A New Task for Local History Societies WANTED SECRETARY

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY FOR THE LONDON BOROUGH OF BROMLEY WINTER 1984/85 PRICE 10p Free to Members A New Task for Local History Societies At the GLC conference on Contaminated Land in 1983 Mr that caused substantial damage to farmland. (Dr Peckson T.W.A. Durn suggested that local history societies could has told me that this was the former GLC Star Lane landfill help to establish, before redevelopment, the previous use site). of land backfilled with refuse. On such sites, explosive Dene holes are a common feature of the local area, but methane gas may be generated. Another speaker, Dr passages providing a hundred metre channel for gas are a Peckson, gave an example of gas migration at a site in St puzzle. Does a reader have information about such pas- Mary Cray where ancient dene holes and passages were sages? thought to have assisted the transfer of large volumes of gas Philip Daniell ENBRO GUIDED WALKS CONTINUITY Environment Bromley provides a big programme of guided The June 1976 issue of Bromleage reproduced a poster for walks. They are not geared to local history, but a walk the fair that was held on Hayes Common in the early part of around Anerley or St Pauls Cray cannot be divorced from the century. Over ten years ago, the Common began again the relics of the past. They are indicated by the walk lead to see an annual event — Countryside Day. (The 1985 Day ers, or by Council Officers who often support the walks. will be on 7th July). The past exciting events are no longer EnBro’s walks programme for early 1985 will be available provided. There is no “Match at eating Hot Hasty Pudding at the public libraries. by Boys”; nor do ladies still race for a Holland Chemise. Another event was “A Gingling Match”. Philip Daniell suggests that EnBro might reintroduce this event — if CHURCH BRIEFS someone could explain the rules. Briefs were Royal Warrants authorising collection in churches or from house to house for charitable objects. They were issued through the Privy Council or the Keeper of the Great Seal. The practice of granting briefs was abolished in 1828. WANTED These are three listed in the West Wickham Parish Regis- ters:— Part-time Un-paid 8 June 1690 collected for the Brief of East Smithfield (Fire) 8/10d. 7 July 1690 collected for the Brief of St. George’s, Southwark 8/- . ■ Aug 1690 collected for the Brief of SECRETARY Stafford (Fire) 4/4d. In 1641 a Brief was granted for Farnborough for the for Prestigious Local Organisation Church of St. Giles the Abbott damaged by a violent storm of wind on 26 December 1639. It was so badly damaged that Ability to read and write essential. Ability to type would be it had to be rebuilt. (See “Church Briefs” by W.A. Bewes an asset (any grade). Provide own typewriter, telephone, (London), Adam & Charles Black, 1896). pencils, rubber, torch battery, corkscrew. Sellotape by negotiation. NURSE CHILDREN Nurse Chidren were children sent from the cities to be Duties:— to deal with incoming and outgoing correspon reared in the country - many from overcrowded work- dence amounting to approx. 40-50 items per year. Success houses. All that is known of those who came to West Wic ful applicant expected to attend up to 365 committee meet kham is of the 23 who died, 15 boys and 8 girls recorded in ings in the year (five is usual). An ability to make a good the Parish Registers. There are several others, probably in cuppa at occasional Saturday conferences would be the same category but named differently:— “infant from appreciated! the City of London” , “a lodger from Lambeth”. One nurse child came from St. George’s, Southwark, six Conditions of work:— own choice of desk, chair, carpet “from London”, one “from Kent St.” and the remainder etc., tremendous job satisfaction in participation .maintain not known. ing and expanding decade-old firmly established society. Nurse Children are recorded in the 19th. Century cen suses. A very warm welcome awaits the prime offer. It would be an interesting exercise: 1) to collate briefs in the LBB area Apply:— Local History Society, 2) to investigate the pattern of nurse children in the LBB Tel. 462/5002 or 777/8778. area' Joyce Walker Beckenham Town H all Beckenham’s “Old Town Hall” as the local press insist on Although the final design had now been chosen, the calling it, is actually only a little over fifty years old. The whole scheme for the extensive new offices came under foundation stone was laid in 1931 and was officially opened severe criticism because of the financial difficulties at that in 1932. Early in 1924 the Beckenham Council had consi time, and building had to be deferred. Fortunately