Editing Thornton Heath (section)

==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>