London Borough of Croydon Archives
The Borough Archive contains over 1200 unique collections (138k+ items) relating to the London Borough of Croydon, its predecessor bodies and the diverse community it now serves. To access our collections, please see our Research Room page for more information.
Our Vision, Mission and Values
Vision
A trusted and comprehensive collection of the archival heritage of the borough of Croydon, that is freely accessible and relevant to residents, the Council and the public for the long term.
Mission
To collect, protect, reflect and connect the archival heritage of the borough of Croydon to encourage a sense of personal identity, confident communities, extensive learning and endless creativity.
To be the corporate memory for Croydon Council and a key resource for its democratic accountability and decision-making.
Values - CREST
Collaborative - working with the Council as well as external organisations and individuals
Relevant – to the communities and Council of Croydon
Equitable - in collection representation and access
Sustainable - through sufficient resourcing, effective governance, horizon scanning, innovation and climate awareness
Trusted - by all stakeholders
We will do this by
Identifying, collecting and managing archival heritage that accurately reflects the history and people of Croydon, applying good professional practice throughout to protect the collections for posterity
Working with Croydon Council to ensure its archival records are secure and accessible for the Council’s business needs and democratic responsibilities
Offering a range of research and collection engagement services and opportunities that are relevant and accessible to connect the collections with anyone who could benefit from using them
Collaborating in partnerships that inspire and support local people to value and use their archival heritage
Regularly reviewing our strategies, policies and practices to ensure our collections and services remain relevant and accessible to our key stakeholders.
What public records do we hold?
Croydon Quarter Sessions, 1889-1965
Croydon County Court, 1847-1982
Croydon Coroners, 1922-1945
Cane Hill Hospital, 1883-1992
Mayday Hospital, 1936-1961
Baptism Registers of Mayday University Hospital Chaplaincy, 1867 - 2002
Norwood Hospital (Previously Croydon Workhouse, 1866 - 1914, and Queens Road Institution Queens Road Homes, 1923 - 1948)
Purley War Memorial Hospital, 1911 - 1953
Queens Hospital, Croydon, 1953-1991
Waddon Hospital, 1930-1983
HM Customs and Excise, 1926-1946
What other records do we hold/collect?
Manorial records
Parish records
Council records
Records relating to the council’s predecessor bodies
Hospital records
Workhouse records
School records
Court records
Deeds and property-related records, excluding single or small collections of deeds
Records of Croydon-based religious organisations, excluding those of the Anglican church
Records relating to World War I and World War II
Records of notable families, estates and individuals with significant links to Croydon
What records would we like to collect more of?
Council records selected for permanent preservation due to their historic significance or evidential weight, with priority areas in:
Democratic Services
Children, Young People and Education
Adults, Social Care and Health
Governance and the offices of the Chief Executive and the Assistant Chief Executive
Planning
2. Records of historical significance from/of under-represented groups in Croydon, from their own perspectives:
Global Majority communities, with particular focus on Croydon’s largest communities: African (10.3%), Caribbean (9.2%) and Indian (7.6%)
LGBTQ+ communities
Disabled people, and people with long-term physical or mental health conditions
Non-Christian religious groups, with a focus on Croydon’s largest faith communities: Muslims and Hindus
Children and young people (0-19)
3. Records relating to community activism
4. Pre-1700 material and contemporary collecting (2000s onwards)
If you are interested in donating records to Croydon Archives for permanent preservation, please contact archives@croydon.gov.uk.
