Monday 12 October 2009

London Road, Croydon CR0

Few shoppers seem to notice the Pizza Hut in Croydon's pedestrian precinct is set in an attractive but sadly decayed Victorian pub, with Gothic pointed windows, Romanesque arches and and some very ornate Tudor style chimneys (consistent style does not seem to have been a priority with the architect).
A pair of heads stick out of the walls. Who are they? The man's forked beard and the woman's ruff and earrings seem to indicate a specific couple was intended. The King and Queen?
Croydon is very much associated with Archbishops of Canterbury, who had a palace here for centuries, so perhaps it is Rowan Williams. A theory that is backed up by this head on Croydon parish church:

No comments: