After the building of Norfolk House in 1959, the focus turned towards the development of shops and offices between Park Lane and High Street. The area was previously occupied by the Greyhound Hotel, a former coaching inn fronting onto the High Street, but with its yard and outbuildings extending back to Park Lane. The complete development of the 6-acre site was undertaken by Charles Ellis and financed by the Church Commissioners. 

This development included Katharine House, Ellis House, Park House, Pearl Assurance House, St George’s House, The Greyhound Hotel and St George’s Walk and took three years to build between 1962 and 1965. It was meant to be the showpiece of the new Croydon, architecturally as well as economically. 

 St George’s House is often credited to Borough Engineer Allan Holt’s desire for a really tall, landmark building in Croydon. Asked what he meant by “really tall”, he is said to have responded, rather glibly “twice the height of Norfolk House”. The resulting building, 23 storeys to Norfolk House’s 11 storeys, was the result.  It stands 260 feet high and was the tallest building in Croydon until 1970. The building dominated the town centre and at its opening, The Mayor of Croydon remarked that Nestlé, who occupied the building, could be excused for believing that they owned Croydon. 

 It was built in concrete with vertical lines of white capstone and brick infilling to very high standards including, for example, cavity floors to take computer cables. A new building at the foot of the tower block was added to relocate the Greyhound Hotel and is still remembered with affection by music lovers, playing host to the likes of David Bowie, Queen and Deep Purple. Staff at the Fairfield Halls remember the battle of the bands, between themselves and the Greyhound on a Sunday night, when they would try to catch the highlights at both venues. It never regained its pre-move status and after various changes in image, became the Blue Orchid nightclub in 1989 before closing in 2004. 

 St George’s Walk, the shopping precinct below, was slow at attracting tenants, and units were small. This meant that those who did set up businesses there were often small independent and specialist shops. It suffered from the outset from a wind-tunnel effect and was soon superseded by the nearby Whitgift Centre. Attempts to improve the surroundings included roofing over part of the mall and also installing advertising boards at angles to limit the wind-tunnel effect. 

 Those who lived in Croydon during the sixties and seventies may remember the Pasta San Georgio restaurant, the Panino and Sergio’s sandwich bars as well as a model shop, Jewellers, and hairdressers like Swankers and Shears. 

Other shops, restaurants and cafes in St George’s Walk that evoke fond memories for some Croydonians include ‘A wool and sewing shop that used a grabber to reach the wool; the Madhouse clothes store that blasted out music; a camping shop; suits from Ralph Taylors; and lunch from the bakers shop where you could buy a huge cheese baguette and a strawberry tart with a 15p luncheon voucher.’

 Several plans for redevelopment have been considered, including Park Place, a new shopping area across Park Street and into George Street in 2005, and Queens Square by the Chinese R&F Properties Group in 2018. A large proportion of the site has now been completely demolished, bringing to an end a piece of Croydon’s history that lasted just over fifty years.