Families trading on the market at present can trace their personal family history on the market back over hundreds of years.

Banners on the street today inform shoppers that the market was established in 1276, referring to the Royal Charter obtained for a weekly market in Croydon's earliest records.

In all likelihood there was a market there even earlier, though the earliest recorded trading was from a corn and cattle market held on Thursdays in 1314.

While traders on Surrey Street will admit to having been there a long time, living memory and family stories don't go back quite as far as 1314.

Today, many stallholders can still trace their roots back to four families that made their living running fruit and veg and flower stalls on the market in the 19th century: the Curds, the Campbells, the Thoroughgoods and the Holdens.

Tim Holden, who runs a fruit and veg stall with his family and has extended family across the market, said his great-granddad, Alfred Holden, got his first licence on Surrey Street in 1908.

"They were here longer than that but I think that's when they got the first licence," he said.

Mr Holden added: "When I started working 35 years ago I worked with my father and my grandfather. Now I work with my father and my son. It's more a way of life than a job."

In 1843, the market moved from adjacent Middle Street to what was then Butchers Row.

Though the butchers' shops along the street were cleaned out long ago, the hooks used to hang up carcasses can still be seen on buildings in Surrey Street.

Russell Smith, who runs a flower stall at the end furthest from the High Street and has been working on the market since he was five, explained that his great-grandfather, Aaron Campbell, moved his stall to Surrey Street from Thrift Street in 1902.

The family grew their own flowers and vegetables and used to sell as many as ten boxes of carnations a day.

He remembers stories of his great-grandmother who had a stall next to Jack Cohen, who went on to found Tesco.

"She lent him six shillings and my grandmother says she never saw a penny of that back.

"It's probably worth a lot of money now," he said.

Read next week's nostalgia for a look at the more recent history of Surrey Street Market.

Photos taken from Surrey Street Croydon: A Stall Story, by Vivien Lovett.

CRYSTAL Palace co-chairman Stephen Browett says that George Boyd is a player the Eagles are keen to conclude a deal for and that Peterborough United have lowered their asking price for the player.
And he revealed that the club are looking at signings going forward and is confident of landing at least two out of a possible four targets.
"We're looking at bringing in a couple of players in attacking positions – wingers, strikers, or the combination of the two," Browett exclusively told Advertiser Sport.
"It's chief executive Phil Alexander who does all the hard work with transfers, in consultation with Steve (Parish) and I on whether we should or shouldn't sign a player.
"George Boyd is a player of interest. Peterborough offered him to us at a price we thought was too high, so we negotiated a lower price.
"As of Tuesday night, we hadn't spoken to the player yet, so I think it was a bit premature for their chairman there to tweet about it – it's not the way we like to operate until any transfer is completed.
"There were no tweets, press releases or comments from the directors at Palace on Wilfried Zaha until the deal to Manchester United was done, and it will be the same for George Boyd or any other player.
"We're not going to comment on it until it happens. But it is true that they have lowered the asking price.
"We haven't agreed to pay it, but that fee is now interesting and it doesn't mean it's going to happen."
And Browett admits he's a fan of the skilful attacking player, who is a boyhood Palace fan.
"I hope it happens, but for all we know, the player might want £25,000 a-week and a 20-year contract!," he said.
"He's a very good player and every time we play Peterborough he seems to be their best player.
"It's nice that he's a Palace fan but it's not that important. It's about getting the best player possible.
"Phil Alexander was looking to hold talks this morning, but I don't know if he's managed to get hold of the player and agent yet.
"I know Phil was going up to Huddersfield, so maybe he's met them on the M1 or something."
Asked where he could be utilised in Palace's starting line-up, Browett believes the Boyd could play in a number of positions, including just behind lone striker Glenn Murray.
"If Yannick Bolasie or Wilfried were to get injured or suspended, we haven't got a lot of choice in terms of winger back-up," he said.
"But Boyd can also play in the hole behind the striker, which is where Owen Garvan and Andre Moritz have been playing.
"With Garvan injured, you can argue that Moritz or Jonathan Williams can only play in that role, so it's good to have cover but it's certainly not a done deal.
"In the past, I know that when people have tried to buy George Boyd, they've been quoted £1m plus more fees."

