County Borough of Croydon
Encyclopedia
Croydon was a local government district in north east Surrey
, England from 1849 to 1965.
. The borough was granted a commission of the peace and a separate court of quarter sessions
in 1885 and 1889 respectively. Under the Local Government Act 1888
it became an autonomous county borough
in 1889. The area of the original borough included part of Norwood and the Addiscombe
, Bensham, Croham, Coombe
, Haling, Norbury
, Shirley
, Waddon
, and Woodside
areas.
From 1894 to 1915 it was surrounded by Croydon Rural District
to the south, east and west and the County of London
to the north. The rural district was abolished in 1915, but the county borough was unsuccessful in its attempt to annex the area. The only significant extension of the borough boundaries was in 1925, when the parish
of Addington
was absorbed.
The borough ran its own tram
services until they became the responsibility of the London Passenger Transport Board
in 1933. The borough ran its own fire brigade and ambulance service until it became a London Borough.
In 1954 Croydon Corporation unsuccessfully petitioned the Queen for the grant of city status
. At the time, Croydon was the only county borough with a population in excess of 200,000 not to be a city.
In 1965 the county borough was abolished and its former area transferred to Greater London to be combined with that of Coulsdon and Purley Urban District
to form the present-day London Borough of Croydon
.
and a mayor
formed the borough council. In 1905 a new North ward was formed, and the council enlarged to 14 aldermen and 42 councillors. By 1918 a new ward of Bensham Manor had been created and on the extension of the county borough in 1925 Addington ward was formed. Consequently the number of aldermen and councillors was increased to 18 and 54 respectively.
The wards were reorganised in 1930, with 15 wards each returning 3 councillors From then until the borough's abolition, the council consisted of a mayor, 15 aldermen and 45 councillors.
The 1930 wards were:
The wards were slightly reorganised with the creation of Shirley
ward and the amalgamation of two wards as "South and Waddon" by 1955.
, known as the Coalition Party or Ratepayers Association. The Ratepayers Association was more formally organised as an anti-Labour Party
grouping after 1900, and was supported by both the Conservatives and the Liberals
, who seldom fielded candidates of their own.
Croydon was constituted a parliamentary constituency in 1885, with the same boundaries as the borough. In 1918 the borough was divided into North
and South
constituencies. For the general election of 1950 Croydon's representation increased to three: North
, East
and West
. In 1955 the boundaries for the three Croydon constituencies were altered to become North East
, North West and South
.
on October 16, 1886 by the College of Arms
. The style was typical of grants to boroughs by Albert Woods
, Garter Principal King of Arms
, with its quartered shield and complicated design.
Most of the emblems on the shield were related to the Archbishops of Canterbury
, who had a palace in Croydon. The three chough
s are associated with Thomas a Becket, and appear in the arms of the city of Canterbury
; the cross crosslets came from the arms of the Diocese of Canterbury
; and the flory cross bearing three gold disc was taken from the arms of archbishop John Whitgift
. In the fourth quarter was an emabattled fesse, to represent a town wall and thus municipal government.
The crest on top of the helm featured a grassy mound and heraldic fountain, for the Croydon Bourne. On either side was a sprig of rye-grass, for the irrigation meadows of Beddington Sewage Farm. The crest also contained a gold crozier, another reference to the archbishops, and a crossed sword and tilting spear for Royal Military College of the British East India Company
, which had formerly stood at Addiscombe.
The Latin
motto was Sanitate Crescimus or May we grow in health.
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England from 1849 to 1965.
History
A local board of health was formed for the parish of Croydon St John the Baptist in 1849. On March 9, 1883 the town received a charter of incorporation to become a municipal boroughMunicipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
. The borough was granted a commission of the peace and a separate court of quarter sessions
Quarter Sessions
The Courts of Quarter Sessions or Quarter Sessions were local courts traditionally held at four set times each year in the United Kingdom and other countries in the former British Empire...
in 1885 and 1889 respectively. Under the Local Government Act 1888
Local Government Act 1888
The Local Government Act 1888 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which established county councils and county borough councils in England and Wales...
it became an autonomous county borough
County borough
County borough is a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland , to refer to a borough or a city independent of county council control. They were abolished by the Local Government Act 1972 in England and Wales, but continue in use for lieutenancy and shrievalty in...
in 1889. The area of the original borough included part of Norwood and the Addiscombe
Addiscombe
Addiscombe is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south of Charing Cross.It is situated just to the northeast of central Croydon, and is home to a high proportion of people who commute to Central London, owing to its proximity to the busy...
