Croydon’s Overlooked Architecture

When it comes to London architecture, Croydon tends not to get a lot of attention. Fans of Regency architecture will naturally focus their attention on the stucco plaster walls of the mansions and terraces of inner west London, while the capital’s most famous buildings are mostly in the centre.

Indeed, it could be perceived that Croydon has not had a particularly notable building since the Crystal Palace, which burned down in 1936, although of course the football club that played in its grounds and now resides at Selhurst Park is a member of the Premier League.

However, for a town that was not technically part of London until 1965, Croydon does have some remarkable and varied architecture, and among its buildings are many fine homes with plaster features, which is why we provide cornice work in Croydon.

There are nine Grade II* listed buildings in the borough, including the red brick Wrencote Building, Airport House, Addington Palace (the Royal School of Church Music) and five churches. The Croydon War Memorial is also listed.

In addition, there are 166 Grade II listed buildings, with the greatest concentration of these being 39 in the Fairfield Ward.

Other notable older buildings include the Victorian Clock Tower and museum complex, another Victorian red brick structure.

Perhaps not surprisingly for a town that has grown in prominence as London’s outer suburbs have become more populated, the architecture has become more mixed as various 20th century styles have also made their mark.

While that may be true of most suburbs in London, a difference is the prominence of the town centre and its use of high-rise buildings. Just as the city and docklands have seen major surges in skyscraper construction, so Croydon has increasingly built upwards in a way other south London suburbs have not.

Indeed, when the One Landsdown tower is completed, it will be the fourth tallest in Britain at 228 metres (748 metres).

However, for all its eclectic architecture, Croydon remains a place where many can feel proud of their stylish homes. With the right maintenance work, they can go on feeling that way.