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Thornton Heath
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{{Short description|District of South London, England}} {{Use British English|date=September 2015}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}} {{Infobox UK place | official_name = Thornton Heath | static_image_name = High Street, Thornton Heath - geograph.org.uk - 605910.jpg | static_image_caption = High Street, Thornton Heath | coordinates = {{coord|51.4002|-0.1086|display=inline,title}} | population = 65,812 | population_ref = ([[2011 United Kingdom census|2011]])<ref>Thornton Heath is made up of three wards in the London Borough of Croydon: Bensham Manor, Thornton Heath, and West Thornton. {{cite web |title=2011 Census Ward Population Estimates |url=http://data.london.gov.uk/2011-census-ward-pop |publisher=[[Greater London Authority]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202755/http://data.london.gov.uk/2011-census-ward-pop |archive-date=22 February 2014 |access-date=9 June 2014}}</ref> | os_grid_reference = TQ315685 | charingX_distance_mi = 7.2 | charingX_direction = N | london_borough = Croydon | region = London | country = England | post_town = CROYDON | postcode_area = CR | postcode_district = CR0 | post_town1 = THORNTON HEATH | postcode_area1 = CR | postcode_district1 = CR7 | dial_code = 020 | constituency_westminster = [[Streatham and Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)|Streatham and Croydon North]]<br>[[Croydon West (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon West]] }} '''Thornton Heath''' is a district of [[South London]], England, within the [[London Borough of Croydon]]. It is around {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} north of the town of [[Croydon]], and {{convert|7.2|mi|km|1}} south of [[Charing Cross]]. Prior to the creation of [[Greater London]] in 1965, Thornton Heath was in the [[County Borough of Croydon]]. ==History== {{main|History of Thornton Heath}} Until the arrival of the railway in 1862, Thornton Heath was focused on an area {{convert|1.5|mi|km}} southwest of the Whitehorse manor house (now a school), at the locality on the main London–Sussex road known as Thornton Heath Pond in the parish of [[Croydon (parish)|Croydon St John the Baptist]]. Between the manor house and pond was an isolated farmhouse. Eventually, it became the site for the railway station and the main expansion hub. In the 50-year period from 1861 to 1911, Thornton Heath saw a complete transformation from an isolated rural outpost to an integrated metropolitan suburb. In its infancy, a new railway station in the eastern farmlands enabled the immediate area to evolve around a central point. In the late 19th century, the western part of Thornton Heath, which lay directly on the main London–Sussex road, demonstrated a classic form of suburban ribbon development. In the process, it became the final piece in an urban chain linking two major centres, London and Croydon, completing the greatest metropolitan expansion in the world at that time which cost £112 million in today's money.{{When|date=May 2023|reason=With what year's value of GBP?}} ==Geography== The nearest places are [[Mitcham]], [[Croydon]], [[South Norwood]], [[Norbury]], [[Pollards Hill]], [[Selhurst]], [[Upper Norwood]], and [[Eastfields]]. Geologically, some areas have clay-heavy soil, including Norbury and South Norwood. There is the gravelly, fertile soil in parts of the Thornton Heath area, which explains why market gardening and gravel extraction were major industries. <ref>Hepworth, S and Bligh, S ‘Thornton Heath; A local study pack’, (2nd edition) Croydon Libraries 1993</ref> <!-- ==Demography==--> <!-- ==Economy== --> ==Transport== ===Bus=== Thornton Heath is served by [[London Buses]] routes [[London Buses route 50|50]], [[London Buses route 60|60]], [[London Buses route 64|64]], [[London Buses route 109|109]], [[London Buses route 130|130]], [[London Buses route 198|198]], [[London Buses route 250|250]], [[London Buses route 289|289]], [[London Buses route 450|450]], [[London Buses route 468|468]] and [[London Buses route SL6|SL6]], plus night routes [[London Buses route N68|N68]], [[London Buses route N109|N109]], and [[London Buses route N250|N250]] and school route 663. [[Thornton Heath bus garage]], owned by [[Arriva London]], is at the junction of London Road and Thornton Road, known as Thornton Heath Pond. ===Rail=== [[Thornton Heath railway station]] is on the [[London Victoria railway station|London Victoria]] branch of the [[Brighton Main Line]], and is operated by [[Southern (Govia Thameslink Railway)|Southern]]. Other stations nearby are [[Selhurst railway station|Selhurst]], the next station down, and [[Norwood Junction railway station|Norwood Junction]], on the [[East London line]] of