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CRYSTAL Palace co-chairman Stephen Browett has admitted that the likes of Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Albert Adomah would be the types of talent the Eagles would be interested in.
Both players have been heavily linked with moves to Selhurst Park towards the end of the current transfer window and Browett says the club are working hard on a few deals ahead of tomorrow night's 11pm deadline.
"Without naming names, they are two of the best players in the Championship and the kind of players we are looking for at that quality level," he exclusively told Advertiser Sport.
"But I can't comment directly on players at other clubs.
"We've got irons in a few fires at the moment and there are three or four players we're looking at.
"We're talking to clubs, but there's nothing we can say yet. I would hope we could get in two players, whether it's one player now and then another one when the loan window opens, or two straight transfers.
And Browett has hinted that Palace may look to use the loan market to attract players from the Premier League after the window closes.
"A lot of the Premier League clubs have got players they might not want to sell, but the once the window is finished they'll see who they've got who isn't going to realistically play for them," he said.
"They can't loan them out to other Premier League clubs are the window closes, so they have to loan them to Championship clubs."
Meanwhile, CPFC2010 have announced on the BBS Forum website not to expect any players departing Selhurst Park despite reports linking one or two to the Premier League.
They posted: "We don't talk about individual players but as we have said many times before, no first team players are leaving. We are trying to strengthen not weaken the squad."

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A baby boom, inward migration and a stagnant housing market means extra spaces will have to be found until at least 2022/23.

On Monday, the council revealed which schools would be next to take additional classes or be permanently expanded to create 660 extra primary places for this September.

Estimates based on Croydon's population growth over the last two years show space may have to be found for up to 53 reception classes – or 1,590 children – by 2016/17.

Research now shows the extent to which this intense demand for primary places will put our secondary schools under pressure in the future – with a potential 96 forms of entry for 2,880 pupils needed in a decade's time.

• St James the Great head teacher: 'We want to help council tackle places pressure'

He said: "There are quite a lot of unknowns but what we're doing is putting in place additional capacity based on hard evidence, a flexible system based on permanent expansions for what we absolutely know will happen and bulge classes for anything on top of that."

Croydon Council recruited a specialist external research company to revise its own estimates of the demand for school places.

The new predictions are based on the Office for National Statistics' birth data, school pupil counts and transfer rates, London Assembly population projections and housing data.

Three scenarios were developed; the first based on growth continuing in line with birth rates, the second on the average level experienced over the past five years and the third at the higher rate experienced in 2011/12 and 2012/13.

Current levels of demand make the first scenario "very unlikely".

• St James the Great head teacher: 'We want to help council tackle places pressure'

Cllr Pollard believes the reality will be closer to the second scenario of growth, continuing at the average rate experienced in the past five years.

But the council must also plan for the worst-case scenario. At Monday's cabinet meeting it approved the creation of 22 new forms of entry in September 2013, based on early analysis of primary applications received before the deadline earlier this month.

Eight of these will be created by permanently expanding seven schools, and 14 others through bulge classes, mainly at Roman Catholic infant schools and nurseries.

This is on top of the 240 additional permanent primary school places, including a new academy, 540 bulge places and Special Educational Needs bases at nine schools made in 2012/13.

Plans are already under way to create the extra secondary capacity produced by the boom at reception level. Two new schools are in the pipeline, with the council actively inviting submissions from free schools and academies.

If upper growth estimates prove correct then the first extra class will be needed at secondary level from 2014/15.

Two years later, nine extra forms of entry will be required, with demand peaking at 19 additional classes (570 pupils) in both 2019/20 and 2020/21.

Kathy Bee, Labour's education spokesman, said funding rather than finding the extra places is her biggest concern.

This year's expansion plans will cost £19.85m assuming the council can secure funding for two free schools.

She said: "I've become slightly numb to the numbers because they've been so big for so long, but I'm worried by these projections because of the length of time the problem will go on for.

"If you look at the worst-case scenario, the amount of space we will need is really worrying.

"To some extent the pressure on our secondary schools is manageable. It's easier to plan for because we know what to expect as pupils come through the system.

