Thornton Heath facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Thornton Heath
High Street, Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath
Population	65,812 (2011)
OS grid reference	TQ315685
• Charing Cross	7.2 mi (11.6 km) N
London borough	Croydon
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CROYDON
Postcode district	CR0
Post town	THORNTON HEATH
Postcode district	CR7
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Croydon North
London Assembly	Croydon and Sutton
List of places UK England London 51°24′01″N 0°06′31″W / 51.4002°N 0.1086°W / 51.4002; -0.1086

Thornton Heath is a lively area in South London, England. It's part of the London Borough of Croydon. You can find it about 2.4 kilometers (1.5 miles) north of Croydon town and 11.6 kilometers (7.2 miles) south of Charing Cross, which is a famous spot in central London. Before 1965, Thornton Heath was part of the County Borough of Croydon.

History of Thornton Heath

Before 1862, Thornton Heath was mostly farmland. It was centered around a place called Thornton Heath Pond. This pond was on the main road between London and Sussex. There was also an old farmhouse nearby.

Everything changed when the railway arrived in 1862. A new train station was built near the farmhouse. This station became the heart of the area. In just 50 years, from 1861 to 1911, Thornton Heath grew from a quiet countryside spot into a busy London suburb.

The railway helped connect Thornton Heath to London and Croydon. This growth was a huge part of London's expansion at that time.

Where is Thornton Heath?

Thornton Heath is surrounded by several other places. These include Mitcham, Croydon, South Norwood, Norbury, Pollards Hill, Selhurst, Upper Norwood, and Eastfields.

The soil in some parts of Thornton Heath is rich and gravelly. This is why growing vegetables and digging for gravel used to be big industries here. Other nearby areas, like Norbury, have clay soil.

Getting Around Thornton Heath

Buses

Thornton Heath has many London Buses routes. These include routes 50, 60, 64, 109, 130, 198, 250, 289, 450, 468, and SL6. There are also night buses (N68, N109, N250) and a school bus (663). The main bus garage for the area is called Thornton Heath bus garage. It's located where London Road and Thornton Road meet.

Trains

Thornton Heath railway station is a key transport hub. It's on the train line that goes to London Victoria railway station. The train services are run by Southern. Other nearby train stations are Selhurst railway station and Norwood Junction railway station. Norwood Junction is also on the London Overground network.

Buildings and Culture

St Paul's Church, Thornton Heath

St Alban's Church, Grange Road, Thornton Heath

Decorative features at former Thornton Heath Pond

Many buildings in Thornton Heath are from the Victorian era. This means they were built between 1837 and 1901, when Queen Victoria ruled. You can see some grand old buildings from this time.

Two important churches are St Paul's Church and St Alban's Church. St Alban's is an Anglican church built in 1889. It was designed by a famous architect named Sir Ninian Comper. It's made of red brick and has a special architectural style.

At the corner of High Street and Parchmore Road, you'll find the Clocktower. It was built in 1900, with money raised by local people.

The old Victorian swimming baths were replaced in 2004 by a new sports and leisure centre. This modern centre cost £8 million to build. A big part of the money came from the British National Lottery's "Good Causes" Fund.

There are also many blocks of flats in Thornton Heath. One large building is Crystal Court. It had some safety concerns with its outer covering, which is now being replaced to make sure everyone is safe.

The local library, an old Edwardian building, has been updated to make it easier for everyone to use. Students studying architecture even helped design new ideas for the central area in 2019.

People and Economy

Thornton Heath is a very diverse place. Many people from different backgrounds live here. In the 2011 census, a large number of residents were from Black, Asian, or mixed ethnic groups. The biggest single group was White British people.

The average price for a house in Thornton Heath in March 2023 was around £421,433. Here's a look at house sales and prices:

Sports and Fun

The new Thornton Heath leisure centre opened in 2004. It's very popular and has turnstiles to help manage visitors. The centre is owned by Croydon Council and run by Fusion Lifestyle.

If you like football, Selhurst Park stadium is nearby. It's the home ground for Premier League club Crystal Palace F.C.. Many fans use Thornton Heath railway station to get to games.

Thornton Heath has also been home to several football clubs over the years. Croydon Athletic F.C. used to play here. Later, fans formed a new club called AFC Croydon Athletic. The famous old club Wanderers F.C., who won the FA Cup five times, now play in Thornton Heath too.

The historic rugby club Streatham-Croydon RFC was founded in 1871. Their grounds are on Frant Road.

There are three parks in Thornton Heath where you can relax and play: Grangewood Park, Thornton Heath Recreation Ground, and Trumble Gardens.

In 2012, the Olympic torch, which travels around the country before the Olympic Games, was carried along High Street and Brigstock Road.

Community Spirit

The Thornton Heath Community Action Team started in 2014. It's a group of local people and businesses who want to make the area better. They organize litter picks, plant new flowers, and even put up a community Christmas tree. They also work to improve local areas and speak up about important issues.

Sustainable Thornton Heath is another group focused on protecting the environment. The Friends of Grangewood Park work to improve the park and encourage people to enjoy it.

You can find local news in the 'Thornton Heath Chronicle'. There are also Facebook groups like Thornton Heath Community Action Team and Thornton Heath Local, where residents can connect. In 2021, a special app called "We are Thornton Heath" was created for the community.

The local council has also worked on improving Thornton Heath. They've made the High Street and Brigstock Road more attractive with new pavements, road improvements, and wall art by local artists. There are also other artworks, like a mosaic at the station, and an 'Art Trail' map to guide you.

Famous People from Thornton Heath