, Bensham, Croham, Coombe
Coombe, Croydon
Coombe is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, not far from central Croydon.Coombe is located between the green spaces of Shirley Hills, Lloyd Park, Ballards and Coombe Wood. It is unusual in this part of South London as it has barely been urbanised and has retained its collection of large...
, Haling, Norbury
Norbury
Norbury is a town in the London Borough of Croydon, also crossing the London Borough of Merton. It shares the postcode London SW16 with nearby Streatham. Norbury is south of Charing Cross.-History:...
, Shirley
Shirley, London
Shirley is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, England. It is a suburban development situated 10 miles south south-east of Charing Cross.-Description:...
, Waddon
Waddon
Waddon is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, to the south west of central Croydon on the borders of the London Borough of Sutton. Waddon has an older area with 19th century properties, some even older, close to central Croydon. Further south is a large estate of Council-owned homes and a...
, and Woodside
Woodside, London
Woodside is a neighbourhood in the London Borough of Croydon located between Addiscombe and South Norwood.-History:Woodside is a suburban district of residential streets based around Woodside Green, a small sized area of green land. At one end of the green is a war memorial. It is surrounded by...
areas.
From 1894 to 1915 it was surrounded by Croydon Rural District
Croydon Rural District
Croydon was a rural district in north east Surrey, England, from 1894 to 1915. It was created by the Local Government Act 1894 and replaced the Croydon Rural Sanitary District...
to the south, east and west and the County of London
County of London
The County of London was a county of England from 1889 to 1965, corresponding to the area known today as Inner London. It was created as part of the general introduction of elected county government in England, by way of the Local Government Act 1888. The Act created an administrative County of...
to the north. The rural district was abolished in 1915, but the county borough was unsuccessful in its attempt to annex the area. The only significant extension of the borough boundaries was in 1925, when the parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
of Addington
Addington, London
Addington is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross.-History:...
was absorbed.
The borough ran its own tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
services until they became the responsibility of the London Passenger Transport Board
London Passenger Transport Board
The London Passenger Transport Board was the organisation responsible for public transport in London, UK, and its environs from 1933 to 1948...
in 1933. The borough ran its own fire brigade and ambulance service until it became a London Borough.
In 1954 Croydon Corporation unsuccessfully petitioned the Queen for the grant of city status
City status in the United Kingdom
City status in the United Kingdom is granted by the British monarch to a select group of communities. The holding of city status gives a settlement no special rights other than that of calling itself a "city". Nonetheless, this appellation carries its own prestige and, consequently, competitions...
. At the time, Croydon was the only county borough with a population in excess of 200,000 not to be a city.
In 1965 the county borough was abolished and its former area transferred to Greater London to be combined with that of Coulsdon and Purley Urban District
Coulsdon and Purley Urban District
Coulsdon and Purley Urban District was a local government district in north east Surrey from 1915 to 1965.It was formed in 1915 from part of the abolished Croydon Rural District...
to form the present-day London Borough of Croydon
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
.
Corporation
On incorporation the borough was divided into six wards (Central, East, South, South Norwood, Upper Norwood and West) each returning six councillors. These, together with 12 aldermenAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
and a mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
formed the borough council. In 1905 a new North ward was formed, and the council enlarged to 14 aldermen and 42 councillors. By 1918 a new ward of Bensham Manor had been created and on the extension of the county borough in 1925 Addington ward was formed. Consequently the number of aldermen and councillors was increased to 18 and 54 respectively.
The wards were reorganised in 1930, with 15 wards each returning 3 councillors From then until the borough's abolition, the council consisted of a mayor, 15 aldermen and 45 councillors.
The 1930 wards were:
- AddingtonAddington, LondonAddington is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross.-History:...
- AddiscombeAddiscombeAddiscombe is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south of Charing Cross.It is situated just to the northeast of central Croydon, and is home to a high proportion of people who commute to Central London, owing to its proximity to the busy...
- Bensham Manor
- Broad GreenBroad Green, LondonBroad Green is a small residential and retail area of the London Borough of Croydon in London. The area was centred on a triangular green space bounded by shops and houses, which was subsequently developed upon at the end of the 19th century...
- Central
- EastEastEast is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.East is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of west and is perpendicular to north and south.By convention, the right side of a map is east....
- NorburyNorburyNorbury is a town in the London Borough of Croydon, also crossing the London Borough of Merton. It shares the postcode London SW16 with nearby Streatham. Norbury is south of Charing Cross.-History:...
- SouthSouthSouth is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.South is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the bottom side of a map is south....
- South NorwoodSouth NorwoodSouth Norwood is an urban town and in south London, England, in the London Borough of Croydon. It is a suburban development 7.8 miles south-east of Charing Cross. South Norwood is an electoral with a resident population in 2001 of just over 14,000...
