The Effect of the Archbishop of Canterbury

The influence of the Archbishops of Canterbury is still present to this day in Croydon. However, a new book published by Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society (CNHSS) argues that the archbishops' power was so great that they helped plan the growth of Croydon as a market town.

The Archbishops' Town: The Making of Medieval Croydon is written by the borough's first archivist, Oliver Harris, and has already been described as a vital insight into Croydon's medieval history, an era previously under documented.

Brian Lancaster, from CNHSS, said: "Croydon was both town and parish but also the manor of the archbishops. The parish was much larger than the town. In recent times the parish was 10,000 acres but in earlier times greater still, and the manor included estates in other countries."

"Both the manor and the town had then own institutions of Government, but it was the manorial courts of the archbishop that prevailed over the town's court, its port-mote (a medieval word to describe a particular type of court)."

"Not until the 19th century was the priority fully reversed and Croydon became a borough in its own right and the manorial courts faded away."

The first charter for a

market and fair at Croydon, dated 10/12/1276. Croydon

is visible in the second line.

"Oliver Harris examines Croydon's trades and tradesmen, its markets and fairs, its inns, its courts and its church's possessions to substantiate his claim that Croydon enjoyed a privileged status as a town backed by the archbishops' authority."

"He chronicles royal visits to the palace (Old Palace) with the tournaments and their hunts in the archbishops' park. He compares Croydon to other towns such as Maidstone, Uckfield and Withering, which enjoyed similar protection, but finds Farnham the one most resembling Croydon."

The book features more than 30 pages of text and illustrations, including a reproduction of the 1276 market charter where the name Croydon can easily be seen among the Latin words.

The book can be obtained from the Tourist Information Centre and other outlets for £2.95 but can also be bought from CNHSS for £3.75, including postage and packaging, c/o 68 Woodcote Grove Road, Coulsdon CR5 2AD. Cheques should be made payable to CNHSS.