Tag Archives: Croydon Chronicles

‘Chinese’ magician who died on stage, shot by his own gun

Posted on August 30, 2026 by insidecroydon

CROYDON CHRONICLES: Theatres in the town attracted some of the world’s biggest Vaudeville stars in the early 20th Century, including the mysterious Chung Ling Soo. DAVID MORGAN discovered more from the archives Many great entertainers have trodden the boards in … Continue reading →

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Family counts cost of burglary during Croydon’s Walnut Fair

Posted on August 23, 2026 by insidecroydon

CROYDON CHRONICLES: Archive newspaper reports of a burglary on Church Street in 1861 provide a useful insight into the possessions of a Victorian household, as DAVID MORGAN explains Burglaries are not new crimes. A trawl through the local newspaper archives … Continue reading →

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How sci-fi author John Munro died as a hermit in Croydon

Posted on August 2, 2026 by insidecroydon

CROYDON CHRONICLES: There are times when life, and death, can be stranger than fiction. Archive research by DAVID MORGAN suggests that a ‘Verne-esque’ sci-fi writer died in Croydon 25 years earlier than previously recorded Documents have come to light which … Continue reading →

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‘Young people out of hand’: perennial problem of street crime

Posted on April 26, 2026 by insidecroydon

CROYDON CHRONICLES: Mobs of young people roaming the streets, stealing from shops and terrorising the neighbourhood – just an everyday episode in Croydon, not from last month but during the Edwardian era. DAVID MORGAN delves into the Minster archive The … Continue reading →

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Charity Nickel Support is providing people with real life skills

Posted on February 15, 2026 by insidecroydon

CROYDON CHRONICLES: This week, DAVID MORGAN pays a visit to an organisation operating very much in the present, providing a future for dozens of young people It is rare that any of us don’t require some help to learn a … Continue reading →

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Oh yes she is! Victorian dancer who became a pantomime star

Posted on November 30, 2025 by insidecroydon

CROYDON CHRONICLES: One of the great British traditions of this time of year is the family visit to the theatre, or to a church hall for the local am-dram performance, during pantomime season. DAVID MORGAN traces the career of Caroline … Continue reading →

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