"The concern is the cost. Given the amount being spent on creating extra school places, the council won't have capital available for anything else."

Cllr Pollard is confident that the new projections will mean Croydon gets a fairer share when next year's funding is announced by the Department for Education at the end of month as expected.

"When these issues started it wasn't initially clear where the pressure was going to be," he said.

"But I think it's fair to say the Government is now under no illusion that the pressure is highest in London.

"Croydon's case has been made very strongly within that, so I hope we will see a very significant contribution."

• Downsview Primary and Nursery School, Upper Norwood (one form of entry);
• Norbury Manor Primary School, Norbury (one form of entry);
• Howard Primary School, South Croydon (one form of entry);
• Parish Church Nursery and Infant School, Croydon (one form of entry);
• Forestdale Primary, Forestdale (one form of entry);
• Whitehorse Manor, on its Brigstock Road annex in Thornton Heath (one form of entry); and
• Oasis Academy Shirley Park on Stroud Green Lodge (two forms of entry)

• St James the Great RC Academy, Thornton Heath (one form of entry);
• Ark Oval Primary Academy, east Croydon (one form of entry);
• St Chads RC Primary School, Selhurst (one form of entry);
• Margaret Roper RC Primary School, Purley (one form of entry);
• St Mary's RC Infant and Nursery School, West Croydon (one form of entry);
• St Joseph's RC Infant and Nursery School, Upper Norwood (one form of entry);
• Robert Fitzroy Academy, Addiscombe (two forms of entry); and
• Wolsey Infant and Nursery School, New Addington

A 56-YEAR-OLD'S mobility scooter was stolen from outside his house in the middle of the night and left wrecked nearby.

Steven Hancock woke last Thursday morning to find the scooter he has relied on since breaking his foot two years ago was gone.

The silver four-wheeler was found later that day and returned to him, but it was damaged beyond repair.

Mr Hancock, of Milne Park West, said: "I felt like crying my eyes out when I saw it. It is irreparable. There is nothing I can do about it.

"That night I was awake all night as I could not sleep, but I did not hear anything and the dog did not hear anything.

"I am not really getting around without it – it helped me go shopping and do things like that."

The scooter had its wiring ripped out, plastic casing damaged and handle bars snapped off.

Mr Hancock added: "I know I was a little sod when I was a kid but I did not do things like that."

The scooter had been parked as usual in the alleyway between Mr Hancock's and his neighbour's house.

Mr Hancock's partner, Jan Allum, said: "I went out to the shop on Thursday morning to get the paper and saw the bins were moved.

"I thought 'that is unusual' and then 'Oh my God! The bike has gone'."

She added: "What really concerns me is that could have been an 80-year-old lady who really relies on it.

"There don't seem to be any police up here when you want them."

The wrecked scooter was found in Milne Park by a man taking his children to school, who alerted the Pathfinders community group.

It was traced back to Mr Hancock after John Behan at the Steel Gym alerted his Facebook followers to the theft.

The scooter was given to Mr Hancock by his mother to help after his foot injury, for which he is still being treated in hospital.

He added: "The annoying part of it is it belonged to my mother – it is like they are attacking my mother."

Police are investigating.

THE Conservative Party's stance on gay marriage – backed publicly by local Tory MPs – has sparked an exodus among local party members.

Local Tory politicians have told the Advertiser a "significant number" of grassroots activists are not renewing memberships and resigning in defiance as part of a backlash over the issue, with more vetoes expected.

Croydon South MP Richard Ottaway, who last week voiced his support for marriage rights to be extended to same sex couples, confirmed that a number of resignations have been received.

Purley councillor Graham Bass, meanwhile, described the exodus as "significant".

And Greater London Assembly member for Croydon Steve O'Connell – the only prominent Tory borough politician left opposing the move – is expecting further departures.

Mr Bass, who collects party fees in Purley for Croydon Conservatives, said growing numbers are not renewing memberships and branded the gay marriage plans an "attack on democracy".

He said: "A significant number of people are resigning on account of it and a significant number are gritting their teeth.

"It is very prominent. You can't help noticing it among the membership. I would expect to see more people leaving.

