The Muriel and Ron Huitson Croydon archive

Ronald Arthur Huitson [1916 - 1986] and his wife Muriel Huitson [1915 - 1987] were very active members of the Industrial Studies and Local History sections of the Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society, and also of the Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society (GLIAS). They organised numerous visits to then still-functioning industrial concerns, both within Croydon and as far afield as, for example, the former Williamsthorpe colliery near Chesterfield. They also did a considerable amount of recording work and photography at industrial premises and historical research.

After their deaths, a part of the Huitsons' archive appears to have been passed to GLIAS, although the writer understands from Bob Carr that the current whereabouts of this material is unknown. It probably contains, or contained, material on the several versions of London Bridge, a topic of particular interest to Ron Huitson.

However, a large quantity of material remains in the care of the Croydon Natural History and Scientific Society, much of it still uncatalogued. These papers, pamphlets, books, and the like, relate primarily to the industries and local history of Croydon, and include also much general historical material for Surrey and other south-eastern counties.

The Society in Croydon has decided to deposit some of the Huitsons' industrial archaeology records, primarily black and white photographic prints, with the London Borough of Croydon's Local Studies Library and Archives Service, on Level 3 in the Clocktower Complex / Central Library at the municipal buildings in Katharine Street. This is to afford them better storage conditions (Croydon now has a proper archives store), in the care of Chris Bennett, a qualified archivist who worked previously at The National Archives) and to make them more readily publicly accessible.

The photographs have all been listed, and details will be posted on the Society's website in due course, and hard copies of the lists filed at the Local Studies Library. Amongst the Croydon sites recorded by the Huitsons are the Addington water pumping station (demolished), the former Cooper's steam boot factory at South End (demolished), Croydon's gas works (demolished), the Park Hill water tower (still standing as an empty shell), the Park Hill reservoir (demolished / infilled), the Waddon water pumping station (demolished), and the Woodside brickworks (demolished).

Croydon's Local Studies Library and Archives Service (020-8760-5400 extn. 1112) is open on Mondays (09.00 - 19.00), Tuesdays to Fridays (09.00 - 18.00, opens 09.30 on Thursdays), and Saturdays (09.00 - 17.00). The Local Studies Librarian is Steve Roud, and the Borough Archivist Chris Bennett.

Paul W Sowan

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Last updated September 19^th 2005
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