- Thornton HeathThornton HeathThornton Heath is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south-southeast of Charing Cross.-Geography:...
- Upper NorwoodUpper NorwoodUpper Norwood is an elevated area in south London, England within the postcode SE19. It is a residential district largely in the London Borough of Croydon although some parts extend into the London Borough of Lambeth, London Borough of Southwark and the London Borough of Bromley. Upper Norwood...
- WaddonWaddonWaddon is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, to the south west of central Croydon on the borders of the London Borough of Sutton. Waddon has an older area with 19th century properties, some even older, close to central Croydon. Further south is a large estate of Council-owned homes and a...
- West Thornton
- WoodsideWoodside, LondonWoodside is a neighbourhood in the London Borough of Croydon located between Addiscombe and South Norwood.-History:Woodside is a suburban district of residential streets based around Woodside Green, a small sized area of green land. At one end of the green is a war memorial. It is surrounded by...
- Whitehorse Manor
The wards were slightly reorganised with the creation of Shirley
Shirley, London
Shirley is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, England. It is a suburban development situated 10 miles south south-east of Charing Cross.-Description:...
ward and the amalgamation of two wards as "South and Waddon" by 1955.
Politics
From its incorporation the borough was controlled by parties allied to the Conservative PartyConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, known as the Coalition Party or Ratepayers Association. The Ratepayers Association was more formally organised as an anti-Labour Party
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
grouping after 1900, and was supported by both the Conservatives and the Liberals
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
, who seldom fielded candidates of their own.
Croydon was constituted a parliamentary constituency in 1885, with the same boundaries as the borough. In 1918 the borough was divided into North
Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)
Croydon North is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
and South
Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)
Croydon South is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
constituencies. For the general election of 1950 Croydon's representation increased to three: North
Croydon North (UK Parliament constituency)
Croydon North is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
, East
Croydon East (UK Parliament constituency)
Croydon East was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Politics and history :...
and West
Croydon West (UK Parliament constituency)
Croydon West was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1950 to 1955. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Politics and history :...
. In 1955 the boundaries for the three Croydon constituencies were altered to become North East
Croydon North East (UK Parliament constituency)
Croydon North East was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1955 to 1997. It elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- History :...
, North West and South
Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)
Croydon South is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
.
Coat of arms
The borough was granted a coat of armsCoat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
on October 16, 1886 by the College of Arms
College of Arms
The College of Arms, or Heralds’ College, is an office regulating heraldry and granting new armorial bearings for England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. The style was typical of grants to boroughs by Albert Woods
Albert Woods
Sir Albert William Woods, GCVO, KCB, KCMG, KGStJ, FSA was an English officer of arms. The Woods family has a firm tradition at the College of Arms. Albert Woods was the son of Sir William Woods, Garter Principal King of Arms from 1838 until his death in 1842...
, Garter Principal King of Arms
Garter Principal King of Arms
The Garter Principal King of Arms is the senior King of Arms, and the senior Officer of Arms of the College of Arms. He is therefore the most powerful herald within the jurisdiction of the College – primarily England, Wales and Northern Ireland – and so arguably the most powerful in the world...
, with its quartered shield and complicated design.
Most of the emblems on the shield were related to the Archbishops of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, who had a palace in Croydon. The three chough
Chough
The Red-billed Chough or Chough , Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax, is a bird in the crow family; it is one of only two species in the genus Pyrrhocorax...
s are associated with Thomas a Becket, and appear in the arms of the city of Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
; the cross crosslets came from the arms of the Diocese of Canterbury
Diocese of Canterbury
The Diocese of Canterbury is a Church of England diocese covering eastern Kent, founded by St. Augustine of Canterbury in 597. It is centred on Canterbury Cathedral, and is the oldest see of the Church of England....
; and the flory cross bearing three gold disc was taken from the arms of archbishop John Whitgift
John Whitgift
John Whitgift was the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1583 to his death. Noted for his hospitality, he was somewhat ostentatious in his habits, sometimes visiting Canterbury and other towns attended by a retinue of 800 horsemen...
. In the fourth quarter was an emabattled fesse, to represent a town wall and thus municipal government.
The crest on top of the helm featured a grassy mound and heraldic fountain, for the Croydon Bourne. On either side was a sprig of rye-grass, for the irrigation meadows of Beddington Sewage Farm. The crest also contained a gold crozier, another reference to the archbishops, and a crossed sword and tilting spear for Royal Military College of the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, which had formerly stood at Addiscombe.
The Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
motto was Sanitate Crescimus or May we grow in health.