LONDON PUBS GROUP DAYTIME CRAWL OF THORNTON HEATH AND CROYDON ON SATURDAY 18 OCTOBER 2008

1) 12 noon Thomas Farley, 61 High Street, Thornton Heath, CR7. Formerly the Wilton Arms, this pub is neither a listed building nor is it on CAMRA’s London Regional Inventory of Pub Interiors of Special Historic Interest. Sadly most of its Victorian splendour has been obliterated. However, it has several Art Deco features of note including blind arcades on the wall leading to the staircase in the same decorative scheme. There is more Art Deco work at the entrance to, and within the billiard room. This includes jazzy decoration and a stained glass window depicting trees with a built-in glass clock to the left. Note also the remaining door lobby at the entrance to the pub.

Greene King IPA is served here. Turn left out of the pub and walk along High Street to Brigstock Road. Walk down Brigstock Road to

2) 12.45 pm Railway Telegraph, 19 Brigstock Road, Thornton Heath, CR7. As with the Thomas Farley, this pub is neither a listed building nor is it on the London Regional Inventory but it has three rooms and a lovely little door lobby complete with original etched glass depicting birds. Note also the fielded panelling in the rear room.

Youngs Bitter and Special are served here. On leaving the pub, catch a 450 bus to the stop just after the junction of Queens Road and Bensham Lane (the stop is called Queens Road, Bensham Lane). Alight from the bus and cross over the road to

3) 1.50 pm Newton Arms, 175 Queens Road, West Croydon, CR0. Although this pub is not a listed building, it is on the London Regional Inventory and the description is as follows: “A good example of a three-room inter-war suburban pub for a densely populated area and one that can be easily visited and compared with the rather larger but contemporary Victoria Cross just over in Thornton Heath. The frontage is an asymmetrical composition with brown glazed bricks on the ground floor and plenty of half-timbering above. Most of the windows are filled with attractive rippled glass. In the front there are two doors, the right-hand one to the public bar, the left-hand one to the lounge but formerly to an off-sales compartment which, remarkably, still survives even if it is not in use. The original entrance to the lounge was the door halfway down the side. The servery is L-shaped and extends into both lounge and public bar and (of course) served the off-sales too. The bar counters with their raked tongue-and-grooved panelling are original to the rebuilding of the pub as is most of the woodwork in the bar-backs. At the rear right is a third room which relies on a hatch for access to the servery: its walls have tongue-and-grooved panelling. At the time of our visit the pub was offering an interesting menu of Afro-Caribbean dishes.”

No real ale is served here but they do have Dragon Stout in bottles. On leaving the pub, catch a 450 bus to just before the junction of Bensham Lane and Bert Road. Cross over Bensham Lane to

4) 3.20 pm Victoria Cross, 228 Bensham Lane, CR7. Like the Newton Arms, this pub is not a listed building but it is on the London Regional Inventory where the description is as follows: “A good example of an inter-war suburban pub, rebuilt in 1937 for an area of dense housing. The site is interestingly shaped where the crank in the road means the pub tapers inwards as it stretches back, making for some unusual spaces. The exterior is a symmetrical composition and has those features so popular with inter-war pub builders – buff tile facing below and half-timbering above. Another favourite – rippled glass in the windows – survives in considerable measure. There has been some opening up so you can now circumnavigate the central serving area. But, nonetheless, there is still a very good impression to be gained of how the pub was laid out originally. On the left there is the lounge and on the right the public bar, although we were told that originally the functions were reversed. Between the two, at the front, was an off-sales compartment, now merged into the public bar. One of its screens still survives and this has a low access door for staff.

In terms of furnishings, the dominant theme is wooden wall panelling to create the olde worlde feel of ‘brewers’ Tudor’. The counter and back fittings are largely original but, sadly, rather ungainly superstructures sit on the counter top and mar the appearance of the pub. Access doors in the counter fronts and original tiling in both toilets on the right-hand side. Another very complete inter-war pub nearby is the Newton Arms.”

