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The School was a combined Infant and Junior School which opened on 4 April 1932. In April 1957 a separate Infant School was opened on the same site. The school federated, as Kensington Avenue Primary School, in 2005.

Pupils were evacuated to Hove on 4 Sept 1939, attending East Hove Junior School, Ellen Avenue. The school re-opened full-time in Croydon on 25 May 1940. On 17 June 1940 a party was evacuated to Holsworthy (Devon) and by 12 August the Hove party had been moved to the greater safety of Holmsbury St Mary (Surrey).

Opened 4 April 1932. Existed as a combined infant and junior school until April 1957, when a separate infant school was opened on the same site. The school federated, as Kensington Avenue Primary School, in 2005.

Keston Primary School was opened on 11 January 1937 for children aged 5 to 11.

In 1959 the school was reorganised with separate Infant and Junior Departments.

On 1 September 2003 the Infant and Junior Schools were combined once more.

Founded 11 January 1937. From 1937 to 1959, the school was for infants as well as juniors. A separate but adjacent infant school was opened on 1 September 1959.

Tamworth Road Temporary School for girls and infants opened on 8 January 1877. Boys were transferred to Church Road Boys School when old enough. On 1 January 1880 Church Road Boys School closed and staff and pupils were transferred to new buildings in Mitcham Road. Tamworth Road Temporary School probably closed at the same time when a similar move was made. The school was thereafter exclusively for infants and was known as Mitcham Road (until 1921), Rectory Manor, and then Kingsley from 1 June 1931, following a move to new premises.

L. H. Turtle Ltd. (Turtles or Turtle's) was established in 1894 by Louis Henry Turtle upon the purchase of a tool shop in Crown Hill (Lindsley and Co.). The shop initially sold cutlery and tools before expanding into garden tools and arts and crafts. In 1913 the site had expanded to include the garden and an old malt house at the end of the garden. This extra space was used to accommodate workshops for grinding, sharpening and repairs. In 1964, the shop became subject to a compulsory purchase order and new premises on Park Street were found. As part of this move, it became one of the first hardware stores to offer self-service shopping. At the same time, offices and storage facilites were obtained in Whitehorse Lane before moving to purpose built premises on Tait Road in 1974. The business continued to operate until 2008 when the shop became subject to another compulsory order and the business was closed. Although there were times when the shop was managed by non-family, both Louis Henry’s children, Marion and Clifford, helped in the shop as did Marion’s son, Rupert. When the move to Park Street was necessary, Jeremy, Louis Henry’s great-grandson took over the business until its closure. Company number: 00836538

Founded 5 January 1920, as a selective central school in Selhurst Road. It was a grammar school (1951 - 1971) and a 14 - 18 comprehensive, 1971 - 1986. An annexe existed (1958 - 1963) in the former Thornton Heath Polytechnic, in High Street, Thornton Heath.

23 boys and two teachers (Messrs Harman and Firth) from Lanfranc Secondary Modern Boys School visited Plougasnou near Morlaix in Brittany, France during the Whitsun holiday 1950. The party stayed at the Hotel d Amerique with M. and Mme. Jegon. The school log book records that the party was away from 30 May until 09 June. It was the first time that the school had visited a foreign country and the first school trip abroad by a Croydon school since the Second World War.

One of the boys in the party was Derek Edward Croissant (05 Oct 1935 - 07 Jan 1999) who was a pupil at Lanfranc Boys School from 02 September 1947 to 19 December 1950, having formerly been a pupil at West Thornton Boys School. His address at the time was 286 Mitcham Road.

The Archbishop of Canterbury was lord of the manor throughout this period. The steward of the manor is named as Christopher Hodgson from 1842 to 1855. The volume bears on the cover the name of Frederick Markby, Bailiff: inside the volume, however, the only bailiff named is James Andrews, who signs the records of court proceedings from 1832 to 1847.

Mayday Hospital was originally the Croydon Union Infirmary, run by Croydon Board of Guardians. The first Infirmary was situated in the old Workhouse at Duppas Hill, where it remained after the Workhouse itself moved to new buildings in 1865. The new Infirmary was renamed Mayday Road Hospital in 1923, but soon afterwards became known as Mayday Hospital. After the dissolution of Croydon Board of Guardians in 1930, it was administered by Croydon Corporation (under the Local Government Act 1929). In 1948 it was taken over by the National Health Service. St Marys Maternity Hospital, in St James Road, originally opened in 1918. It became closely associated with Mayday Hospital. It closed in October 1985.

