Municipal Borough of Beddington and Wallington facts for kids
| Beddington and Wallington | |
| Motto: Per Ardua Ad Summa (Through Difficulties to the Heights) | |
 Wallington Town Hall, seat of the district council from 1934 until 1965, and now used as a college |
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| Geography | |
| Status | Urban district (until 1937) Municipal borough (after 1937) |
| 1921 area | 3,040 acres (12.3 km2) |
| 1931 area | 3,042 acres (12.31 km2) |
| 1961 area | 3,045 acres (12.32 km2) |
| HQ | Wallington |
| History | |
| Created | 1915 |
| Abolished | 1965 |
| Succeeded by | London Borough of Sutton |
Quick facts for kids Demography |
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|---|---|
| 1921 population | 14,322 |
| 1931 population | 26,251 |
| 1961 population | 32,603 |
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Beddington and Wallington was a special area in north east Surrey, England. It had its own local government from 1915 to 1965. This area was part of the London suburbs. It was also within the area covered by the Metropolitan Police District and the London's public transport system. In 1965, Beddington and Wallington stopped being a separate district. Its area became part of Greater London when the London Borough of Sutton was created.
Contents
Becoming an Urban District
The Beddington and Wallington urban district was formed on April 1, 1915. An urban district was a type of local government area. It was made up of two smaller areas called civil parishes: Beddington and Wallington. Before this, these parishes were part of the Croydon Rural District. A rural district was another type of local government area, usually for countryside areas.
Setting Up the District
The Surrey County Council decided to break up the Croydon Rural District. This decision was made on September 13, 1913. The Local Government Board then approved it on November 18, 1914. The nearby area of County Borough of Croydon tried to take over Beddington. However, their plan was stopped by the government.
First Offices and Town Hall
The council for the new urban district first worked from 37 Manor Road. These offices used to belong to the Wallington Parish Council. In 1929, the council bought a house on Woodcote Road in Wallington. This was to be the site for a brand new Wallington Town Hall. A famous architect named Robert Atkinson designed the building. The new town hall officially opened on September 21, 1934.
Becoming a Borough
In March 1936, the urban district council asked the privy council for a special permission. They wanted to become a municipal borough. A borough is a town or district that has been given special rights by the government. Their request was approved.
The Royal Charter Ceremony
The special permission, called a royal charter, was given to the first mayor. This mayor was Sir Richard Meller, who was also a Member of Parliament. Lord Ashcombe, a high-ranking official in Surrey, presented the charter. The ceremony took place in Beddington Park on September 15, 1937. About 10,000 people attended this important event.
The Borough Council
The Beddington and Wallington Borough Council had 28 members. There were 21 councillors and 7 aldermen. Councillors served for three years, with seven new ones chosen each year. Aldermen served for six years. The council members chose one of their own to be the mayor every year.
Council Elections and Parties
Elections for the council were stopped from 1939 to 1944. This was because of the Second World War. From its first election in 1937, the council was mostly controlled by "independent" members. These were people who did not belong to a major political party. The Conservative Party was strong in the area. However, they did not officially run in the local elections. So, many "independents" were supported by Conservative voters.
The first council election was on November 1, 1937. The elected councillors were called "Independent," "Ratepayers' Association," or "Residents' Association." The Labour Party did not win any seats. The three independent groups then worked together. They held all the seats on the council until 1952. In 1952, the Labour Party won two seats. This was part of a bigger trend across the country. Until 1960, Labour had a small group on the council, never more than three members. In 1960, the Independents won all the seats again. Later, both Labour and the Liberal Party started to win seats. After the last elections in 1963, the council had 20 Independent members, 5 Labour members, and 3 Liberal members.
Public Services Provided
The Municipal Year Book 1940 listed the services the council offered. These services helped the people living in the borough.
- Public Library: The council ran a library for everyone to use.
- Fire Brigade: They had their own fire department to put out fires. In 1941, the fire brigade became part of the National Fire Service. Later, it was managed by Surrey County Council.
- Parks and Open Spaces: The council provided 17 parks and open areas for people to enjoy.
- Cemetery: The council also owned Bandon Hill Cemetery together with the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District Council.
Borough's Coat of Arms
The borough council received its official coat of arms on July 3, 1937. A coat of arms is a special design that represents a family, city, or organization.
- Shield Design: In the middle of the shield was a zig-zag pattern. This represented the strong walls of an old Roman town called Noviomagus at Woodcote.
- Tudor Roses: The Tudor roses on the shield honored King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. They both visited the Carew family, who lived in Beddington.
- Aeroplane Symbol: A small shield in the center showed an airplane flying over a rising sun. This symbol recognized Croydon Airport, which was located in south Beddington.
- Blue and Gold Border: The blue and gold border around the shield showed that the area was part of Surrey. These colors came from the de Warenne family, who were once important leaders in Surrey.
- Crest: Above the shield was an armored arm throwing down a gauntlet (a type of glove). This reminded people that the manor (estate) of Wallington was once held by the Dymock family. This family had the special role of being the Hereditary Champions of England.
End of the Borough
The Beddington and Wallington borough was officially ended in 1965. This happened because of the London Government Act 1963. The area of the former borough then became part of the new London Borough of Sutton. This new borough is located in Greater London.
