History of Thornton Heath facts for kids

Thornton Heath is an area in South London, England. It is part of the London Borough of Croydon.

Early History of Thornton Heath

Thornton Heath is located in a valley. This valley was shaped by glaciers during the last ice age. The River Graveney is a small river that flows through the area. It is a leftover from the original, larger waterway.

Ancient Times

Before the Romans arrived (before AD 43), Thornton Heath was likely a thick forest. This made it hard for people to live there. However, scientists have found bones and teeth from ancient animals. These include parts of mammoths and early horses.

Roman and Saxon Periods

During the 1800s, workers found signs of early human settlements. They discovered flint axe-heads near an area now called Thornton Heath Pond. This shows people lived here during the Stone Age.

A major Roman road from London to Sussex passed through Thornton Heath. Parts of this old road were still visible around 1800. Another Roman road joined near a horse-pond in west Thornton Heath. This junction became a small settlement. When Thornton Heath High Street was built, many Roman coins were found. These coins were from 69 to 138 AD.

In Saxon times, four old paths crossed the valley. These paths later became important roads as the area grew. Their names are still used today: Green Lane, Whitehorse Lane, Colliers Water Lane, and Bensham Lane. In the 1860s, workers building the railway found a collection of Saxon, Frankish, and even some coins from the East. This suggests early trade or perhaps even hidden treasures.

Medieval Times: Bensham Manor

The old name for the area was "Benchesham." This name is still seen in Bensham Lane. In the Middle Ages, Benchesham was one of seven areas that paid taxes to the See of Canterbury in Croydon.

In 1145, a document confirmed that Rochester Monastery owned Benchesham. The area was very valuable. It was owned by important people like a knight, a lord mayor of London, and even kings and queens. These included Henry V, Henry VIII, Edward VI, and Mary I. There was a large house called Bensham Manor. The road leading from it is still called Bensham Manor Road.

In the late 1200s, Benchesham was split into two parts. North Benchesham became "Norbury." The Carew family owned Norbury for over 500 years. The southern part was leased to Walter Whitehorse. He was a shield bearer for Edward III. Bensham Manor was renamed Whitehorse Manor in his honor. Whitehorse Manor School stands on this site today.

In 1511, a common grazing area of about 36 acres was first mentioned. It was called "Thornton Heathe." This is where the name Thornton Heath comes from.

Thornton Heath in the 17th and 18th Centuries

Before the railway, Thornton Heath was centered around an area called Thornton Heath Pond. This was about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) from the manor house. A single farmhouse stood between the manor and the Pond. This farmhouse later became the site of the railway station.

Local Industries and Stories

People in this area used to burn wood from the Norwood Hills to make charcoal. This charcoal was a main supply for London. The river Graveney helped cool the kilns. The railway station was first called Colliers Water because of this industry.

The farmhouse became known as Dick Turpin's cottage. Dick Turpin was a famous highwaymen (a robber who attacked travelers on roads). It was said he stayed there. This story shows that the area was known for its wild nature at the time.

Gallows Green and Roads

The area near the Pond was called Hangman's Acre. Large gallows (structures for hanging criminals) were shown on maps from 1675 and 1731. The area was even called "Gallows Green" on maps from 1690 to 1724. A coaching inn (a place for travelers to stay) was built here in the mid-1700s. It also had a court and cells.

In the 1700s, London began to grow outwards along main roads. This is called "ribbon development." Thornton Heath was in the path of this growth towards Croydon. The main road to Sussex (now the A23) was improved. Gravel from pits in Thornton Heath was used for these road repairs.

Growth in the 19th Century

Thornton Heath's growth was limited for a few reasons. First, in 1797, land was divided up. Only a few people owned most of the land. Second, the Industrial Revolution brought new transport. The Surrey Iron Railway (the world's first public railway) opened in 1803. The Croydon Canal opened in 1809. These acted as barriers to expansion. Third, the Norwood hills to the north were a natural barrier.

Early Village Development

After the land divisions of 1797, some landowners began selling plots of land. By 1818, the small settlement around Thornton Heath Pond had grown into a village with 68 houses.

The main road to Sussex continued to see some building. However, most of the growth was towards Croydon, not London. In 1830, writer William Cobbett described the area between London and Croydon as "ugly."

Roads in Thornton Heath were not properly surfaced until much later. The road from the Pond to the station was only paved when trams arrived in 1900. Even in 1904, Green Lane was described as "impassable to vehicles."

Local Industries: Market Gardening and Gravel

As the population grew, farmers in Thornton Heath started selling vegetables. This was called market gardening. In 1844, there were seven main areas for growing produce. One large area grew herbs, especially peppermint. The soil was good for growing, and there was plenty of manure from horses to add nutrients. This industry grew until 1937, when the last market garden closed.

The west side of Thornton Heath had a lot of gravel. In the 1890s, this gravel was dug up for industrial use. This left many large gravel pits. These pits were filled in by the 1930s to build houses and roads.