for Bec dered the problem of making more adequate provision for kenham, the Government was urging municipal authorities council offices because of the rapid development of the to promote schemes which would absorb unemployed town and the increase in municipal activity and services. A labour and the Council applied for a grant to build the Civic committee to consider the proposal was appointed in July Offices as a suitable relief scheme. In August 1930, the 1924 and in December that year it submitted a report Unemployment Grants Committee gave its approval to a suggesting that land should be obtained on which to build grant on condition that ninety percent of the labour the offices and recommending that the Rectory Estate of 13 recruited for the scheme would be from the unemployed. acres should be acquired. The Council’s first offer of That September a special council meeting accepted the £14,500 for the estate was rejected and it was not until 1926 terms and eventually, in February 1931, a contract was that they were able to raise a loan for the purchase of the placed with J. Elliman and Son Ltd., of Beckenham. The site. This was reported as completed in December that year gross cost of the building (furnished and equipped) was but even then, there was more delay and building was not estimated to be £90,000. The foundation Stone was laid on begun until 1931. 20th March 1931, the ceremony being performed by Mr. It was decided in March 1927 that the design for the new R.T. Parker during his Chairmanship of the Council. A building should be the subject of a two part public compet sealed casket containing local records was buried under the ition. In the first part, architects would be requested to sub stone. mit sketch designs, out of these, six would be selected and Building was completed by the end of August 1932 and the authors asked to submit complete drawings from which staff began to move in. As “The Builder” commented, one the assessor (Mr. Septimus Warwick F.R.I.B.A.) would of the most remarkable facts about the new Town Hall was make a final collection. Each of the architects asked to sub its low cost - at l/6d per foot cube. This was achieved with mit drawings for the second stage would be awarded £100 out any sense of the accommodation being cramped 01“ and of the three selected as the best of these the third would inadequate and the civic suite was spacious and impressive. receive 100 guineas, the second 250 guineas and the first The suite was approached from the ground floor vestibule 500 guineas, which would be merged with the fees for carry and staircase hall by an opened plan twin main staircase ing out the work. The accommodation envisaged by the leading to a first class floor landing of “monumental prop committee was to be in three inter-communicating blocks. ortions” with grouped pillars separated by a wrought-iron There was to be an administrative block containing a Coun balustrade. At the south end of this landing were three cil Chamber and committee rooms, offices for the Clerk to committee rooms. In these were two Adam fireplaces the Council, the Engineers and Surveyors Department and described as “of fine detail and of substantial monetary the Finance, Education and Public Health Departments; value”, which had been rescued from the old rectory which an Electricity Block (because at that time electricity was a previously occupied the site. As the building was heated by municipal undertaking) consisting of showrooms and electricity the fireplaces were purely ornamental and were offices on the first two floors and the Town Hall Superin complemented by the cream wood and plaster panelled tendent’s flat and a staff canteen on the second floor; in walls and waxed English oak doors. The furniture was addition, there should be a single storey Clinic Block for upholstered in French blue and the long curtains were of Infant Welfare and School Medical Services. The Rectory the same colour. The Council Chamber at the other end of site was an awkward shape, already partly occupied by the landing, was octagonal in shape with Ionic columns and other buildings, and included in the instructions to the com oak panelling, designed to give an impression of authority. petitors were the recommendations that the frontage to the The newly granted Beckenham coat of arms was Electricity Showrooms should be in the High Street (they emblazoned in colour above and behind the chairman’s are still there, now occupied by the L.E.B.) and the main chair. (The same coat of arms, carved in stone, may be seen entrance to the Municipal Offices should be in Church over the main entrance in Church Avenue.

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