Metal Propellers Ltd was established by Henry Leitner and Dr Henry Watts, two engineers who had collaborated in designing a hollow steel aircraft propeller (an improvement on the wooden propellers which were then standard). They established a syndicate called the Metal Airscrew Co Ltd during the First World War, to carry out experimental research work; and this resulted in the production of the 'Leitner-Watts' propeller, which successfully passed official tests in 1917 and 1918, and flew successfully in 1920. The firm was subsequently established as a manufacturing company under the name of Metal Propellers Ltd, and opened its general offices and works at 74 Purley Way, Croydon, in 1925. The Directors included Viscount Elibank, Captain HH Balfour (later Under Secretary of State for Air, and eventually Lord Balfour) and Air Vice Marshal Sir Godfrey Paine. Major General Sir Sefton Brancker (Director of Civil Aviation at the Air Ministry) also had an interest.

The company supplied propellers for the R101 airship. These were apparently not the propellers fitted when the R101 crashed tragically in October 1930; but the disaster was nonetheless a severe setback for the company, as the dead included both Sir Godfrey Paine and Sir Sefton Brancker.

As well as propellers, the company manufactured other items in stainless steel, for a range of domestic and industrial uses; and it eventually evolved into a general engineering company, specialising in stainless steel. It later became associated with Saunders-Roe Ltd, flying-boat builders. In 1960, it acquired the neighbouring company in the Purley Way, the Standard Steel Co (1929) Ltd, structural engineers; and in 1962 it merged with LA Mitchell Ltd, chemical and industrial drying engineers of Manchester. It closed down in 1973.

Phyllis Devereux (b 1914) joined the firm in 1930 as a trainee technical assistant to Dr Watts, having been recruited from Lady Edridge School. She left the firm in 1934.

Monks Orchard Primary School was opened on 27 October 1936 for 5 to 11 year olds.

On 4 September 1939 the school was evacuated to Kemptown, Brighton but the Head Teacher was recalled on 19 February 1940 and on 1 April 1940 the few children remaining there were absorbed by Cypress School.

From 24 June to 6 September 1940 the majority of the school was again evacuated, the Acting Head Teacher remaining on the Croydon site being Miss M.E. Pedgrift of St Lukes Partially Sighted School.

On the night of 14 - 15 September 1940 the house-holders of Chaffinch Avenue had to shelter in the school and on 6 October 1940 the building was damaged by bombs falling in the Glade and Mardell Road.

On the night of 16 - 17 April, a pupil - Yvonne Kingman - and her parents, living at 9 Fairhaven Avenue, were all killed by a bomb. Later, on the night of 24 - 25 March 1944, several classrooms were damaged by incendiary bombs.

Norbury Cricket Club was founded in 1918 by local young men including many ex servicemen who had returned from the 1914 - 1918 war. The club was first named Norbury Athletic. No club records exist for the first two years. Early minute books record that the club amalgamated with Sirens Sports Club on 25 Nov 1921 when it was unanimously agreed to name the combine club Norbury Sirens Cricket Club. An agreement already existed between Sirens Club and Elco Athletic Club for the use of a ground in Greyhound Lane, Streatham Park, at a fee of 16315 per year. This ground was used by Norbury Sirens. Membership was limited to 35 playing members and the annual subscription was one guinea.

The first officers elected were as follows:-

Chairman: Mr Lewis Milner

Secretary: Mr G. Toll

Treasurer: Mr R.W. Tillier

Captain: Mr E.J. Robbins

A committee meeting was called on 31st Mar 1940 to decide the policy of the club owing to the outbreak of war especially with regard to the coming season and the difficulties presented by the loss of membership due to various forms of National Service. It was decided that the club should cease its playing activities during the war.

On Wednesday 12 Feb 1947 a meeting was held, preceeded by a supper to commemorate the re-union of members after the war. Members stood in silent memory for three of their number who had been killed in action - C. Gardner, E. Jones and K. Hookway. It was regretfully agreed by all present that owing to reduced playing strength through various reasons, the club should be wound up and that the balance of the Club funds should be used to pay for the cost of the evening. The main problem was the difficulty in attracting new young players due to not having a home ground or headquarters.

