Croydonopolis : a journey to the greatest city that never was
Noble, Will2025
Books
D.H. Lawrence and David Bowie struggled with being there. Comedians from Kenneth Williams to Harry Hill have found it a convenient trope for philistinism and the banal. The 'Croydon facelift' has become a snobbish putdown. Riots and burning buildings in 2011 didn't help. And yet this town halfway between London and Brighton can claim a remarkably distinguished - and hidden - history at the centre of things. No fewer than 6 archbishops are buried there. Continental air travel - from London's first airport - began there. In the sixties it was a daring experiment in futuristic brutalist architecture. Its contribution to black culture began with our most notable black composer and culminated in the first black British artist to headline Glastonbury. 'Croydonopolis' tells the amazing story of this much-maligned town, whose only fault was to be too far ahead of the curve, and always go for broke.
Main title:
Author:
Noble, Will, author
Imprint:
London : Safe Haven Books, 2025.
Collation:
288 pages : illustrations (black and white) ; 20 cm
Notes:
Originally published: 2024.
ISBN:
9781068516214 (pbk. :)
Dewey class:
942.191
Language:
English
BRN:
8856795
More Information:
| Location | Collection | Call number | Status/Desc |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twickenham Library | Adult non-fiction | 942.191History | Available |