How Croydon Has Changed 1997 to 2024. High Street, Grants, Swan & Sugar Loaf, Mint Walk

[@alisonn7200]

Thank you so much for this - the 97 photos are exactly how I remember Croydon. I'm delighted that the Clock tower remains as it was.

[@technophobeofcornwall4166]

Agreed, poignant .. and so different from when I first moved there in approximately 1967 - when a lot of the office blocks ( AMP house in Dingwall road in particular) were being constructed for the first time - the skyline was a mass of cranes.

[@ChavJag]

Lived in Croydon all my life

[@adrianbanks2089]

Thanks For The Update ! I Worked in The Swan and Sugar Loaf in 1960 !😊

[@alic9560]

its now a dirty tesco with flats over the top...

[@ravenseft]

These photos are wonderful. More or less in the final years when Croydon was a bustling town centre. What should have been a new start heralded by the arrival of the tram marked the start of a long decline which continues to this day. Awful decisions by the council, now bankrupt, to overspend massively on its own buildings and prioritise high rise residential development, whilst neglecting the town centre and making life difficult for businesses to thrive. The botched Whitgift Centre redevelopment, the demolition of the whole area around St George's Walk, the mismanagement of the Surrey Street market, over-pedestrianisation, the failure to properly police South End and the expensive nightmare which is parking. What could have been: see Will Noble's new book, Croydonopolis, which looks at all the missed opportunities.

[@Muxxyy]

Thank you for thos video. I ended up in Croydon this July while looking for an affordable place to rent around London. In fact, I ended up living on the 18th floor of the white high rise building on the right at 5:51 in your video. I've been curious about Croydon's past ever since I moved here. Your video was very entertaining and educational.

[@eclecticexperience1]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed!

[@Lightofseer]

I moved to Croydon in 1976 and left in 1993, went back once in 2004. It had been thriving but was rapidly going downhill when I left, it’s sad to see it decline further. When I was a teenager I often hung out in Queen’s Park with my friends, it was pretty then but looks horrendous now. I don’t plan on ever going back.

[@cliffwood4610]

I worked in 38 High street in 1967 and soon after at Selgrove jewellers (high st shop backing onto the Whitgift centre,then under construction) Croydon was in those days,a pleasant place!

[@crayzmarc]

In my opinion it looked better in the past. You don't have any from around Cromwell road around the same time period?

[@nicolesaphir]

I was born, went to secondary school and got my first job in Croydon. I moved away in 1998, so your 1997 pictures are how I remember it. Sadly it looks like I made the right decision.

[@alisonn7200]

Very similar to me and the 97 pictures are exactly how I remember Croydon as well.

[@schrodingerscat1863]

Sounds like you got out at exactly the right time, I moved out of South Croydon to Purley in 2000 as I could see how it was going. I haven't even been to Croydon town centre in over 10 years its so bad now.

[@theresapierce3934]

Sad to witness the decline of such a bustling, thriving place which was a major shopping destination for many people. 😢

[@charlesbarber5377]

Although in many ways, it feels as though we've lost more than we've gained, economically, socially and architecturally, I found this strangely a posoitive watch as it reminded me of some of the fine buildings and interesting views r still has. Calling the new town hall just an office block though, seems a bit misleading.

[@cliffwood4610]

Did you know about the tunnel linking the Police statioin to Taberner house and the library?

[@eclecticexperience1]

I didn't know that, thanks for adding

[@mattdow9039]

Croydon is a disgusting place to be these days. Mostly boarded up and run down shops, even the last survivor WH Smith in North End only occupies the downstairs area. I noticed your 1997 picture of Surrey Street market, full of barrows, now only the lower half of the street is the market. Croydon is now plagued with homelessness, begging and crime.

[@somidris8339]

😢

[@jonmould2946]

The replacement of people!!!!

[@antonyetheridge1050]

lived there for twenty years moved out 2002 returned this year ....what a dump

[@themanfromdelmonte9150]

Croydon is in Surrey!

[@cliffwood4610]

but they call it a London borough!