The Junior Imperial League (or 'Imps') was an organisation for young conservatives and imperialists. The Norbury Branch was established in 1924. Its activities included debates, dances etc, and particularly rambling. The group went on rambles in rural Surrey (around Coulsdon, Warlingham, Caterham, Tatsfield, Limpsfield, Merstham, Epsom Downs, Box Hill, Headley, Oxted, etc). Walks were normally about 10-15 miles in distance. There were two joint rambles with the Surbiton Branch (May and August 1935). An Annual Outing to Eastbourne took place in June 1935.

Opened 31 March 1913 as Stanford Road Senior Mixed [Boys and Girls] School. The building was used as a military hospital between March 1915 and June 1919 and the pupils accommodated at Winterbourne Road School. Renamed Norbury Manor in December 1922. Reorganised as separate senior boys and senior girls schools from 4 April 1932. [See SCH76]. Renamed Norbury Manor Secondary Modern Boys School, 1 April 1947. Two thirds of school transferred to premises in Winterbourne Road, 1 September 1954, in preparation for rebuilding programme. School reassembled at Stanford Road, 6 January 1964. Became an 11-14 comprehensive school in September 1970. Closed 31 August 1986 as a result of falling rolls.

Opened 31 March 1913 as Stanford Road Senior Mixed [Boys and Girls] School. The building was used as a military hospital between March 1915 and June 1919 and the pupils accommodated at Winterbourne Road School. Renamed Norbury Manor in December 1922. Reorganised as separate senior boys and senior girls schools from 4 April 1932. [See SCH75]. Renamed Norbury Manor Secondary Modern Girls School, April 1947. Moved to Kensington Avenue on 16 April 1958. Became an 11 - 14 comprehensive and assumed its present name in 1970. In April 1994, the school became grant maintained and so ceased to be the responsibility of the Local Education Authority.

The documents formerly belonged to Mr Percy Oswald Douglas (1888 - 1967), Voluntary Commandant of Norbury Manor School First Aid Post 1939 - 1944.

First Aid posts were established for the treatment of minor injuries and were a supplement to hospitals, freeing them for major casualties. The commandants of the posts all belonged to the British Red Cross Society or the St John Ambulance Brigade and initially left their own employment to take whole-time charge. There were usually around 20 full-time personnel at each post, both men and women who served full time or voluntarily part-time. To each post doctors were attached, who made routine visits and attended on the warning.

Norbury Manor post had windows and shutters broken and the telephone wires put out of action on April 16th 1942. During the first two years of the war, Norbury Manor post treated 50 casualties.

Percy Oswald Douglas was the tenth child of Walter Joseph Douglas, carpenter and joiner, and his wife Elizabeth. They had fifteen children, of whom thirteen lived to adulthood. For most of his life, and certainly after the death of his parents, he appears to have acted as the nucleus of the family, and its chief correspondant.

He began his career as an office boy at The Lady weekly magazine in 1903, working in th eoffice which it still occupies at 39 - 40 Bedford Street, Strand, London WC2. He eventually retired as Company Secretary of the same firm in 1956. He had a strong interest in medical and first-aid matters, dating well before 1914. When the 1914 - 18 war came, he was deemed unfit for military service, as one leg was a little shorter tha the other, the result (probably) of tuberculosis in childhood. He served nevertheless with the Red Cross on the Western Front from 1915 onwards. A few months before the end of the war he married his wife: a wonderful partnership. Perhaps in consequence of his own experience with a massive family, he had only one child.

As the Second World War approached, he was active in Air Raid Precautions (ARP) matters, and when war came he became Commandant of the First Aid Post at Norbury Manor School. This was a very large First Aid Post, and his work was entirely voluntary.

During the war, there were a great many air raid alerts, mostly at night, and quite a lot of casualties in the area, for Norbury was situated in Bomb Alley. His home was about half a mile from the First Aid Post, and he did not have a telephone - though he could have arranged for one if he had wished. Fortunately there was a public telephone very close to the house, which minimised the number of trips he needed to make on foot to the First Aid Post The commandants Log gives some idea of the work which was necessary.

Throughout his period as Commandant, he continued in all the ordinary duties of his job in London, the care of his wife and his son (and dog), his interest in his family and his garden. War or no war, he kept his garden in exemplary condition. The lawn was his special pride but it was reduced in size to permit the production of vegetables, on the Dig for Victory principle.