Beulah Spa: A Health Resort (1831-1858)

A natural spring in Thornton Heath became a popular health resort called 'Beulah Spa'. For a few years, it was a very fashionable place in London. People came to drink or bathe in the mineral water, which they believed could cure illnesses.

Beulah Spa was also a fun place to visit. It had beautiful lakes and a rose garden. There were fortune tellers, musicians, and a military band. On special days, there were fireworks, horse riding, archery, and acrobats.

Coaches and later trains brought visitors. However, when the Crystal Palace moved nearby, fewer people visited Beulah Spa. The land was sold, and today, only one building from the spa remains.

Thornton Heath's Big Change (1861–1911)

Between 1861 and 1911, Thornton Heath changed completely. It went from a quiet rural area to a busy part of London.

The Railway's Impact

The railway had a huge effect on Thornton Heath. A new railway station was built in the eastern farmlands. This made that area grow quickly around the station. The railway line was built through Thornton Heath because the land was mostly flat.

The railway company often built stations in empty fields. This was to encourage growth. Thornton Heath station was first called Collier's Water, after a local farm. The landowner, John Bennington, supported the railway. He even wrote a guide for people thinking of moving there.

The railway's plan worked. The area around the station grew quickly. It became more important than the older development along the main road. This was because of cheap train tickets and the station's good location. The Cheap Trains Act of 1883 offered "workmen's tickets" for early morning trains. This made it affordable for people to live in Thornton Heath and work in London.

Thornton Heath had many trains each day to London Victoria and London Bridge. It also had good connections for weekend trips. You could reach Brighton in less than an hour.

Trams and Buses

Trams were also very popular for travel between Thornton Heath and Croydon. They were quicker and cheaper than trains. The Croydon tram system had its main office at Thornton Heath Pond. Horse trams started running in 1879. In 1901, the first electric tram outside central London ran between Thornton Heath Pond and Norbury. A special tram line was built to Thornton Heath station in 1902. This made it the first London suburb with its own electric tram branch. Motor buses were introduced in 1905.

Housing Development

Before the railway station opened in 1862, about 1,200 people lived in Thornton Heath. By 1871, the population was 3,189. Land near the station was sold for building. By 1881, there were 983 houses in the area. In 1888, 1,000 more houses were being built.

In the northern part of Thornton Heath, the clay soil meant there was plenty of clay for making bricks. These bricks were used in many local buildings.

Building houses was sometimes risky for developers. They often borrowed money from building societies. Some societies aimed to build affordable homes for working-class families. Developers tried to build quickly to avoid delays. Sometimes, land values were overestimated, leading to financial problems for builders.

An eight-room house in Thornton Heath could be rented for £33 per year in 1871. This was about half the average yearly wage. By 1907, rents and prices had fallen. An eight-room house could be rented for less than £22 per year.

Architecture

Most houses in Thornton Heath were built by smaller builders, one street at a time. At first, there were large villas. But as space became limited, builders started constructing more uniform semi-detached and terraced houses. Some residents found the new houses smaller than they hoped. However, the simpler, working-class style of architecture was seen as a sign of social change.

Health and Public Services

In the mid-1800s, Croydon, including Thornton Heath, had health problems. There were many diseases like smallpox, fever, and diarrhea. Houses often lacked proper drainage, and cesspools were common.

Edwin Chadwick, a government expert on sanitation, helped fix these problems. Croydon became known as "Chadwick's model." New pumping systems and sewers were built. The death rate fell significantly.

Thornton Heath became a place for Croydon's sick and needy. A large cemetery opened in 1861. A new workhouse (a place for poor people to live and work) opened in 1865. It later became Queen's Road Hospital. Mayday University Hospital, one of the largest hospitals in South London, started as the workhouse infirmary.

Community and Employment

The Croydon Local Board of Health introduced public baths, parks, and a fire brigade. In 1883, Croydon became a municipal borough. Thornton Heath was split into two wards. The council took control of housing, education, hospitals, welfare, electricity, and roads.

Thornton Heath had volunteer firefighters from 1871. After Croydon became a borough, there were paid firefighters. A police station opened in 1887.

Schools were also established. Before 1870, children might have been taught by a governess or clergyman. The first schoolhouse in Thornton Heath was a pub that became a temporary classroom. By the end of this period, there were several schools, including Beulah, Ecclesbourne, and Whitehorse.

A branch of a polytechnic college opened in Thornton Heath in 1892. It offered courses like cooking, plumbing, public speaking, and German.

Many people in Thornton Heath worked in market gardening. There were also jobs in building. However, many people moved to Thornton Heath to live there and travel to work in London.

The Thornton Heath Ratepayers Association (THRPA) was a group that complained about local services. They were powerful and could influence the council. They sometimes opposed new projects if they feared a tax increase.

