6 Curious Facts That Make Having an Office in Croydon a Great Idea

If you’ve been reading up on the merits of locating your office in Croydon, such as the fact it is one of London’s fastest growing economies, has been the recipient of extensive investment, and has won the accolade of London Borough of Culture 2023, then you may be interested to learn a few intriguing facts about this south London town and borough. Read on as we reveal six interesting things you probably never knew about Croydon.

1. Croydon became a borough in 1883

There is evidence to suggest that Croydon started life as a small-scale Roman settlement, but it wasn't until 1276 that its weekly market opened, and the area began to develop as one of the key market towns of northeast Surrey.

During the late 18th century, Croydon became a popular stop-off point for stagecoaches making their way to the fashionable seaside resort of Brighton. As the age of the railway began to evolve, the town became the terminus of two pioneering transport links with London, the first of which opened in 1803.

With its population growing rapidly as a result, Croydon was soon incorporated as a borough and, in 1889, it became a county borough, responsible for the major improvement and redevelopment of the area.

2. The name Croydon means 'Crocus Valley'

Because most of the place names in the area are Anglo-Saxon, the accepted theory for the origins of the name 'Croydon' is that it derives originally from the Anglo-Saxon' croh', meaning 'crocus', and 'denu', meaning valley. This would suggest that, as with Saffron Walden in Essex, Croydon was originally a centre for saffron cultivation, which was widely used for medicinal purposes during Roman times.
However, there is another theory that the name Croydon derives from the Brittonic' Crai-din', which means 'settlement near fresh water'.

3. Croydon was home to the UK’s first international airport

Airport House, Croydon Airport © YoavR
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For all those international jet setters departing the UK from 1920, their journey would begin at London's Croydon Airport.
The birthplace of air traffic control, Croydon Airport, was the place from which several world-record-breaking flights departed. Sadly, the airport bore the brunt of the Second World War's devastation on central Croydon.

With Heathrow Airport taking over as London's main airport after the war, Croydon Airport started to decline and finally closed in 1959. It is now a Grade II listed building that opens to the public every first Sunday of the month.

4. Croydon has been a popular arts and leisure destination since the 19th century

In 1831, a spa and pleasure gardens were created below Beulah Hill. The Beulah Spa Hotel, now demolished, opened shortly afterwards, setting Croydon's early reputation as a prime leisure destination in stone.

Illustration for Fairfield Halls redevelopment. Photo: Rick Mather Architects.

Still popular to this day, the Fairfield Halls arts centre and event venue opened in 1962. At this point, Croydon started to develop as a key shopping district, with the Whitgift Centre opening in 1969.
Croydon has continued to be a mecca for arts and leisure right up to the modern day and has recently been awarded London Borough of Culture 2023.

5. Iconic landmarks abound in Croydon

If you want to see some intriguing architecture every day, this is the place to set up your office. Croydon is home to some of London's most remarkable buildings, with numerous charming historic and listed properties and iconic landmarks gracing the area.

Parish Church of St Michael and All Angels with St James © hahnchen
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Religious buildings abound. From the Grade I listed parish church of St Michael and All Angels in West Croydon to the Grade II listed West Croydon Baptist Church, and the Grade I listed Croydon Minster parish church designed by renowned Victorian architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, there is plenty to admire.

Croydon: Park Hill, Water Tower © Copyright Christopher Hilton
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Other buildings worthy of appreciation include the Historic England Grade II listed Park Hill Water Tower dating back to the 1860s; the Surrey Street Pumping Station, also Grade II listed and dating to the 1850s, and No. 1 Croydon, an iconic and very eye-catching tower completed in 1970, now given over to office space.

6. The oldest surviving pub in Croydon dates back to 1431

Dog & Bull pub © Ewan Munro
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The Dog and Bull pub in Surrey Street is the oldest surviving public house in Croydon and is said to date back as far as 1431, although it could be even older, as parts of the old Palace south of Surrey Street date from the 12th century.
When permission was granted to open a market in 1276, the Dog and Bull was known as The Bell. The land at the back of the pub was originally the village pound where stray animals were housed.
Still operating following an 18th-century refurbishment, the pub is now a magnet for real ale aficionados and a winner of a CAMRA Croydon Pub of the Year award.

Looking to rent an office? Croydon could be just the ticket!

For any business looking to rent an office, Croydon makes the perfect location. Situated just outside of London, and boasting exceptional transport links, this town has one of the fastest growing economies in the Capital.

Corinthian house is an iconic building nestled in the centre of Croydon. Located on the Lansdowne Road and centred between East and West Croydon and directly opposite Boxpark, the building benefits from a host of modern amenities including showers, locker rooms, a communal kitchen, meeting rooms and high speed internet. Both flexible and traditional lease options are offered.

Ready to learn how Corinthian House could prove just as interesting as Croydon itself? Talk to our helpful team today.