The Norwood Ladies Bible Association was founded on 5 September 1838, at the Chapel Road Congregational Church, West (then Lower) Norwood. It was presumably originally an independent body; but by the 1850s (if not earlier) it was affiliated to the British and Foreign Bible Society (founded 1804). By 1866, it was known as the Norwood Ladies Auxiliary to the BFBS. In 1895, the Auxiliary was reconstituted, and at the same time became a less exclusively ladies body: it was renamed the Norwood Auxiliary; a President (Ernest Tritton) and Vice-Presidents (most of the Anglican and nonconformist ministers of West and Upper Norwood) were appointed for the first time; and it also acquired a male Secretary and Financial Secretary.

The Associations stated object in its early days was to aid 'the circulation of the Bible in its own neighbourhood and throughout the world'. Initially, its main work was to encourage the spread of the Bible in Norwood: bibles were sold for weekly or monthly payments from a penny upwards. Later, although it continued to have some involvement in the local sale of bibles, the Auxiliary became more concerned with fundraising on behalf of the parent Society, to further the publication of the Bible in an increasing number of languages, and the sale and distribution of copies overseas. Fundraising was achieved through collections from individual church congregations, supplemented by subscriptions, work sales, collections made at lectures on missionary work, etc.

The Auxiliary had a Juvenile Association, and was associated with the Norwood Bible Union.

The Auxiliary was closely associated for many years with the Tritton family (who were responsible for saving many of these records). Joseph Tritton (a banker) and his wife Amelia lived in Norwood from about 1850. Mrs Tritton served as Treasurer of the Auxiliary from 1853 until her death in 1908. She was succeeded by her daughter, Jessie M Tritton, already an active worker for the Auxiliary, who was Treasurer 1908-1925. Joseph (d 1887), a prominent Baptist, was a Vice President of the BFBS (and seems to have been informally regarded as President of the Auxiliary); and his son, (Sir) Ernest Tritton (MP for Norwood), was elected President of the Auxiliary in 1895, and served until his death in 1918. He was succeeded by his widow, Lady Edith Tritton, until her own death in 1921. Meetings were frequently held at the family house at Bloomfield, Central Hill.

PRESIDENTS

(Sir) Ernest Tritton 1895-1918

Lady Edith Tritton 1919-1921

Admiral Horsley 1921-1925

Dr SW Carruthers 1925-(1938)

Norwood Cottage Hospital was opened on 21 October 1882 at Hermitage Road, Upper Norwood and the first patient admitted on 01 November 1882. By the middle of 1883, it was treating a wide variety of cases with an average of just over eight patients a day. It was extended in 1932.

The hospital was run on a charitable basis until 1948 when it was transferred to the National Health Service. It changed itas name to Norwood and District Cottage Hospital in 1953.

Norwood and District Cottage Hospital closed in September 1984 and the buildings were converted to become the Canterbury Centre.

Founded as four schools in 1873: Oval Road Senior Boys School opened on 29 April 1873; (the word Road was dropped from the titles of the schools in 1922); Oval Road Junior School and Oval Road Infants School on 29 September 1873 and Oval Road Senior Girls School on 6 October 1873. On 26 June 1905, the senior boys school and the junior school were amalgamated under the senior boys headmaster. During World War One, this school moved to Tamworth Road to make way for Davidson Girls, whose building was in use as a hospital. In May 1918, it transferred to the Adult School, Park Lane. In April 1921, the senior boys school and the junior school were separated and the the senior boys and senior girls schools were amalgamated to form Oval Road Senior Mixed [boysand girls] School. Between April 1930 and September 1931, the buildings of this school were demolished and rebuilt on the same site.The school reopened on 7 September 1931. On 31 August 1948, the school closed and pupils were transferred to Davidson and Tavistock schools. Also in April 1921, the junior and infants schools had been combined under the infants head. Between April 1930 and September 1931, the buildings of this school were demolished and rebuilt on the same site; the pupils being accommodated at St Marys Hall, Oval Road, St Matthews Hall, George Street and Causton Memorial Hall, Cross Street. The new building was occupied on 30 November 1931. On 1 January 1949, the infants and juniors became separate schools and the previous head of the mixed school became head of the new junior school. On 1 January 1981, as a result of falling rolls, the infants and junior schools were again amalgamated under the infants school head.