There are reminders of Croydon’s past dotted all around the area
Croydon isn’t typically the first place that springs to mind when we think of a romantic getaway, yet the town wasn’t always the concrete jungle it has become today.
Like every borough in London, Croydon’s history is concealed within its very name. When you delve into how Croydon actually acquired its name, you may well begin to see the South London borough in an entirely new light.
The name ‘Croydon’ is thought to have derived from the Anglo-Saxon words ‘Crogdene’, meaning ‘valley of the crocuses’. This is because Croydon was renowned for its abundance of saffron crocuses throughout the Middle Ages.
Saffron, a spice obtained from the flower of the Crocus sativus plant, was a highly valued commodity during the Middle Ages, serving a wide range of purposes, from medicinal and culinary uses through to textile dyeing. In Croydon, saffron was predominantly used for dyeing textiles, making it a vital industry for the town.
The saffron crocuses were cultivated in specially prepared beds, with the flowers being harvested each autumn. The stigmas were then painstakingly hand-picked and dried to produce the prized saffron spice, which was subsequently sold at local markets or exchanged for other goods.
The cultivation of saffron in Croydon fell into decline during the 16th century owing to competition from imported supplies, yet the town’s historic ties to the spice remain fondly remembered to this day.
The town’s coat of arms proudly displays a saffron crocus, and Saffron Central – a local community group dedicated to celebrating the town’s saffron heritage – actively encourages the growing of saffron throughout the area.
Croydon’s second-tallest building is also known as Saffron Tower and sits in a part of the town called Saffron Square. The skyscrapers’ red, pink and purple façade is also a nod to the flowers that once carpeted the area.
The town’s name has changed considerably over the centuries, with variations including ‘Croindune’ and ‘Croindone’ both recorded in the Domesday Book, before eventually evolving into the Croydon we recognise today.
There are, however, several alternative theories regarding the origin of the name. One school of thought proposes that Croydon derives from the Old French ‘croie dune,’ meaning ‘chalk hill’.
Yet another theory puts forward that the name Croydon stems from the Celtic word ‘craeg’, meaning ‘rock’ or ‘hill’, combined with the Old English word ‘dun’, meaning ‘down’ or ‘hill’. This particular theory implies that the name is a direct reference to the undulating landscape that characterises the surrounding area.
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