I thought people here may like to see these photo’s of the Propeller Pub Purley Way, Croydon, They were taken in February this year, The Pub is now behind a tall blue fence.
The local council has plans to redevelop the site and pull down the pub, The site would then become part Flats and one road to be named “Propeller Drive” or something.
It seems local Croydon residents have mounted Campaign to save the pub and so far the pub is still standing, I am currently trying to find more details on this Campaign. I have heard rumours that they have had some success, Although i am not sure on this yet( If anyone knows more on this please post).
The Pub was a “Drinking hole” for many pilots during World War 2, and for me its a significant and Historic building that we should preserve for future generations, Many other Old pubs in Croydon have been pulled down in the last year or so and for me the town is becoming more faceless year by year.
Despite the fact that “The Propeller” has gone through serveral arson attacks since its closure the Building seems a strong one and one that could rise like a Phoenix from the flames, I really don’t want to see another Historic building go the way of so many other pubs have near me recently, Maybe its pub days are over pub, But a building of its size and inportance can surely have a future in another role.
As my wife says its architecture is very much British and should not be “Replaced by a faceless Spiritless(in more ways than one) construction, That is neither Historic or attractive.
If you have ever been down the Purley Way you will know despite “The Propeller” being named a eye sore in local newspaper reports its a rare Oasis in a road full of retail buildings.
By: duxfordhawk - 8th January 2007 at 16:44
Does anybody have any news on its fate so far, I keep seeing plans but its still standing so far and recently the site was up for auction again, Has the Council plans fell through? Is there anyway to save this piece of history?.
By: XN923 - 24th May 2006 at 12:48
Who is the council run by in Croydon?…..it’s usually Labour that have an obsession with building over anything, when the Conservatives used to try and turn down housing developments, Prescott would overrule them.
As for the White Hart, they have kept a token collection of pictures here and there but I don’t think the original bar layout has been there for years even before the refit a few years back.
I believe Conservative took control of Croydon from Labour at the recent local elections. Ultimately I doubt this will make much difference, both parties have proved pretty good at turning the South East into a giant car park.
Everywhere south of the Thames is prime territory for concreting over at the moment. I hope something can be done to save important buildings and sites like this until a generation comes along that can appreciate them. I don’t think hope will count for a lot though – it seems like a lot of the pub’s heritage has already been lost.
By: Tailspin - 24th May 2006 at 11:05
I suppose we’ll have to wait for a wealthy philanthrapist to buy the pub and have it taken apart brick by brick to another more hospitable location.
I know there’s a lovely old pub in the Crich Tram Museum that was removed from somewhere up north and rebuilt there.
By: The Bump - 23rd May 2006 at 20:39
Who is the council run by in Croydon?…..it’s usually Labour that have an obsession with building over anything, when the Conservatives used to try and turn down housing developments, Prescott would overrule them.
As for the White Hart, they have kept a token collection of pictures here and there but I don’t think the original bar layout has been there for years even before the refit a few years back.
By: duxfordhawk - 23rd May 2006 at 20:32
Hope something can be done to save this Pub, Even if it does not go back to its “Old” role as a Pub, I would like to see it used for something, It could serve the community in many ways i am sure.
Its a testiment to how well this Pub is built that is has been able to remain standing even after several arson attacks, I really pray we won’t lose yet another piece of History.
By: adrian_gray - 23rd May 2006 at 17:07
IIRC the Campaign for REal Ale (CAMRA) have a formula for calculating the financial (ie the only sort that matters nowadays) benefit a pub gives to an area. Go to www.camra.org and take a look around the site. It might be one more tool in the right hands to help save it by keeping it a pub?
Adrian
By: Tailspin - 23rd May 2006 at 15:59
Talking of pubs, has anyone been to the White Hart at Brasted recently, the original bar that was frequented by many famous Biggin Hill pilots has now been totally ripped out. The pubs link with its heroic past lost forever.
My mum popped in there a few weeks after it had been wrecked. The manager there just looked blankly at her when she asked what had happened to all the memorabilia. I can see the little hamster in his head running as fast as it’s legs can to fire up his memory.
“World War what?”
By: duxfordhawk - 27th April 2006 at 21:11
Martin,
I have lived in and around Croydon all of my life and totally agree that the pub should be saved, its just a shame is wasn’t situated a little further up the road near to the terminal building. Regarding the campaign to save the building; Have you tried contacting the Croydon airport Society as they used to hold their meetings in the pub, I went to a few with Mr Tweed (JDK) and can well remember the lovelly wood paneling in the saloon bar.
These arson attacks seem to conveniently go hand in hand with proposed building developments, locally the old tower in Queens rd was torched as was the former Cane Hill hospital, lets not let the propellor goes the same way as Brighton’s West Peir. 🙁
Talking of pubs, has anyone been to the White Hart at Brasted recently, the original bar that was frequented by many famous Biggin Hill pilots has now been totally ripped out. The pubs link with its heroic past lost forever.
Septic.
I have not tried contacting the Croydon Airport society yet, Its seems a good idea to contact them.
I like you have for a long time thought its a strange coincidence that Arson happens to Buildings, When developers put in plans for the land they stand on, Its a all to regular affair to me.
This happened to the Cunningham Pub in New Addington last year, There was a small fire there after the lease ended on it when a German Super Market chain said it would like to build there, The Cunningham was demolished before anyone in the Area had a chance to mount any campaign to save it, The land now lies empty and the council has refused any plans for a Shop development saying it should now be used as homes, The Cunningham was a Historic pub that was often used by pilots from Biggin Hill during the war when it was known as the “Addington Hotel”, It will be heartbreaking if the Propeller was to go the same way.
By: Septic - 27th April 2006 at 13:43
Martin,
I have lived in and around Croydon all of my life and totally agree that the pub should be saved, its just a shame is wasn’t situated a little further up the road near to the terminal building. Regarding the campaign to save the building; Have you tried contacting the Croydon airport Society as they used to hold their meetings in the pub, I went to a few with Mr Tweed (JDK) and can well remember the lovelly wood paneling in the saloon bar.
These arson attacks seem to conveniently go hand in hand with proposed building developments, locally the old tower in Queens rd was torched as was the former Cane Hill hospital, lets not let the propellor goes the same way as Brighton’s West Peir. 🙁
Talking of pubs, has anyone been to the White Hart at Brasted recently, the original bar that was frequented by many famous Biggin Hill pilots has now been totally ripped out. The pubs link with its heroic past lost forever.
Septic.
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April 26, 2006 at 11:03 pm