It went on to become The Club but was closed down in December 2010 after police compiled a dossier of alleged criminal activity associated with the premises. That's right, before Norwood Junction was Norwood Junction, it was named Jolly-sailor — after the local boozer. And the Jolly-sailor played a particularly interesting role in rail history; it was part of Croydon's atmospheric railway — a pioneering, if ultimately flawed, piece of kit that propelled trains from one pumping station to the next, via a vacuum in a pipe laid in between the rails, attached to a piston on the bottom of the train. (Jolly-sailor was home to one such pumping station). The railway was opened in 1845, but shut down by 1847 — in part due to the fact rats kept gnawing through the equipment. 3. Lots of mediocre things were invented by Croydonites But good things can’t last forever and, in May 2004, the club’s owners, First Leisure, went into receivership.

Two of the unique selling points of the store was the use of full-length windows running the length of the store, [3] a unique feature at the time, and an arcade (added during the 1930s) inside the store that linked different departments and showcased goods from around the world. [4] This was of course later expanded and renamed Centrale. This store continued to anchor the centre until Debenhams announced its closure in 2020. Sadly for the young children of Croydon, the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 forced the zoo to close and the animals were found safe lodgings elsewhere.

Brian Simmons: Memory Lane Records behind the Drummond Centre. A fairly recent departure but that was a great little shop. Remnants and oddments of material being sold by the pound at Kennard's store during the Second World War Sarah Cawley: I used to always work in Croydon, first in the reject shop in the Whitgift Centre, and at lunchtime we would go to the Arkwrights Wheel. I spent a lot of time in the Blue Orchid, Joe Bananas and Walkabout but Yates was my favourite. The toilets being downstairs was not cool after a few vodkas and wearing heels. Lots of good memories All 807 Woolworths stores across the UK had shut by January 2009, causing 27,000 job losses. Every other shop mentioned

I am amazed my mother took me to tea and listened to the orchestra, how cultured for a girl from Purley. She obviously wanted to bring me up proper. Despite suffering significant damage in the Second World War, the shop battled on and stayed open until 2012, when it went into administration. The chain sadly went into administration in 2016 and the last store closed in August that year. Read More Related Articles Be this as it may, some of the animals were not always confined to their cages. In the mid-1930s a cheetah was on display in the restaurant where it, together with no doubt some slightly nervous diners, were serenaded by Ida Santerelli and her female band. Dave West: It's got to be Turtles in Park Street where you could go in with a broken 'thing' and they'd identify what it was and emerge with a replacement or nearest equivalent. They also had a way of not making you feel stupid and, unlike most hardware shops, they had men and women serving - way ahead of their time in the equality stakes. Hardly a month goes past when I need something and know that Turtles would have had it. Closed 10 years ago but sadly missed.Kennards were one of the first UK business to use publicity to sell its goods. In the 1920s Kennards introduced Pony rides for children in store, which continued to run until 1966. [1] Zodiac was actually a chain of toy shops with stores around the UK but Croydonians were very loyal to their branch. I also remember going to Croydon at Christmas to buy a turkey, all the butcheries had them hanging outside and we chose the one we wanted. Too much elf and safety now so it would only be pre-wrapped today. Take care and thank you again Its main Croydon branch on North End was notable for the full-length windows which ran the length of the store The pool was used for international polo matches in its day but it shut in 1979 - we are sure many will wish it was still there now to enjoy on a warm day.

I had done some concert party work in the army, so when I was de-mobbed I joined a local concert party also a semi-professional dance band, which I attended when needed. If you think the pneumatic railway sounds like a damp squib, wait until you hear about some of Croydon's other great inventions. Among the gizmos coined by Croydonites are: the 'baby billiard table'; the' water bike'; a basket for milk bottles that can be attached to your letterbox; and the 'man-lifting kite'. Now we can hardly imagine life without them... 4. Charlie Chaplin was once kidnapped at Croydon Airport Kinematograph Weekly, 13 October 1921. From British Newspaper Archive Carly Mcintyre-Hollis: The Red Deer pub, you could walk in and there was always someone there you knew to have a drink with. One of the few pubs I felt comfortable in. Read More Related Articles

6. Croydon had the first self-service Sainsbury's

For many years The Good Companions pub in Hamsey Green was popular with families to dine out at the weekend but eventually trade declined and it closed in 2012. Gill Griffin: The old Kennards with its arcade and donkey rides. Grants where I had fish and chips with my nan and aunt on Saturdays. Turtles where you could buy the most unlikely items and Allders in its heyday when it was a proper department store that sold puppets and pianos. Mark Fisher: Cinderella's in Purley. I saw Queen on their Crazy Lil Thing Called Love tour. Van Damme bar in Surrey Street, Littlewoods, Grants and Allders. Great childhood memories. As an added attraction, a pair of lion cubs were put on display for a limited time and, although too young to harm the public, I did notice at one stage the door of the large cage was kept shut with a garden broom. I saw countless bands at The Rex and The Fairfield Halls, Roy Orbison, The Beatles, The Stones, all the Liverpool bands. Also on the last night of the beautiful Whitgift School I went to a concert by local band Peter Frampton and the Herd.

Debbie Burgess: Yates, Joe Banana's, Allders, C&A, Woolworths, and the Blue Orchid, where I met my partner, still together 20 years and 3 children later! Read More Related Articles It couldn't last forever though. In 1928, Kennards was bought by the Drapery Trust around the time that Debenhams had acquired Drapery Trust. But whilst its true that after the Second World War, business declined, the store was not rebranded as a Debenham's store until 1973. With some labelling it as the "best shop in Croydon", Turtles was a ironmongers and family business which ran for 111 years. There must have been a park for the pony rides because I do recall taking a pony several times and was so keen, going into a work closeby. My keenness dwindled as one day the saddle was loose and I was sliding off the horse and too shy to tell the lady, gripping on for dear life. She eventually turned round and was horrified, gave me extra time, which I would normally have enjoyed but not this time. 😫

A brand new pet shop, on the second floor was opened. It had space, light and carpet on the floor and about ten tropical fish tanks in a window bay. Ruth Pathalias: Kennedy's! I used to go there every weekend with my dad after a visit to Surrey Street Market! They just don't do butchers like that anymore! Kylie Jane Myers-Young: Ponderosa was literally amazing when I was a kid! Also Grants, my mate had her hen do at Joe Bananas and the spiral walkway in the Whitgift Centre which I have only just noticed is no longer there.