Dozens of Croydon Buildings take part in Open House Festival

With more than 40 different events taking place across the borough, the 2024 Open House Festival programme for Croydon is one of the largest yet. From civic buildings, almshouses, churches to an airfield, windmill and heritage garden, the programme really showcases the diverse architecture and spaces around the borough. Taking place from Saturday 14 September to Sunday 22 September, there are also fascinating talks and tours to join in. This follows last years successful Open House Festival as part of the Mayor of London’s London Borough of Culture.

Many of the events in Croydon for Open House are now fully booked, however there are number of events where you can just drop in – completely FREE. Here, we have highlighted a selection of just a few of the diverse buildings and spaces you can turn up to on the day. You can find the full line up here.

NORMAN FISHER OBSERVATORY

Just drop in: Sunday 15 September 1pm – 4pm
Waterhouse Lane, Off Hayes Lane, Kenley, CR8 5EP

The Croydon Astronomical Society was gifted the site of the Norman Fisher Observatory in 1965 and built the observatory and telescope in the main dome in 1979. In the 1960s and 70s if you wanted to do serious astronomy you needed a large telescope and so a group was formed. Now serious observers can afford to have their own equipment at home and so the observatory is now used it for public outreach.  It is open every clear Saturday evening between September and April for the public to visit free and without booking.

CROYDON QUAKERS’ ADULT SCHOOL HALL

Just drop in: Saturday 21 September, 11am – 4pm
The Adult School Hall, 60 Park Lane, CR0 1ER

This grade-II listed building belongs to the Religious Society of Friends and adjoins the current Quaker meeting house. It was opened in 1908, when there were nearly a thousand members in the local Adult School Movement founded by Theodore Crosfield. It was designed by William Curtis Green RA (1875—1960). This building remains in a remarkably original and unaltere condition, all the finishes remaining as designed. The walls are constructed of local brick; Roman pantile clad roof; timber casement windows; and the flooring is natural pine boarding.

SHIRLEY WINDMILL

Just drop in: Sunday 15 September, 12pm – 5pm
Postmill Close, Croydon, CR0 5DY

Today’s tower mill was built by Richard Alwen to replace the first mill on the site built by his Grandfather William Alwen in 1808 after it was burnt by fire in 1854. By 1893, Alfred Rayson, the owner at the time, was forced to abandon the mill as unviable. After closure the mill was allowed to deteriorate, being struck by lightning in 1899 and again in 1906. There have been a number of restorations over the years, first in 1927 by George Givan who had purchased Shirley Court and the mill. In 1951 the mill and land were acquired by the Croydon Corporation from Mrs Annie Givan. The mill was threatened with demolition when the new John Ruskin School was built but it was protected by its listed status and strong public interest.

Photo credit and words: Tony Skrzypczyk

MHA THE WILDERNESS

Just drop in: Sunday 15 September, 12pm – 5pm
17 Shirley Church Rd, Croydon, CR9 5AL

The Wilderness is a wonderful haven for wildlife and a hidden gem in Croydon, South London. Its creator, Rev. William Wilks (1843-1923), vicar of St Johns Church in Shirley was a keen horticulturist, and secretary general of Royal Horticultural Society for thirty-two years. One of his main achievements was the selective breeding of the ‘Shirley’ poppy, from a poppy he found in a local field with white banding on the edges of the petals. In 2018, with National Heritage Lottery funding the garden began its conservation journey to continue Wilks’ legacy of enhancing and encouraging native species and wildlife and promoting sustainable gardening practices. The garden’s design is fully accessible to residents in MHA Hall Grange and South London Collaborative Community members, especially those living with dementia.

WWII FIGHTER PENS TOUR AT RAF KENLEY

Just drop in: Saturday 14 September 11am – 3pm
Kenley Common, Kenley, CR5 1JS
(There is on-street parking along Hayes Lane with step-free access to Kenley Common.)

