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Scrapbooks, programmes, and other records of the Southern Pathfinders ramblers association; including correspondence etc acquired by Kenneth Allen in researching and writing The Life and Times of the Southern Pathfinders.

One volume of manuscript notes written 1880. Contains sections on The Wandle; Theatre; The Markets; The Town or Cherry Fair; The Traffic; Croydon October Fair; The Pleasure Fair; The Canal; Addiscombe College; The Barracks; Middle Row; North End West Side; North End East Side; George Street South Side; and George Street North Side.

Minutes and other records of the Croydon Foreign Language Club

Signature book opened 17th September 1932. Evidently used for post war meetings of the Croydon Repertory Association.

Log book of Tenterden Road Fire Watchers. The log book records incidents or otherwise recorded between 6pm and 7am daily together with signature of the fire watcher on duty. It contains detailed times of air raid incidents.

Note in the front cover records that the object of this book is to compile an accurate record of the Tenterden Road Fire Watchers. As it may well prove to be of service to us, either collectively or indvidually, should evidence be required regarding duty periods or claims for compensation etc, it is essential that all details should be correctly entered..

A note at the rear, signed by J.G.Chesher (of 20 Tenterden Road, leader of the Tenterden Road Fire Watchers) and dated 13 September 1944 indicates that an order had been received to end the fire watching rota and log book on the night of Sunday 17 September 1944.

Consists of six handwritten note books of household accounts 1976 - 90, four diaries 1983 - 86 and one ration book 1953 - 4. A cursory view of the collection does not appear to offer any insight or recollections into any major events of the time. Indeed the collection is on a very personal basis. There is little or no autobiographical detail mentioned beyond the fact that she lived in East Croydon and the everyday activities she relates in her diaries. Although there is some mention of a creche and Age Concern her involvement is not clear but her diaries give some insight into her liking for cats and that she attended church. The intrinsic value of this collection lies in its social comment especially with regard to the household accounts which offer a good and basic insight into the prices of a variety of everyday goods between the years 1976 and 1990. It is also testament that many people still shopped everyday.

The volume includes diary entries, lists of charitable subscriptions, weekly pensioners, Christmas gifts and copies of correspondence, mainly with friends and relatives.

The pages are numbered as folios, mostly in pencil, some have been written over in ink. Since the figures seem to match the writing , it is a fair assumption that they were written by the author, a fact which is further confirmed by the use of the folio numbers in the index at the back.

The volume appears to fall into fairly distinct sections; the first few pages are reflections, followed by folios 5 to 9 which refer to the Christmas gifts given by John Blake in 1830 and further entries of monetary gifts. He lists many gifts of meat, wine and money along with the names of the recipients and their role. There is mention of his gifts of food and money to the great alms house and the Elys Daveys alms houses [ folio 7]. Since such activities may not be recorded elswhere, it is of particular interest in that he lists the names of inmates to whom he gave alms.

From folio 8 there follows a series of diary/day entries beginning January 1 1831 until May 12 1832 [folio 29] in which he records personal events of note. The next section marked Private Correspondence begins February 7 1821 [folio 43] continuing until September 29 1835 [folio 80] and largely contains copies of correspondence both personal and business sent by John Blake. The volume also includes an original letter placed loosely inside addressed to John Blake from W Hexter? of Eton College dated 26 September 1841complete with seal. A further loose page, seemingly added much later, numbers the letters which total 42 most of which seem to be to a Henry Cummins.

The next part is entitled Soup making for the poor [folio 87] listing ingredients and costs, covering the period from December 12 1839 to January 5 1841and has all the appearance of yet another charitable activity that John Blake was involved in. Thereafter, follows a section entitled Miscellaneous Memoranda [folio 105] beginning in December 1820 written at intervals until December 1844 [folio 116]. Here John Blake recounts events of everyday life ranging from the death of an acquaintance and the cause [folio 114] to the purchase and subsequent sale of a horse after a bad fall [folio 114] This also includes a section marked Trusts I hold for deceased persons and survivors [folio 113] which covers the period 1832 to 1841.The final section entitled Annual Subscriptions begins at folio 120 covering the years 1820 to 1848 and includes mention of those subscriptions made to the Croydon Literary and Scientific Institution [folio 122]. The volume ends with a short index at the back.