the [[London Overground]]. ==Culture and architecture== [[File:St Paul's church, Thornton Heath - geograph.org.uk - 1450626.jpg|thumb|250px|St Paul's Church, Thornton Heath]] [[File:St Alban's church, Grange Road - geograph.org.uk - 217367.jpg|thumb|250px|St Alban's Church, Grange Road, Thornton Heath]] [[File:Thornton Heath Pond, Croydon, Surrey - geograph.org.uk - 1442239.jpg|thumb|250px|Decorative features at former Thornton Heath Pond]] Architecturally, Thornton Heath is predominantly [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] in both its residential and commercial sectors. There are a number of imposing, even grand, buildings surviving from this period. Two examples are St Paul's Church and St Alban's Church. St Alban's is an Anglican church and is listed as Grade II. Built in 1889, it was the first church designed by the late Victorian architect [[Ninian Comper|Sir Ninian Comper]]. It is situated on the busy junction of Grange Road and the High Street. It is described as being of a red-brick perpendicular style with stone dressing. At the junction of the High Street and Parchmore Road, on a site previously called Walker's Green, stands the Clocktower, which was built in 1900, and financed partly by public subscription. However, the Victorian baths did not survive,<ref name="huntley-cartwright">{{cite web|url=http://www.huntleycartwright.co.uk/projects/leisure/2_thornton_pool.html|title=Thornton Heath Leisure Centre|publisher=Huntley Cartwright Charted Quantity Surveyors|access-date=13 September 2009}}</ref> and were replaced by a modern sports and leisure centre in 2004.<ref name="cg-new-centre">{{cite news|url=http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/504841.new_centre_success/|title=New centre success|last=Menhinnitt|first=Daniel|date=30 June 2004|work=The [[Croydon Guardian]]|publisher=[[Newsquest Media Group]]|access-date=13 September 2009}}</ref> It cost £8 million with £2.8 million from the British [[National Lottery (United Kingdom)#Good causes|National Lottery]] ''Good Causes'' Fund through [[Sport England]].<ref name="cg-new-centre"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/news/542174.national_lotterys_benefit_to_the_borough/|title=National Lottery's benefit to the borough|last=Menhinnitt|first=Daniel|date=3 November 2004|work=The [[Croydon Guardian]]|publisher=[[Newsquest Media Group]]|access-date=13 September 2009}}</ref> Several small and large blocks of flats have been built in the area, in a similar style. A large one is Crystal Court, adjacent to the Leisure Centre. There was an intense fire there. Although the building had passed safety checks, residents were concerned about the role of the cladding. This is being replaced.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thechronicle.website/fears-over-cladding-in-fire-hit-block/ | title=Fears over cladding in fire hit block|website=Thechronicle.website | date=2 August 2021 }}</ref> Architects have posted about their project in the Library with a Council remit to refurbish and extend the Edwardian building, in particular, to improve access.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fashionarchitecturetaste.com/2010/09/thornton_heath.html | title=FAT Architecture|website=Fashionarchitecturetaste.com}}</ref> There was also work as part of the regeneration project of the High Street to the Library on Brigstock Road.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://find-an-architect.architecture.com/you-me-architecture-ltd/london/thornton-heath-high-street | title=Thornton Heath High Street by YOU & ME Architecture Ltd|website=Find-an-architect.architecture.com }}</ref> In 2019, there was a contest organised by the Thornton Heath Community Action team for a planned redesign of the central area; it was won by architecture students.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thechronicle.website/5764-2/ | title=Student architects winning redesign of Thornton Heath|website=Thechronicle.website | date=19 May 2019 }}</ref> == Demography and economics == Thornton Heath has a high degree of ethnic diversity with a large proportion of people from a [[Classification of ethnicity in the United Kingdom|BAME]] background. In the 2011 census, Thornton Heath (comprising the wards of [[Bensham Manor (ward)|Bensham Manor]], [[Thornton Heath (ward)|Thornton Heath]], and [[West Thornton (ward)|West Thornton]]) was [[Black people|Black]] or [[Black British]] (36.4%), [[White people|White]] or [[White British]] (27.4%), [[Asian people|Asian]] or [[British Asian|Asian British]] (25.9%), [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|mixed/multiple ethnic groups]] (7.1%), and other ethnic groups (6.6%). The largest single ethnicity is White British (20.2%) followed by [[British African-Caribbean people]] (17.6%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/bensham-manor-e05000148#sthash.GjZ23c8N.dpbs|title=Bensham Manor - UK Census Data 2011|website=UK Census Data|access-date=31 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/thornton-heath-e05000165#sthash.EVONkips.dpbs|title=Thornton Heath - UK Census Data 2011|first=Good Stuff IT|last=Services|website=UK Census Data|access-date=31 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/bensham-manor-e05000148#sthash.GjZ23c8N.dpbs|title=West Thornton - UK Census Data 2011|website=UK Census Data|access-date=31 January 2021}}</ref> The average house price from sales in March 2023 was £421,433.