Norbury And Thornton Heath In The 1950s

A Memory of Croydon.

Memories of Norbury and Thornton Heath are still vivid for me as I revisited the area a couple of years ago and many of the places I recall are still standing. Sadly, many are not. The Rex cinema was a favourite haunt and nearby was 'The Grandison School of Dancing' where I learned ballet for several years. Both now gone.

Does anyone remember going to Mrs Nicholson's nursery school in St Philip's church hall, Norbury? Or Sunday School at the old Methodist Church - now pulled down, although the church hall where we babies were weighed and measured in the 1940s is still there.

For many years the Granada cinema remained, converted to a Bingo hall, but on my last visit a couple of years ago they were demolishing it. The Savoy/ABC at Broad Green was also being demolished.

How I would love to see my old school - Croydon High - again, but alas the old buildings which were full of character (used to be private houses) are long gone from Wellesley Road. Winterbourne Infants and Juniors schools, which I attended, still stand, though, and I went to their centenary celebrations in 2007. Amazingly, the Winterbourne junior schools are the last remaining single-sex, local authority-maintained, junior schools in the country.

Norbury and Thornton Heath libraries are still in their original buildings, and Norbury station is much as it was. Norbury police station building, still stands, complete with notice board where I remember warning notices about 'colorado beetle' appearing. The terrace of shops just beyond it on London Road, leading up to Green Lane, where my grandparents had a flat over a baker's shop was demolished just a few years ago. The London trams used to turn round at the
end of the line, just outside their flat, and the racket kept them awake at night!

Pollards hill, with its wonderful views of distant Croydon, remains a lovely open space with its surrounding streets of arts-and-crafts inspired houses. Even Streatham ice rink, where I learnt to skate, was there when I visited in 2007. Streatham Common and The Rookery is just as it was, still a sanctuary from the noisy traffic. We used to go to circuses on the common, and paddle in the pool near the road.

Mitcham Common is still the wide open space we used to roam in, too, with its mysterious 'Seven Islands Pond. We knew it was there somewhere, but we couldn't always find it - must have been well hidden. Now though there are notice boards with maps of the common, which would certainly have spoiled a lot of our fun as we hunted for the elusive pond in the olden days!

When we moved from Norbury to Thornton Heath our house backed onto the 'rec' (recreation ground) where we played cricket and used the playground - swings and a roundabout. For years there used to be an old air raid shelter just inside the gate as you went in from Braemar Avenue, but that has now been pulled down.

I only remember two accidents happening to children in the 1950s, despite the fact that we were allowed to play outside unsupervised by adults. One child fell off a swing in the Rec and an ambulance was called - very scary for those of us who happened to witness it because there was BLOOD. The other incident was when a boy tried to climb into the next door garden to retrieve a ball. The railings had spikes on them and one went right through his leg when he slipped - ouch! The fire brigade was called then to cut him free and he was whisked away - to Mayday or Croydon General hospital, I presume.

Talking of which, I presume that Croydon General has now disappeared because it was boarded up for a long time. Although the front of Mayday, on the main road, is modern the back part is still the original old Victorian/Edwardian building with a small chapel in the grounds.

I am making a video of the places I lived in as a child - Norbury and Thornton Heath - so even if they demolish the lot my descendents (currently in Australia!) will know what it was like to have a relatively idyllic childhood in a pleasant area of suburban London.