Collection AR148 - Croydon Centre for Unemployed Men Visitors Book

Identity area

Reference code

AR148

Title

Croydon Centre for Unemployed Men Visitors Book

Date(s)

  • 1932 - 1939 (Creation)

Level of description

Collection

Extent and medium

1 vol

Context area

Name of creator

(1932)

Administrative history

The Croydon Occupational Centre for Unemployed Men opened in 1932 was one of the first occupational centres in the country to open, and did so temporarily in the old Whitgift Middle School building in Church Road. For a short period in 1934 the centre was housed in the British Legion Hall on the London Road, until their new premises at Robin House, 6 Morland Road were ready in December 1934. These premises had formerly been an Industrial School and Detention Home. Within the second year of operation, it was decided to omit the word Occupational from the centres title, making it the Croydon Centre for Unemployed Men.

Soon after opening, the centre was seeing almost 300 men a day. Activities within the centre developed the mens skills in carpentry, cooking, gardening, cleaning, gardening and maintenance. The centre also had a library and reading room, guest lectures, and sports and games facilities available to the men. The centre operated with the help of volunteers and helpers. It was funded mainly by annual subscriptions.

In November 1936 a Womens Section of the centre started up in the Methodist Church Hall in Parchmore Road, providing a meeting place for the wives of the unemployed men. They organized drives and fund raising for the Centre, and by the outbreak of the Second World War had moved to Robin House.

The Centre received two royal visits in June 1933, from Edward, Prince of Wales and Prince George. Edwards visit was an informal one but George included the centre in his tour of the borough, which was a part of the celebrations for the Jubilee of Croydons Incorporation. During the visit he toured the building and its facilities, and also chatted with the men at the centre. (Croydon Times 10th June 1933).

The 1943 Annual Report mentions that funds were low, and it probably closed soon afterwards. By 1955 the building was in use as a Corporation Day Nursery.

Archival history

Gift to Croydon Public Library by G.P. Holden of Norbury on 19 August 1965. Earlier provenance unknown. Transferred from Local Studies Library collection qS70(331.13)CRO in 1999.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

Accession Number: A413

Croydon Centre for Unemployed Men visitors book

Item date: 1932-1939

Depositor's Name: Holden, G P

Accession date: 19/08/1965

Custodial history: Transferred from Local Studies Library collection qS70(331.13)CRO

Content and structure area

Scope and content

A visitors book from the Croydon Centre for Unemployed Men, with signatures of the visitors and where they were visiting from (area and/or organization). The hand written entries date from September 25th 1932 until June 16th 1939. The reasons for visits are not given, although many were from people hoping to open similar centres elsewhere. The visitors book includes the signatures of Edward, Prince of Wales (7 June 1933) and Prince George (9 June 1933).

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Some of the records in our collections contain sensitive and personal data that we have a legal responsibility to control access to. In these circumstances, staff may search the collection on your behalf, having received consent or proof of death of the individual concerned.

Please contact us at archives@croydon.gov.uk for further information regarding the particular collection you wish to access.

You can make a request for information which may be in a closed record under the Freedom of Information Act, 2000 or the Environmental Information Regulations, 2004. For more information about making a request, see the Croydon Council website (www.croydon.gov.uk). Making a request does not guarantee access to the information you ask for, as there may be a valid exemption from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

Language and script notes

Physical characteristics and technical requirements

Finding aids

Allied materials area

Existence and location of originals

Existence and location of copies

Related units of description

Croydon Local Studies Library holds annual reports form the Croydon Centre for Unemployed Men from 1932 - 1943 at PqS70 (331.13)CRO. These include an undated poster advertising the Centre. It also holds The Centre News, Vol 1, no 1 Jan, 1937 - vol 4, no 2 August, 1940 - in 2 vol at qS70(331.13) and vol 1 no 8 and 9 Autumn 1937 and Winter 1938, vol 2 no 7 Summer 1938. vol 4 no 1 and 2, Feb and Aug 1940 at S70(36)CRO.

Related descriptions

Notes area

Alternative identifier(s)

Access points

Subject access points

Place access points

Name access points

Genre access points

Description control area

Description identifier

GB-352-ar148

Institution identifier

Rules and/or conventions used

Status

Level of detail

Dates of creation revision deletion

24/06/2015

Language(s)

Script(s)

Sources

Accession area

Related subjects

Related people and organizations

Related genres

Related places