IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Addiscombe Road, CROYDON, CR9 5PB

A 1970s high rise block, also known as the Threepenny Bit building. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No.1_Croydon

A 1970s office block. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No.1_Croydon

The building in the image, whatever its official title, has been known to generations of Croydonians as the Threepenny Bit.

The demolition of the postal sorting office has opened up this view of the NLA Tower (also known as One Croydon). To the right of picture, the roof of East Croydon station can be seen.

Probably Croydon's most distinctive post-war office block - it has reached the exalted status of having its own nicknames, first the 'Threepenny Bit Building' and, for a later generation, the '50p Building'. It could only have been designed by Richard Seifert & Partners. Built in 1968-70 for Noble Lowndes Annuities and known as NLA House, now, in its newly-refurbished state, it has been grandiloquently christened "No. 1 Croydon". Between the 1950s and the 1970s Croydon experienced a burst of commercial development unparalleled anywhere else in the country. The impetus was provided by the Croydon Corporation Act of 1956 which gave Croydon Council powers to develop land in the borough. A combination of improved roads, government incentives to relocate from, and Croydon's proximity to, central London, and lower rents attracted employers in their droves. By 1970 about six million square feet of office space had been provided in central Croydon. Development has continued since, but at a much slower rate. From a distance the skyline is impressive (the nearest this country comes to Manhattan), but the problem is that few of the buildings are of architectural merit.

Through an insalubrious underpass can be found a reminder of the original building's incarnation as NLA House (Image]). The backing is blue mosaic tiles.

The demolition of the postal sorting office has opened up this view of the NLA Tower (also known as One Croydon). In the foreground, the covered ramps down to the platforms of East Croydon station can be seen.

The landmark canopy of East Croydon Station with the Tram station in front. No. 1 Croydon is the tower. (aka NLA tower, wedding cake, 50p tower etc.) Built in 1970, it was voted one of Britain's top eyesores, rather unreasonably I think. At one time it was the 88th tallest building in the country. All this and more Tower Block Trivia on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No.1_Croydon

A 197 for Peckham passes as a 466 for Addington Village calls. In the background the ladder masts of East Croydon railway station can be seen.