Croydon Open House London
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Croydon Open House London Self-Guided Itinerary Nearest station: West Croydon, East Croydon Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, CR9 After an extensive refurbishment, The Fairfield Halls has been returned to its original mid-cen- tury architectural magnificence, retaining the renowned Concert Hall and theatre whilst creat- ing new performance spaces for the 21C. Directions: Walk north towards Park Ln > Turn right onto Park Ln > Turn right towards Katharine St > Take the pedestrian tunnel > Turn left towards Kath- arine St > Take the stairs > Turn right towards Katharine St > Turn left towards Katharine St > Turn right onto Katharine St, destination will be on the left. Croydon Town Hall, Katharine Street, CRO1NX The present Town Hall designed by local archi- tect Charles Henman was officially opened by TRH the Prince and Princess of Wales on 19th May 1896. Constructed in red bricks from Wroth- am in Kent, with Portland Stone dressings and green Westmoreland slates for the roof the build- ing underwent many design changes throughout construction, including the widening of the main staircase to be of “adequate size and importance”. Directions: Walk west on Katharine St towards High St > Turn right onto High St > Turn left onto Church St > Turn left onto Old Palace Rd > Turn left onto Church Rd > Turn right onto Old Palace Rd Page 1 Open House London Old Palace, CRO 1AX The Old Palace is a former residence of the Arch- bishops of Canterbury, who have had connections with Croydon since at least the 9th century. In the time of William the Conquerer Archbishop Lanfranc was lord of the manor, and the entry in the Domesday Book for Croydon (then known as Croindene) records that he held the manor for his own use. In the 12th century the archbishops acquired Lambeth Palace, and from then on until the 18th century often stayed at Croydon as they journeyed between Canterbury and London and around their archdiocese. Directions: Walk north-east on Old Palace Rd towards Church Rd > Turn left onto Church Rd > Turn left towards Church St > Take the stairs > Turn left onto Church St, destination will be on the left. Croydon Minster, Church Street, CRO 1RN Medieval style church rebuilt by Sir George Gil- bert Scott after 1867 fire. Tower & south porch are 15C. Large nave with open timber-work roof leads to chancel dominated by superb stained glass window & rich alabaster reredos. There has been a church on this site since Saxon times, po- sitioned on the banks of the River Wandle. Now the river flows underground and comes to the surface in nearby Wandle Park. Directions: Walk south-west on Church St towards Old Town > Turn left onto Old Town > Turn right onto St John’s Rd > Continue straight onto Waddon Rd > Slight left onto Epsom Rd > Continue onto Duppas Hill Rd > Slight left onto Stafford Rd > Turn left onto Purley Way > Slight right to stay on Purley Way > Turn right, Destination will be on the right - 33 min. Airport House, 265 Purley Way, CRO OXZ Unique Grade II* listed 1928 Government build- ing in restrained neoclassical style. Britain’s first intercontinental airport terminal. Landmark building featuring the world’s oldest Air Traffic Control Tower. Upgraded to Grade II* in 2017. Page 2.