Kenley Airfield played a unique and important role in Britain’s history. As the UK’s most complete surviving Battle of Britain fighter airfield, it gives us a direct and tangible link to our aviation past. As an active airfield today, it builds on that heritage, while the surrounding environs of Kenley Common provide us with a site of nature conservation and a protected public open space. Across the site visitors can find multiple structures called blast pens or fighter pens. These helped to defend WWII aircraft and also military personnel in shelters during air raids. These monuments still stand today thanks to the Kenley Revival Project, a huge conservation project initiated in 2016.

Photography credit: Bill Brookes with the permission of the RAF Airfield Operator

CROYDON CENTRAL LIBRARY

Just drop in: Saturday 14 and Saturday 21 September 9am – 5pm
Monday 16 to Friday 20 September 10am – 6pm
Croydon Clocktower, Central Library, 9 Katharine St, Croydon

Croydon’s first central library was moved to the Clocktower buildings when they first opened in May 1896. It was one of the first public libraries with open access shelves and offered one of the UK’s first Children’s Libraries. The Clocktower Building was opened in 1993, designed by award-winning architect Mick Timpson. Now retired from architecture, Timpson is Chair of Cheshire West and Chester Design Review Panel. An exhibition display of Timpson’s original architectural  drawings, held by Croydon Archives, will be on display in the Central Library.

CROYDON TOWN HALL

Just drop in: Saturday 14 September, 10am, 11am (BSL interpreted), 12pm (step free)
Maximum 15 people per tour on a first-come-first-served basis
Katharine Street, Croydon, CR0 1NX

Designed by local architect Charles Henman and opened by TRH Prince and Princess of Wales in 1868, Croydon’s Town Hall stands as a magnificent Grade II listed Victorian-style building. Parts, including the former courtrooms, have been transformed into the Lifetimes Museum and exhibition galleries. Since the mid-1980s, the Town Hall has undergone extensive renovation and restoration, restoring  the Mayor’s Parlour and committee rooms to their original splendour,

CROYDON MINSTER

Just drop in: Friday 20 September 1:10pm (recital), 2pm (talk from Saxons to Victorians)
Sunday 22 September 12:30pm – Talk: Minster History and Architecture, 1pm Tour: Stained Glass Windows, 5:30pm Choral Evensong
Church Street, Croydon, CR0 1RN

There has been a church on this site since Saxon times, positioned on the banks of the River Wandle. In its medieval form, the church was mainly a Perpendicular structure, and because it was sited next to the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Palace, the building was made impressive through the money and influence of Archbishops Chichele and Courtney. The church was severely damaged by fire in 1867, following which only the tower, south porch and outer walls remained. It was rebuilt, incorporating the existing remains and essentially to the same design as the old church. Six Archbishops of Canterbury are buried here; Grindal, Whitgift, Sheldon, Wake, Herring and Potter.

SOUTH NORWOOD LIBRARY

Just drop in: Saturday 14 September 10am – 3pm
12-1pm living library to meet the makers 
1-2pm talk by special guest Ferren Gipson ferrengipson.com
2-2.30pm free tea
Lawrence Road, South Norwood, SE25 5AA

South Norwood Library is an example of brutalist architecture and as we know it, opened its doors in 1968 and as Bridget Cherry, editor of the ‘Pevsner Architectural’ guides, remembers, “it caused quite an impact in the street”. The site has been home to a library since 1897, but Croydon Borough architect Hugh Lea designed this purpose-built library building consulting with Croydon’s Chief Librarian T. E. Callander F.L.A. and the library team to inform the design and layout. The aim in the design was to allow residents easy access to books and daily newspapers; alongside school children who would also enjoy a quiet, well-lit spacious area to read and study. In more recent decades the building was adapted to provide access to wi-fi and as a centre for community group activity. A story quilt which represents the local community  in SE25 and the Friends of South Norwood Library and made by local residents, local neighbours and friends will be unveiled on September 14th between10am and 3pm.