Coulsdon and Purley Urban District facts for kids
Coulsdon and Purley Urban District was a special local area in northeast Surrey, England. It had its own local government from 1915 to 1965. This area is now mostly part of the London Borough of Croydon in Greater London. Some smaller parts are in the Tandridge District and the Borough of Reigate and Banstead in Surrey.
| Coulsdon and Purley | |
| Motto: Animo et Fide (By Courage and Faith) | |
| Purley Council Office.jpg | |
| Geography | |
| Status | Urban district |
| 1921 area | 8,572 acres (34.69 km2) |
| 1961 area | 11,143 acres (45.09 km2) |
| HQ | Council Offices, Brighton Road, Purley |
| History | |
| Created | 1915 |
| Abolished | 1965 |
| Succeeded by | London Borough of Croydon |
Quick facts for kids Demography |
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|---|---|
| 1921 population - 1921 density |
21,491 2.5/acre |
| 1961 population - 1961 density |
74,926 6.7/acre |
| Politics | |
| Governance | Coulsdon and Purley Urban District Council |
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Contents
How it Started
Before 1915, this area was part of the Croydon Rural District. A "rural district" is a local area that is mostly countryside. But between 1901 and 1911, many new houses were built here. The population of places like Coulsdon and Sanderstead grew a lot. They became much bigger than typical rural villages.
Because of this growth, the local government decided to change things. In 1915, the Croydon Rural District was ended. A new area called the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District was created. An "urban district" is a local area that is more like a town or city.
This new district included the areas of Coulsdon, Kenley, Purley, and Sanderstead. The Coulsdon and Purley Urban District Council became the new local authority. This council was in charge of running the area. By 1921, the total population had grown to 21,491 people.
Changes Over Time
The borders of the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District changed a few times.
- In 1929, a small piece of land (59 acres) was added from the Godstone Rural District.
- In 1933, a bigger change happened. The area of Farleigh joined the district. Also, parts of Chaldon, Chipstead, and Merstham, including the village of Hooley, were added. This made the district much larger.
- There were also small adjustments to the borders with nearby districts in 1933 and 1936.
How it Was Governed
The Coulsdon and Purley Urban District Council was the local government. It was made up of elected members. These members represented different parts of the district, called "electoral wards."
- In 1915, there were five wards: Coulsdon, Kenley, Purley, Sanderstead, and Woodcote.
- By 1937, there were more wards: Coulsdon East, Coulsdon West, Kenley, Purley, Sanderstead, Selsdon and Farleigh, and Woodcote.
The local taxes, called "rates," in this district were quite low. They were lower than in many other areas around London.
Coat of Arms
The Coulsdon and Purley Urban District had its own special symbol, called a "coat of arms." This was given to them in 1952. A coat of arms is like a badge that represents a town or family. When the district later became part of the London Borough of Croydon, parts of its coat of arms were used to create the new coat of arms of the London Borough of Croydon.
Why it Ended
The Coulsdon and Purley Urban District was located near London. In the 1960s, the government decided to reorganize how local areas were run in and around London. A group called the Royal Commission on Local Government in Greater London suggested that Coulsdon and Purley should become part of a bigger London area.
The government agreed with this idea. So, on April 1, 1965, the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District was officially ended. Its area became part of the new London Borough of Croydon. This new borough is part of Greater London.
Farleigh and Hooley Move Again
Sometimes, when big changes happen, some communities might feel they are in the wrong place. The law allowed small areas to ask to move to a different county. Because of this, in 1969, the areas of Farleigh and Hooley moved back to Surrey. Farleigh became part of the Chelsham and Farleigh parish in the Godstone Rural District. Hooley became part of the Banstead Urban District.
Famous Former Employee
A famous actor named Peter Cushing once worked for the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District Council. In his autobiography, he wrote that his father helped him get a job there in 1933. He worked as a surveyor's assistant in the Drawing Department.
Peter Cushing said he didn't like the job much. He stayed for three years but didn't get promoted because he wasn't very ambitious in that field. The only part he enjoyed was drawing pictures of new buildings. However, his drawings were often rejected because they were too imaginative and expensive! He thought the lack of strong foundations was "a mere detail."