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Thornton Heath Property Market Snapshot |url=https://truuli.co.uk/thornton-heath-house-prices/ |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=Truuli.co.uk |language=en-GB}}</ref> {| class="wikitable" |+Sales numbers and house prices in Thornton Heath - March 2023 <ref name=":0" /> !Property type !Number of sales last 12 months !Average price achieved last 12 months !Average price change per square foot last 12 months |- |Detached |15 |£596,912 |31.1% |- |Semi-detached |83 |£487,110 | -1.4% |- |Terraced |400 |£421,433 |6.3% |- |Flat / Apartment |343 |£247,225 |3.1% |} ==Sport and leisure== Thornton Heath gained a new leisure centre in May 2004.<ref name="cg-new-centre"/> Its popularity was such that [[turnstile]]s had to be fitted to improve security.<ref name="cg-new-centre"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://moreresults.factiva.com/results/index/index.aspx?ref=NQST000020041110e0ba002cc|title=Hurry for tickets to see Manchester Utd|date=10 November 2004|work=[[Croydon Guardian]]|access-date=13 September 2009}}</ref> The centre is owned by Croydon Council, but was originally run by Parkwood Leisure,<ref name="cg-new-centre"/> and now run by Fusion Lifestyle in partnership with the council.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/200087/spsc/thpool|title=London Borough of Croydon: Thornton Heath Leisure Centre|publisher=London Borough of Croydon|access-date=13 September 2009}}</ref> Thornton Heath is one of the railway stations used by visitors to [[Selhurst Park]] stadium, home of [[Premier League]] club [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]. Thornton Heath formerly had a [[Non-League football]] club, [[Croydon Athletic F.C.|Croydon Athletic]], which played at the Keith Tuckey Stadium; the club ceased to exist at the end of the 2010–11 season. In 2012, fans of the club formed [[AFC Croydon Athletic]], which plays at the Mayfield Stadium. In 2015, the club competed in the [[Southern Counties East Football League|Southern Counties East]] League. The reformed 5-time [[FA Cup]] winners [[Wanderers F.C.|Wanderers FC]] currently play at Thornton Heath. Thornton Heath is also home to the historic rugby club [[Streatham-Croydon RFC]] founded in 1871. Their grounds and clubhouse are located in Frant Road off Brigstock Road. There are three parks in Thornton Heath: Grangewood Park,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.croydon.gov.uk/libraries-leisure-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/parks-and-playgrounds/parks-and-playgrounds-directory/grangewood-park|title=Grangewood Park | Croydon Council|website=Croydon.gov.uk}}</ref> Thornton Heath Recreation Ground,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.croydon.gov.uk/libraries-leisure-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/parks-and-playgrounds/parks-and-playgrounds-directory/thornton-heath-recreation-ground|title=Thornton Heath Recreation Ground | Croydon Council|website=Croydon.gov.uk}}</ref> and Trumble Gardens.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.croydon.gov.uk/libraries-leisure-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/parks-and-playgrounds/parks-and-playgrounds-directory/trumble-gardens|title=Trumble Gardens | Croydon Council|website=Croydon.gov.uk}}</ref> The 2012 Olympic torch was taken along the High Street and Brigstock Road. ==Health== Thornton Heath healthcare is part of [[Croydon Health Services NHS Trust]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.croydonhealthservices.nhs.uk/|title=Home|website=Croydon Health Services NHS Trust}}</ref> [[General practitioner|GP]] practices are independent and receive NHS funding. The Council covers some health services such as public health. It has sole responsibility for social services. The local hospital is [[Croydon University Hospital]] (formerly Mayday Hospital). It was assessed in 2021 by the Care Quality Commission as "requiring improvement" overall. However, some specific services were rated as "good".