Mayors

The History of the Mayoralty and the Office

The Mayor is the representative of the Crown in the Borough and as such is the First Citizen of the Borough.  The Mayor is also the Chairman of the Council.

The right of a district to become a Borough and to have a Mayor is granted by Royal Charter.  The Authority must first demonstrate that they are able to operate a Mayoralty with the required level of protocol and dignity and will not allow the Mayoralty to be used for political purposes.

The Borough Charter

The town of Croydon was granted it's Borough Charter in 1883.  This granted the people of Croydon Borough status including the right to be governed by an elected Council and a Mayor.  The new Council then was granted a charter by the College of Heralds describing their award.

At the main entrance to the Town Hall which was completed in 1895, the central feature is a high gable on which are carved the Arms of the Borough.  At the top of the stairs can be seen an impressive series of tablets recording successive Mayors to the Borough, with a particular one to Sir Frederick Edridge who was five times Mayor and a great benefactor of the town and the Council.  Alderman Frank Denning, similarly, was a generous benefactor of the town is likewise recorded.

Also to be seen is a plaque portraying all those who have been admitted to the Honarary Freedom of the Borough.  On the wall facing the Mayors' tablets can be seen seven paintings of distinguished Croydonians:

• Sir Frederick Thomas Edridge (1843-1921)
• Lt. Col. Charles  Herbert Gibson JP (1881-1962)
• Sir Reuben Vincent Barrow (1838-1918)
• James Trumble (1856-1941)
• Frank Denning (1864-1916)
• Dr. John Montague Newnham (1869-1945)
• Bernard Weatherill
   
• Previous Mayors
• Freemen
• Chairmen of Coulsdon & Purley U.D.C.
   
• The Borough Coat of Arms
  
  
• The Mayoral Chain of Office and Regalia -
   
  • The Mayoral Chains of Office
  • The Mace
  • The Key
  • The Trowel
     
• How the Mayor is elected

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Saturday, 5 July, 2008

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