Leisure Activities

Thornton Heath had many leisure activities. There were four football clubs and a cricket club. Walking was popular because the area was considered beautiful. A recreation ground opened in 1884. Grange Wood, a 30-acre park, was bought by the council in 1900.

A library opened in the High Street in 1895. A swimming baths opened next door in 1897. There were many clubs, including cycling, photography, art, and music. By 1911, Thornton Heath had over 100 stores. The Electric Palace cinema opened in 1910. It showed films daily. In 1903, Thornton Heath had 26 pubs.

Thornton Heath Pond was a place for relaxation. In 1897, a large fountain was placed in the middle of the pond to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. In 1953, the pond was drained and became a roundabout. In 2003, a new water feature was added but later removed.

Religion and Community

In 1852, there was a call to build new churches in growing areas like Thornton Heath. A temporary church, St Paul, was built in 1868. Other churches for different Christian groups also opened. Despite this, locals sometimes called themselves the "Heathens."

Social Life

In Thornton Heath's early years, there were clear class differences. The older western part of the district had wealthier residents. However, the Cheap Trains Act made it easier for working-class people to move to Thornton Heath. This led to more affordable, smaller houses being built.

Some middle-class residents still lived in Thornton Heath. Groups like the Primrose League, which supported conservative ideas, had many meetings there.

Thornton Heath in the 20th Century

By the early 1900s, Thornton Heath's population reached 15,000. There was a friendly rivalry between Thornton Heath and Croydon. In 1900, Thornton Heath held its own successful carnival. This raised more money for the Croydon Hospital than Croydon's own carnival. Princess Christian even visited Thornton Heath, bypassing Croydon. Newspapers praised Thornton Heath's growth.

However, Norbury, a nearby settlement, began to grow. In 1905, the old West Ward was divided, and a new "North Ward" was formed, which included Norbury. This meant Thornton Heath was shrinking as Norbury became its own suburb.

Between the World Wars

Thornton Heath slowly lost its rural feel and became more like a town. Many new roads, houses, public buildings, churches, shops, and schools were built.

After World War I, Thornton Heath did not suffer much bomb damage. Some buildings were used for the war effort. Ecclesbourne School became a hospital. A community kitchen opened to help with food supply.

Between the wars, the population grew rapidly. The High Street became a busy shopping area. In 1930, it had many different shops, including butchers, bakeries, chemists, and a cinema.

World War II and Postwar Changes

During World War II, Thornton Heath suffered a lot of bomb damage. It was close to Central London and Croydon Airport. Many flying bombs hit the area between June and September 1944. Thornton Heath, Shirley, and Norbury had more hits than other parts of Croydon. Over 1,000 houses were destroyed in Croydon, and many people were killed or injured.

After the war, new buildings replaced the damaged ones. People from South Asian and Afro-Caribbean countries moved to Thornton Heath. In 1971, an Asian person was elected as a local councillor.

There was some tension later in Thornton Heath. In 1972, the National Front headquarters opened there. This group was strongly opposed to immigration. A large gathering led to the formation of the Croydon Black Peoples Action Committee.

Branches of some shops opened, including a large Tesco store. There were also branches of banks.

Thornton Heath in the 21st Century

Sports and Activities

The old swimming baths were replaced by a modern Leisure Centre. It has a gym and a swimming pool. The 2012 Olympic torch even passed through the High Street.

Organizations like Age UK and ASKI opened branches. They offer activities and services for older people and some classes for all ages. CALAT (Croydon Adult Learning and Training) also opened a center.

Culture and Community

Thornton Heath has held festivals for several years. Stormzy, a famous rapper and singer, grew up in Thornton Heath. A 'Black Lives Matter' demonstration took place in 2020.

The Council has a plan to improve Thornton Heath. This includes making the High Street and Brigstock Road more attractive. They have added new pavements, improved shop fronts, and created wall art.

The Thornton Heath Community Action Team is a group of volunteers. They work to improve the local area. They organize clean-up events, plant gardens, and create murals and mosaics. They also run the "Thornton Heath in Bloom" competition.

Many artworks have been created around Thornton Heath. There is a mosaic and a mural at the station. Community members also maintain gardens in local parks.

The Sustainable Thornton Heath group promotes eco-friendly living. They hold monthly events with information and products.

Social media is also used to connect the community. There are Facebook pages for the Community Action Team and for general local news.

Modern Shops and Services

All the bank branches in Thornton Heath have closed. However, there are more branches of chain stores like Subway, Boots Optician, and Poundland. The number of hairdressers, nail bars, takeaways, and cafes has also increased. A large pub was replaced by a fitness center.

Thornton Heath's Identity

Despite its good location, Thornton Heath is not well-known to many Londoners. It has struggled to create a clear identity. This is partly because it is located between two larger centers: London and Croydon.

Historically, people believed that living on higher ground in Croydon meant higher social status. Thornton Heath, being in a valley, sometimes felt less important. Also, it is hidden behind the Norwood hills, so it is not easily seen from central London.

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