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cqc.org.uk/location/RJ611|title=Croydon University Hospital - Care Quality Commission|website=Cqc.org.uk|access-date=19 October 2024}}</ref> ==Community== Thornton Heath Community Action Team<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thorntonheath.net/|title=Thornton Heath Community Action Team|website=Thorntonheath.net|access-date=31 October 2017}}</ref> was formed in 2014 by a group of residents and businesses. Its aim is to deliver projects and to improve the area, such as organising litter picks, planting new plants, and a community Christmas tree. Members of the community have a garden in part of a local park and are maintain the planting area in the Ambassadors House forecourt. They also lobby and campaign on relevant local issues. Sustainable Thornton Heath is a group of local people concerned about the environment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://sustaintheath.wordpress.com/|title=Sustainable Thornton Heath|website=Sustainheath.wordpress.com}}</ref> Friends of Grangewood Park organise events and projects to improve the park, and encourage people to use it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://grangewoodpark.co.uk/|title=Grangewood Park|website=Grangewoodpark.co.uk}}</ref> Facebook groups include Thornton Heath Community Action Team and Thornton Heath Local, a more general group. Both are private but easy for local people to join. In 2021, a Thornton Heath app, We are Thornton Heath, was created.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wearethorntonheath.app/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124031811/https://wearethorntonheath.app/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=24 January 2022|title=We Are Thornton Heath|website=Wearethorntonheath.app}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thechronicle.website/thornton-heath-app-launched-to-drive-economic-growth/|title=Thornton Heath app launched to drive economic growth|website=Thechronicle.website|date=7 October 2021}}</ref> There is local news in the 'Thornton Heath Chronicle'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thechronicle.website/|title=Thornton Heath Chronicle|website=Thechronicle.website}}</ref> There were Thornton Heath festivals for several years up to 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thorntonheathfestival.com/|title=Thornton Heath Festival|website=Thorntonheathfestival.com}}</ref> The council had a regeneration plan for Thornton Heath. "Since 2016 we have been involving local people in an improvement programme, making the High Street and Brigstock Road more attractive, with funding from the GLA. This included new pavements and road improvements, upgrades to shop fronts, wall art by local artists along the high street, and improvements to the forecourt of Ambassador House".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.croydon.gov.uk/planning-and-regeneration/regeneration/places-croydon/thornton-heath-0|title=Thornton Heath | Croydon Council|website=Croydon.gov.uk}}</ref> In addition to the murals in the improvement programme, there are other artworks, such as a mosaic and mural at the station. An 'Art Trail' map was compiled as a guide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thorntonheath.net/arttrail/|title=Thornton Heath Art Trail – Thornton Heath Community Action Team|website=Thorntonheath.net|date=10 July 2020 }}</ref> ==Notable residents== {{unreferenced section|date=April 2020}} {{div col}} *[[Eric Barker]], actor *[[Alfred J. Bennett]], artist *[[Mary Berkeley]], athlete *[[Martin Butcher]], cricketer *[[Ashley Chin]], actor *[[Desmond Dekker]], musician *[[Del Dettmar]], musician *[[Jane Drew]], architect *[[Mickey Finn (drummer)|Mickey Finn]], musician *[[Frankmusik]], musician *[[W. H. Greenleaf]], political scientist *[[D. J. B. Hawkins]], philosopher *[[Beth Hazel]], swimmer *[[Anne Hocking]], writer *[[London Hughes]], comedian *[[Christopher Louis McIntosh Johnson]], journalist *[[Wizz Jones]], musician *[[Simon Jordan]], businessman *[[Peter Ling]], television writer *[[Edward Lloyd (publisher)|Edward Lloyd]], publisher *[[David Payne (footballer)|David Payne]], footballer *[[Dickie Pride]], musician *[[Martyn Rooney]], athlete *[[Flora Sandes]], soldier *[[Steve James Sherlock]], composer *[[John Shuter]], cricketer *[[Paul Simonon]], musician *[[SL (rapper)|SL]], rapper *[[Emile Smith Rowe]], footballer *[[Stormzy]], musician *[[Don Weller (musician)|Don Weller]], musician *[[Wilfried Zaha]], footballer {{div col end}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{commons category-inline|Thornton Heath}} {{LB Croydon}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Thornton Heath| ]] [[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Croydon]] [[Category:Areas of London]] [[Category:District centres of London]]
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