Addington Pumping Station & the tragic 1937 Croydon typhoid outbreak

[@johnorchard4]

As soon as I saw your title I thought, I know about this - but could not for the life of me remember why. I know the area very well, but I had seen reports about it. I think I remember where. In 1969 the Croydon Advertiser celebrated its centenary. They issued a publication which was , I think, called Croydon, the Story of a Hundred Years and was entirely based on pictures and news reports from the Advertiser through that period. (They had also been publishing other books and pamphlets too) This one was a slim hard-back with a black gloss cover. The reason for labouring over this book is that it included a list of notable events in chronological order, events that had been reported in the newspaper - I am sure that that is where I remember hearing about the typhoid epidemic of 1937. I would be amazed if the local studies library were not armed with a copy! The context is interesting. I note that Archbishop Benson opened the well, which is not surprising since he spent a fair amount of time living at Addington Palace, it was to him then, his new home turf. He had become Archbishop in 1883, so this may have been an early venture into local ribbon cutting in the Croydon area, but, of course, it was not yet Croydon. The Manor and Parish of Croydon was large and formed in 1889 the largest part of the newly crated County Borough of Croydon. Like other County Boroughs and Counties, the new councils were prioritised to take over such things as sanitation and water. The walk you conducted along Wellesley Road to its junction with Station Road, placed you directly outside the offices of the old County Borough Water department. Croydon grew physically after it had become a bcounty borough, but it was not until 1928 that it took over the parish and manor of Addington. This, another fairly extensive rural parish covered everywhere from the Shirely Hills Road (Addington Hills) all the way across to the Kent border near West Wickham, Biggn Hill and Downe and also to the territory of Surrey County Council at the far end of Featherbed Lane. It is interesting therefore that the water board had built so much of its infrastructure outsde of its territory. By the time of the outbrak, of course, Addington had been within the borough for over a decade. Anyway, I just thought I would mention it.

[@philswallow]

Three weeks ago I had a copy of what seemed to be a slimmer version of that book in my hand at a Bourne Society event. My Dad worked for the Croydon Advertiser and I can see the original book in my mind now, I think he had some other publications from the centenary too but can't locate them currently. This story led me to research the history of Croydon's waterworks - a subject I have given talks on but haven't yet put to film - maybe this year!

[@johnorchard4]

@@philswallowI shall look forward to seeing the video!

[@declantwomey7525]

Great history lesson thanks for shearing 👍🏻🏆

[@RalphAstley]

A cousin once told me that our grandmother contracted typhoid in Croydon at this time but I have never been able to confirm it. It caused the family great difficulties as my grandfather had just died as a result of the long term effects of gassing in the First World War. Only those wealthy enough to be able to afford legal assistance received compensation, which is why we know the names of the upper middle class victims, but the poorer victims remain nameless - another difference between that time and this.

[@philswallow]

Hi Ralph, I have a number of sources of information for this and if you’d like to PM me some details I can have a look to see what I may be able to find? On my channel page there’s an icon for “All my links” and you can choose what’s best from there and I’d be happy to help

[@RalphAstley]

@@philswallow Hi Phil - I'm not a big user of social media and don't have any of those platforms. It's not a big breach of my privacy if I tell you in public that my grandmother's name was Mary Eliza Heath and her DOB was 7/12/1884. I very much doubt you will find any record of her in regard to the outbreak as the family really were at the extreme end of poverty. Glad I stumbled on your channel as there is a lot of interest for me there.

[@philswallow]

Hi Ralph, I'm glad my channel has some interest for you, that's always great to hear! I located a census record for her from 1911, and it looks like the house in Mitcham Road is still there today. I believe I saw a record for your grandfather 1881-1937. I have seen the official inquiry reports from the outbreak at Croydon Council Archives - about 4-5 large leather-bound volumes. When I am next there I am happy to take a look and see what I can find. It will be a good test of the record keeping of the day.

[@RalphAstley]

@@philswallow That's them. I think the houses in Mitcham Rd are more recent than 1911 though. She was born in Wilford Road which was part of 'Old Banghole' along with Forster Rd and Beulah Grove. It was a notorious area where the police wouldn't go. It would make a great subject for a video but again the houses are more modern than those times. When Wilford Road wasn't destroyed in the Blitz the Council pulled the houses down anyway and replaced them with a recreation park.

[@laurenceskinnerton73]

Very good and worrying.

[@julieleverentz5846]

So much I didn’t know, thank you 😊

[@philswallow]

You’re welcome, Julie 😊

[@josephinerimmer6888]

Took a Quick Look at your name and thought it said Pill Swallow. Daft old bugger. Fantastic story, looking forward to many more.

[@philswallow]

😂 - made me chuckle!

[@andymcgarty3099]

Wow! Cracking video and great bit of history. How the hell were they allowed to get rid of such a great looking building. And nothing in its place? I hope you are able to do more of these, well worth all that work. You have to wonder with the current lack of infrastructure investment by the water companies if something like this could ever happen again?

[@philswallow]

Thanks mate, it is crazy, there was also a similar one at West Wickham but that was also flattened and replaced by something soulless and just functional. There is one still at Stroud Green (Shirley/Addiscombe) that wasn't on the same scale but at least still remains as a building owned by Thames Water. I'm doing a talk to a history group in June about this so the timing works well. They needed the scale to hold the beam engines, and chimneys to take the smoke from the boilers. Once submersible electric pumps come in, that's it, no longer required. They become a cost rather than something of value. I wonder if it happened today whether The Victorian Society may step in? It is a shame, I would have chained myself to it back in the day! 😂😂

[@angelaharvey2034]

Fantastic view and research. Thanks for sharing.

[@philswallow]

Thanks Angela 😊

[@johnsamu]

It's a pity those beautiful buildings are gone. You'd never expect London/Croydon to have so much open area available btw.

[@philswallow]

I know, recently a couple of planning applications have involved retaining the shell of a historic building and developing inside and around it which I see as positive.

[@peterclark9677]

I remember watching the huge pumps working, i used to look through the large glass windows as a child

[@philswallow]

I have always known this area if not lived here, but don’t recall seeing the Pumping Station building back then which is a shame. We rarely needed to travel along Featherbed Lane but I wish we had as it would have stood very proud in that location.

[@nikonandys]

Great video, well researched & fascinating story.

[@19571957able]

Video full of information and well presented.Has the tower within the Hills got any protection placed on it.

[@philswallow]

Thanks Derek, good question, as it is fully operational I assume it has a degree of protection as part of that? I just realised, it has its 100th birthday this year!

[@JonathanSpencer-su6sj]

Are you from america.

[@philswallow]

Hi Jonathan, no I’m born and bred in England!