"Personally, I'm not in favour of changing the meaning of marriage and what it has stood for over the centuries.

"The mention of a man and wife is different to claiming that that is an appropriate word for a homosexual couple, which it isn't.

"There is no need to change it and I think it would be damaging.

"It is an attack on democracy, not just for religious beliefs, but because homosexuals are in the minority and I don't think the democratic majority agree."

Mr Ottaway and Croydon Central MP Gavin Barwell have both lent their support to gay marriage, which is expected to be made legal by the Government by 2015.

Earlier this month, Mr Ottaway declared marriage should "evolve as society evolves."

News of wavering Conservative support comes as activists from the Coalition for Marriage (C4M) paraded the streets of Croydon South – one of the coalition's "target" seats – calling for people to lobby their MP over the issue.

C4M campaigner Colin Hart said: "Although Richard Ottaway says he agrees with redefining marriage, many of his constituents disagree with him.

"These plans are unpopular and divisive. The voters were ignored by the politicians."

Mr O'Connell, who feels "uncomfortable" about the legalisation, said: "There are certainly people leaving the party because this is an issue which conflicts. I think it is very possible more people might leave over it.

"Some have left, some are searching their conscience, some are balancing it up and some will find it is incompatible.

"My position is clear. A: there are far more important things to do than to push this through, and B: I'm not comfortable myself because this tramples over the deeply-help convictions of a number of people.

"Many of the gay people I have spoken to are happy with civil partnerships."

Despite confirming that there had been resignations, Mr Ottaway insisted there was "good evidence we are attracting younger members".

Owner Asif Mehmood offers free soft drinks and snacks to all paramedics, as a small gesture of thanks.

He said: "One day I got ill and they came to my home and helped me.

"Since that day I said whenever I open a shop, paramedics will get soft drinks and sweets for free.

"I have another shop in Thornton Heath and when I am not here those are my instructions to my staff.

"You won't find that anywhere else."

Such an approach to customer service is the hallmark of our high street shops, and something Mr Mehmood is clearly proud to do.

Yet with most such shops reporting a drop in business for yet another year, who knows for how long such traditions may continue.

Our survey this month of 50 independent high street businesses in south Croydon revealed more than half had seen business fall over the past 12 months.

About 40 per cent said business had stayed the same, with just five shops admitting to an increase, a result broadly in line with our similar survey one year ago.

Like last year, parking and business rates were cited as the biggest stumbling blocks traders faced in trying to beat the bad economy.

But more and more traders are also hoping the council will try to make more use of planning powers to help them.

Kay Patel, owner of Kays News in South End, said she has had to take out an overdraft this year for the first time, after a Tesco Express opened round the corner.

She said: "They could restrict the chain stores so there was not more than one within a certain area, to let other people survive."

Tahsim Dagdelem, manager of Deep Sea Fish Bar in Kenley, echoed the call for the council to ensure of a mix of nearby shops in his parade.

He said: "There are few shops and so many restaurants and takeaways – Croydon Council keeps giving permission for these types of businesses."

Most traders could only offer a bashful "hopefully" when asked would they still be here in five years' time.

But they were more forthright on why everyone would lose were they not.

Louise Arpino, owner of the Coulsdon Pet Centre in Brighton Road, said: "They would never get the service like they do at local shops – we have customers who ring up and without saying their name they say, 'Can I have my usual order?'

"We know where their key is to let ourselves in their door and go to their kitchen [to feed their pets ]. They are never going to get that anywhere else."

Sonny Patel, manager of Good News newsagent in Purley, said: "If you walk into Tesco they will not give you credit like I do to my regular customers."

The ray of sunshine in the high street – and possible sign of times to come – seems to be in niche businesses.

Apparently bucking the downward trend is electric bike store Cycling Made Easy in Coulsdon.

Its owner, Ray Wookey, said it had sold "900 per cent" more over Christmas than this time last year, though declined to give numbers.

He added he hopes to expand into lager premises in the next year.

Mr Wookey said: "We have used the internet a lot and we have a very big and comprehensive website.

"We have formed personal relationships and we try to have a very high level of customer care."

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