Courage Best and a guest beer are served here. On leaving the pub catch a 450 bus to the stop after White Horse Road becomes Wellesley Road then catch a 50 bus to its terminus at the junction of High Street and Katharine Street. Alight from the bus and continue down the High Street to the junction with Scarbrook Road and Surrey Street. Walk along Surrey Street to

5) 4.40 pm Dog & Bull, 24 Surrey Street, Croydon, CR0. Although this pub is not on the London Regional Inventory, it is a Grade II listed building. Inside, the pub still has a sense of separate areas. The inter-war windows at the front include depictions of the eponymous dog and bull plus a ram and a horse. The listing description is as follows: “Early C18. Red brick. Three storeys, 7 sash windows with glazing bars (some blocked). Cut brick band between upper floors of No 25. Modern shop front and C19 Inn front to ground floor. Arch entry on left hand with brick basket arch filled with painted sign. Heavy wood modillion eaves cornice and hipped old tile roof.”

Charles Wells Bombardier; Young’s Bitter and Special; and seasonal ales are usually served here. Turn right out of the pub and walk along Surrey Street to the junction with Scarbrook Road. Turn right into Scarbrook Road and walk along it to the flyover. Cross over Scarbrook Road and walk under the flyover to

6) 5.25 pm Royal Standard, 1 Sheldon Street, Croydon, CR0. This pub is not a listed building nor is it on the London Regional Inventory but it is a charming pub with three areas and some original etched glass.

Fuller’s Chiswick, Discovery, London Pride, ESB and seasonal ales are usually available here. On leaving the pub, cross over nearby Wandle Road to Laud Street then walk along Laud Street to the High Street. Cross over the High Street and catch a 60, 166, 312, 407, 466 or 468 bus to the stop just after the junction of Brighton Road and Selsdon Road. Alight from the bus and walk to

7) 6.15 pm Swan & Sugar Loaf, 1 Brighton Road, South Croydon, CR2. Although this pub is not a listed building it is on the London Regional Inventory and the description is as follows: “A real landmark hotel-cum-pub of 1896, dramatically designed for a fork in the road and dominated by three great, radiating gables. The architect was Alfred Board of Croydon and his clients the local brewers, Page and Overton, who finally ceased production in 1954. Their name is prominently displayed and they were no doubt well pleased with their mighty new pub. Back in 1896 there would have been numerous internal divisions. These have gone but the counter and rather plain bar-back are original. But what really makes the visit worthwhile is a rather later addition – the cosy, low snug at the rear dating from perhaps around 1910. It lies behind a wide opening above which are lovely stained glass representations of two swans and a loaf of sugar. This curious little space has a mighty Jacobean-style fire surround in brown faïence (pity about the out-of-keeping modern copper hood). Either side of this are six highly unusual seats that make the place feel like the drinkers’ version of a chapter house in an abbey. Each is separately articulated and has fixed round, upholstered cushions for customers’ posteriors. On the walls there are a number of historic photographs of the pub, including the very much plainer predecessor in 1890 (when it appears to have been selling Courage beers). History in the area: Haling Park is named after Haling Manor which was once owned by Henry VIII. In 1931 Whitgift Grammar School moved to the park from its former premises in the town centre. The school was founded in 1596 by John Whitgift, Archbishop of Canterbury.”

Fuller’s London Pride and Wychwood Hobgoblin are sometimes available here.

The Regional Inventory descriptions in these notes are extracts from a new book published in July 2008 by CAMRA called London Heritage Pubs: An Inside Story. Historic Pub Interiors in the Capital by Geoff Brandwood and Jane Jephcote. The book has descriptions and photographs of all 156 pubs currently on the London Regional Inventory. If you haven’t already bought a copy there will be a small number of copies available to buy on the day of the crawl for £12.99 (cover price is £14.99).