5 Croydon Open House things I'm excited about doing
Including #Merky FC HQ and a John Grindrod tour
Welcome back to Londonist: Croydon Edit! Piloted by Londonist editor and committed Croydonian Will Noble, it's about all things in the borough of Croydon — including features on Croydon's crazily rich history, interviews with the people who make Croydon what it is, the latest on Croydon openings, exhibitions, gigs and events, and lots more.
“It’s the mooost wonderful tiiiime of the yeeaar!”
This week’s newsletter is arriving marginally early, and that’s because Open House Festival is upon us—running from 14-22 September—and venues/walks/tours are now open for booking. Here are some of the things I’m foaming at the mouth to see and do:
#Merky FC HQ
While the majority of Open House buildings are steeped in history—whether ancient or more recent—#Merky FC HQ has almost none at all. Opened for only a few months, this football training facility/recording studio/gaming centre is the vision of local legend Stormzy—a legacy builder for the borough’s youth, and all about looking to the future. It also happens to be an extremely cool venue that I for one am eager to snoop around (and I’ll keep my fingers crossed they leave out a ball or two for a kick-about). As for Stormzy’s own footy skills? According to the man himself, they’re not up to much: “I’m shit at football,” he recently told the Guardian, “I was never going to be a footballer.” (Sat 14 Sept)
Whitgift Almshouses
I’ve been fortunate enough to already have had a tour of the Whitgift Almshouses—so in this case, I’m excited on your behalf. If you’re constantly wondering what goes on behind that incongruous 16th century facade on North End, here’s a rare opportunity to find out. Not only are these almshouses extremely pretty (not to mention remarkably quiet, given they’re in Croydon town centre), they’re an integral part of Croydon’s early history, built by the Archbishop of Canterbury John Whitgift, whose legacy can still be felt all over town, from schools to shopping centres to care homes. There are a number of guided tours for this one (all on the same day) and as well as the chapel and quadrangle, I’m hoping they let you see the wood panelled audience chamber which contains, among other things, the ancient sign of the Swan pub, which once stood next door. (Sat 14 Sept)
John Grindrod: Polaroids of Croydon
There are a few great Croydon walks and talks on the docket for Open House this year, but I’m especially thrilled that John Grindrod is bringing back his Polaroids of Croydon walk—not least because it gets a mention in his seminal book, Iconicon. Almost 25 years ago, the author and Brutalist acolyte took pictures of the Croydon he thought was on the cusp of disappearing. Now, he invites you to walk around town with him to see what changed and what didn’t—with a healthy dose of Croydon cultural heritage sprinkled in. (Sun 15 Sept)
Norman Fisher Observatory
No need to traipse all the way to Greenwich; Croydon has an observatory of its own—in Kenley to be precise. On the first Sunday of Open House, you can visit the Norman Fisher Observatory and chat to members of Croydon Astronomical Society about the incredible celestial things they’re able to ogle from terra firma in Croydon, and the building they’ve operated from since 1979. Assuming you have a stellar time, you can return to the observatory on any clear Saturday night, and they’ll welcome you back. (Sun 15 Sept)
Quakers' Hall
As readers of Londonist: Croydon Edit know full well, Croydon is much more than a bunch of skyscrapers, and this East Croydon gem is proof of that. The stunningly-Arts & Crafts beamed Adult School Hall is the setting for a mixed media mapping and zine making workshop on the second Saturday of Open House, and there’ll also be plenty of information on the building itself, including its links to the famous tea merchant John Horniman. (Sat 21 Sept)
One for luck…
OK, one more (utterly shameless) recommendation from me. On Thursday 19 September, I’m doing my own Open House talk, based on my new book: Croydonopolis: The Greatest City That Never Was, a whistle-stop tour of Croydon’s history, and the many, many reasons it’s maddeningly underrated. And even if you don’t enjoy the talk, it’s hosted in the stunning Braithwaite Hall inside Croydon Town Hall, a setting which no one can fail to appreciate. (Thurs 19 Sept)
So, that’s my pick of five things, but there’s tons more going on in and around Croydon during these two very special weeks. The Open House website isn’t the most intuitive thing in the world, but you can either type ‘Croydon’ into the search bar, or use the map function, and click the various pins scattered around Croydon.