This brochure advertises new homes
in Coulsdon in the 1930s.
The company aimed to attract people
working and living
in busy central London.

By 1925,
commuters could reach central London
in thirty-six minutes
using the new electric trains.

Freda White remembers
moving to the suburbs:

"And quite a number of people
particularly in Thornton Heath,
were moving out to Purley,
Shirley, Sanderstead,
where there was all this
new building going on.

Moving further out into the country
because naturally places became
more crowded and claustrophobic
and then you move further out."

All over the South East of England,
people were moving out to the suburbs.
There were new jobs in Croydon.
Local councils had cleared
many slum houses,
but there were not enough new homes
available to rent.

At the same time,
building companies created
thousands of new cheaper houses
for these lower paid workers.
Building Societies lent the workers
money to buy the homes.
And banks lent the builders money
to build the houses.

To find out more about
the development of Coulsdon
Heights and other Croydon
housing estates visit the
Research Room to view:

*Maps of the Local area
*Photographs
*Local History Packs
*Ephemera Material


The Research Room is on the
Lower Ground Floor of the
Croydon Clocktower and is
open Tuesday-Saturday
10.30-5