Friends of Crayford Library
What we do
 The
Friends of Crayford Library were established in May 2001 to help promote the
Library and the town of Crayford itself. Our intentions were to persuade more
people to visit Crayford, use its excellent branch library, discover the joys
of reading and make use of the newly installed computers there. We have also
raised money for improvements to Crayford Library - for instance by purchasing
window blinds for the library hall, local history pictures, storage boxes for
books and toys, and even a fish tank! We have also supported a range of events
and activities, and in the process found out much more about how the library
works and – above all – made lots of new friends. (We would like
to thank Toni Day and all the staff at Crayford Library for all their support
over the years).
If you would like to join us please contact Toni Day, Library Manager, Crayford
Library.
About Crayford
For those of you who don’t know Crayford, here is a short history of
the town, now part of the London Borough of Bexley, but also with a long and
proud history of its own. Stone Age remains have been regularly unearthed here,
and the area is riddled with medieval deneholes. First recorded as Cressanford in
AD 457, Crayford was listed in the Domesday Book as having a church, 3 mills
and 2 smallholders. Its population now is over 11,000 but there are no more mills!
Past industries have included iron making and armaments manufacture, linen bleaching
and textile printing. Crayford was once home to the massive Vickers armaments
factory and the famous Maxim machine gun. Crayford’s most famous resident
was the 17th Century Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell, who was responsible for
much of the restoration work on our fine parish church St Paulinus.
Crayford Library itself was built just before the second world war, but not
actually opened until after 1945 – prior to this the library was in the Town Hall
next door – the present library was purpose built and has changed little
in its internal layout since then. A large hall is situated on the first floor
of the library building, and has been a popular venue for our range of talks
and events.
We are all keen on local history, and proud of our historic town. Many of
our talks (although not all) have a local history flavour, and we have enjoyed
arranging a whole series of talks and events here – for more details,
contact the library. The Friends also enjoy reminiscing about their memories
of Crayford and its library - how times change! - it's something we've noticed
while helping out at the vibrant and noisy 'toddler time' sessions, a far cry
from the old SILENCE rule! We have also been closely involved in some of Bexley's
recent local history publications, such as My First Library and Heroines-Women
at War.
Events, Projects and Fundraising News
 The
Friends have been instrumental in getting the library hall redecorated and refurbished,
as well as helping to buy various 'extras' for the library.
Over the years we have taken part in a wide range of activities – visits
to the Local Studies & Archives Centre, bric a brac stalls at Crayford’s
book sales, arranging Easter Bonnet parades for young children in the library,
and helping out at Bexley’s annual Family & Local History Fair.
Above all, we’ve been involved in arranging some memorable talks and events
in the library hall. Starting in January 2003 with local historian Ted Thomas,
we’ve enjoyed some excellent afternoons with a range of guest speakers – the
Cutty Sark, Britain in Bloom, Martello Towers, Eltham Palace, amateur theatre,
and a Pearly King’s story, we’ve heard about all these and more.
A particularly memorable talk was held in March 2007 on fuchsias and how to grow
them – we’re still finding bits of compost on the library floor even
now!
 We usually have a full house of between 20 to 30 people in the audience,
and always serve refreshments – we hope to see you at one of our talks in the
future.
The Friends also help with refreshments at the library toddler time sessions,
and at the annual summer reading scheme presentations when our sweets are always
very popular!
The Crayford Town Archive
 One of our most successful projects has been the establishment of The Crayford
Town Archive, an online local history project supported by National Lottery funding
from Awards For All, and using the commanet community archives software.
View some of the Crayford Town Archive on the commanet website here  www.commanet.org.
This is an exciting new development for the Friends, and a project they hope
to expand around Crayford. We have attended History Fairs, visited homes and
local societies around town, and are slowly building up a unique local archive.
We have been instrumental in obtaining some historical school board records from
St Paulinus School, which we will be working on in the future. Keep an eye open
for this unique archive project, and help us make it even better.
Email The Crayford Town Archive here craylibfriends@yahoo.co.uk
The Friends of Crayford Library have been contacted by various other Friends
groups around the country (and even further afield!) asking for information about
setting up a group, or the Town Archive – we’ll be pleased to help
if we can.
We are always keen to welcome new Friends to our group – contact the library
for details of our next meetings.
We look forward to seeing you.
|