Two further items worthy of particular note for their information and social comment are in the first instance, an account of a journey from London to Birmingham headed Journey to Birmingham by the Crown Prince Coach which leaves the Kings Arms Inn at Snow Hill at half past six am. The document lists names of places on route, along with time of arrival, distance from London, expenses and occasional remarks. The dates of the journey are verified on the reverse Birmingham journey. Left London May 20 1826 and act.d? on Tuesday the 23. The second is the note written on the inside front cover which reads 3 July/45 signed a paper against the Wandle Water Company Scheme M Wade latterly of ... A cursory view of the rest of the volume fails to offer any further explanation of this comment.

John Blakes charitable subscriptions are testament to his philanthropic activities. He appears to have been a man of some social standing living in reasonable comfort with three servants and from the contents of his letters and diary entries was often asked to assist friends and neighbours in an official capacity by acting as godfather [August 17 1832] [folio 77] , executor [April 1832] [folio 113] and trustee [April 1832 - September 1841] [folio 113]. Although many of the entries relate to personal events, John Blakes diary/commonplace book stands as a fair social comment on the time.

Notebook and photographs belonging to Mary Neville-Kaye, a teacher from Overbury School evacuated to Lee, near Ilfracoombe in Devon, 1940 - 1942.

Mainly arithmetic. Belonged to Leslie Robinson, of 20 Page Crescent, Croydon, who attended Selhurst Grammar School.

Members and Visitors attendance register, 1983 - 1994

Account book 1970 - 1994

Cash Books 1994 (3 vols)

Log books covering the period July 1942 until the post became inoperative in December 1944. Also included is much contemporary correspondence including a note signed from the staff on 30 December 1944 to commemorate their years of service under Mr Douglas. In addition There are three badges owned by Mr Douglas. Also included is a biography written by his son, Dr Roy Douglas

Letter on pre-printed note paper addressed to F.M.Roberts, Hon Sec of the CNHSS: I am so busy with books and correspondence that I cannot say anything about your Society, and I have quite forgotten that I was a member, but I have a recollection of attending the Annual Microscopical Meetings. It is certainly a new idea to have a Sociological148 Committee in a Local Nat. Hist. Society, and I hope it may do good. Yours very truly, Alfred R. Wallace. P.S. I left Croydon I think in 1880. ARW.

The letter is mounted on card with a note of explanation.

5 certificates for shorthand qualifications issued by the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (at the County Polytechnic, Crodyon) and London Chamber of Commerce

Minute books of Sanctuary Pride of the Sea, no 4300 of the Ancient Order of Shepherds friendly society

Ledger of books issued 1902-1953; cash book 1902-1953 (with card detailing dates of Society meetings for 1788)

Photograph album containing 24 photographs of Ballards, the Ballards estate, and members of the Goschen family.

Plan of the Coulsdon Court estate in the parish of Coulsdon, surveyed by Thomas Bainbridge.

Bill (with printed head) for hire of carriage and pair issued by AB Jayne, Riding and Job Master, Church Road, Upper Norwood. The printed billhead includes text reading 'AB Jayne, Riding Job Master. Church Road, Upper Norwood.; 'The White Hart Alma; 'Horses Carriages taken at Livery; 'Appropriate Carriages for Weddings; 'Horses Carriages of every description To Let on Hire. Ladies Gentlemens Saddle Horses Ponies.; 'Established 1864; 'Terms Monthly; 'And Dulwich Wood House Hotel; 'Riding School, Sydenham Hill; and three illustrations of carriages.

3 items relating to a Mrs Moore, deceased.

The minute books contain minutes of General and Committee Meetings; and also newspaper cuttings, seasonal agendas and photos of events.

Two minute books, with some loose papers, of the Sanderstead Preservation Society

Letter: John Rendall of Coombe Lane, Croydon, to Mr Stodhart of 12 Regent Street, Pall Mall. Rendall was acting on behalf of a Mr Tidemarch, in a dispute apparently relating to the estate of the late Colonel Chisholm.