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Civic Suite – Town Hall
Although the Town Hall has gone through several make-overs, this site has been the epicentre of Lewisham’s civic governance since 1875. The grand Victorian Gothic building that was the original Town Hall has been extended, demolished and rebuilt over the years, despite being taken on by one teenage boy on an architectural conservation mission in the 1960s.
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
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On this site stood Hatcliffe’s Almshouses, built in 1857. These important public buildings of Lewisham ended up in Catford because the parish was awarded a plot of land on Rushey Green by the enclosures commissioners.
1857 Hatcliffe's Almshouses
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
1875 Lewisham’s Original Town Hall
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
1932 Town Hall extension
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
1961 Demolition and William Norton’s campaign
Oral history of Seraphim (nee William Norton)
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
William Norton and Sir John Betjeman
Oral history of Seraphim (nee William Norton)
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Williams War! Don’t you dare pull down our beautiful Town Hall’ Lewisham Herald, May 1961
Armed with his petition, a 13 year old Brockley school boy, William Norton, is fighting to prevent the old town hall in Catford from being pulled down
William says : “I consider the building is of historic interest and should be preserved for future generations.”News Coverage
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‘Save the old town hall pleads boy aged 13.’ Lewisham Journal Friday July 28th 1961
William’s petition reaches over 3000 signatories!
Petition to be sent to the Ministry of Housing!
William will ask the housing minister to stop the demolition.
Can an Act of Preservation save the building for future generations?News Coverage
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‘Ministry nor London County Council will save the old town hall.’Lewisham Borough News. Tuesday 22nd May 1962
The old town hall will remain… until the end of the year.
It cannot be pulled down until the 2nd stage of the town hall re-building plan is completed. Despite Williams best efforts Lewisham’s old town hall will be demolished.News Coverage
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
1971 The Opening of the Civic Suite and the New Town Hall
Oral history of Sheila Pender
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Photo courtesy of Lewisham Archive
Lewisham's Mayor
Oral history of Sir Steve Bullock
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Photo by Warren King
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Photo by Warren King
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Photo by Warren King
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Photo by Kevin Ireland
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Photo by Kevin Ireland
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2015 Catford Tales: The Civic Suite and William's War revisited
Oral history of Seraphim (nee William Norton)
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Narrated by Seraphim (nee William Norton). Title images courtesy of the BBC
2015 Catford Tales: Will the real William Norton please stand up?
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Photo by Kevin Ireland
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Photo by Kevin Ireland
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2015 Catford Tales: Green Space
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