The London Borough of Croydon Trivia Quiz

Answer: South

Croydon is the outermost southerly borough of London. To its west lies the borough of Sutton and to the east lies the borough of Bromley. By 2007, Croydon was one of the most populated of the thirty-two London boroughs.

The centre of Croydon is about ten miles, from the centre of London, which is standardized as being Charing Cross in the borough of Westminster.

Answer: Crogdene

It is generally accepted that the name Croydon comes from Crogdene, meaning "Valley of Saffron". It was likely named by the Saxons when they settled there in the eighth century.

Answer: Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace Football Club were formed in 1905. The name was derived from the Crystal Palace, a famous glass and iron building built by Joseph Paxton in 1851 for the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park. The building was relocated in 1854 to Sydenham Hill in South London, where it remained until it was destroyed by fire in 1936.

The club itself has had moderate success, playing in the Premier League (or First Division) at various times between 1963 and 1999. Perhaps their greatest victory was a 5-0 defeat of Manchester United in a First Division match in 1972. I should know, I was there.

Answer: True

Not many people seem to know this.

Croydon Airport (initially known as Croydon Aerodrome) officially opened in 1920, offering both European and international flights. By 1946, however, it was clear that technological advances in aircraft, increased number of flights, and the lack of available space to expand rendered the airport unsuitable for major operations. Major airlines transferred to Heathrow, which had just officially opened.

The airport continued to be used by small independent airlines until 1959, when it was closed due to its proximity to urban areas and the air traffic control areas of Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

Answer: Arnhem

Like most United Kingdom major towns, Croydon is twinned with overseas towns of a similar size, and is used to promote cultural and commercial interests.

Croydon's link with Arnhem dates from 1946, both towns having suffered extensive bomb damage during World War Two.

Formal "twinning" arrangements were not established until 1985, and since then there have been regular exchanges of ideas between senior officials of the towns.

Answer: Peggy Ashcroft

Peggy Ashcroft was born in Croydon in 1907. She was primarily a stage actress, and it was mainly due to her performances in Shakespearean plays that she became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1956. She appeared at The Ashcroft Theatre upon its opening in 1962.

She made a few films, but on television was acclaimed for her performance in "A Jewel in the Crown", for which she won a BAFTA Best Television Actress award. She died in 1991 at the age of 83.

Answer: Kirsty MacColl

Anna Kirsty MacColl, was born in 1959, her father being the well-known folk singer Ewan MacColl. She never really had major success in her own right, but in 1981 had a UK number fourteen hit single with "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop Swears He's Elvis". It did not receive a US release.

She was tragically killed when a large speedboat hit her while she was swimming off the coast of Cozumel Island, Mexico.

Answer: Tramlink

Croydon Tramlink was not the first tram system in Croydon. Like many London boroughs, Croydon had several tramlines, but these had all closed by 1952 due to a lack of upkeep and a general preference for buses and cars.

By 1991, however, sentiments had changed and after public consultation showed support for a tram system, Tramlink finally opened in 2000. By 2009, it was made up of three interconnecting lines, covering 17 miles (28 km), and had thirty-nine stops--making it one of the largest tram systems in the United Kingdom.

Answer: True

As some may know, canals used to be a major method of transporting freight before the development of railways.

The Croydon Canal was opened in 1809 and ran for 15km, from a junction with the Grand Surrey Canal, near New Cross Gate in South East London, to a site later occupied by West Croydon bus station. However, it was not a financial success, and closed in 1836. There is very little left that has remained, most of it being built over.

Answer: Beanos

A real gem for record collectors, Beanos was founded by David Lashmar. Like many independent record stores it specialised for those seeking secondhand records that were not available from the major chain stores, accompanied by personal service.

However, during the early 2000s, the store found itself at the competition of CDs and downloads, coupled with the record companies releasing their back catalogues on those mediums.