The reason Croydon has its name that will make you see it in a whole new light

Croydon wasn’t always the concrete jungle we see today.

Croydon’s history is largely hidden in its name. Digging into the origins of ‘Croydon’ might change your perspective on this south London borough.

‘Croydon’ is believed to come from the Anglo-Saxon words ‘Crogdene’, which translates to ‘valley of crocuses’. This is because during the Middle Ages, Croydon was famous for its abundance of saffron crocuses.

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Saffron, a spice derived from the Crocus sativus flower, was a valuable commodity in the Middle Ages. It has been used for various purposes, including medicinal uses, cooking and dyeing textiles, reports MyLondon.

In Croydon, saffron was mainly used to dye textiles, making it a significant industry in the town.

Saffron crocuses were grown in specially prepared beds, with the flowers picked in autumn. The stigmas of the flower were then delicately hand-picked and dried to create the saffron spice.

This saffron was sold in local markets or exchanged for other goods.

Croydon’s saffron cultivation declined in the 16th century due to competition from imports. However, the city’s historical connection with the spice is still remembered today.

In fact, the city’s coat of arms features a saffron crocus and there is a Saffron Central, a community group that celebrates the city’s saffron heritage and promotes saffron cultivation in the area.

The town’s name evolved over time, with variations such as ‘Croindune’ and ‘Croindone’ recorded in the Domesday Book, and eventually became the modern Croydon.

However, there are some alternative theories regarding the etymology of the name. One theory suggests that the name Croydon comes from the Old French “dune croie”, meaning “chalk hill”.

Another theory suggests that the name Croydon comes from the Celtic word ‘craeg’, meaning ‘rock’ or ‘hill’, and the Old English word ‘dun’, meaning ‘down’ or ‘hill’. This theory suggests that the name refers to the hilly terrain in the area.

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