopedia.org/Croydon Croydon] - [[1911 Encyclopedia]] article
*[http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/heritage/croyheritage/ Croydon Guardian Heritage pages]
*[http://www.croydonsociety.org.uk/ The Croydon Society site]
*[http://www.museumofcroydon.com/ Museum of Croydon which opened 2006]
==References==
{{commons|Croydon}}
{{reflist}}
{{London Districts}}
{{LB Croydon}}
[[Category:Districts of London]]
[[Category:Neighbourhoods of Croydon]]
[[fr:Croydon (Londres)]]
[[nl:Croydon (Londen)]]
[[pl:Croydon]]
[[ro:Croydon]]
[[simple:Croydon]]
[[sv:Croydon]]