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LCC municipal

@lccmunicipal.bsky.social

London County Council, Greater London Council, pre- and post-1965 boroughs in London (+ occasional forays outside of the capital). Municipal stuff from the past that lives on today. Oh, and new towns, shopping centres, infrastructure etc. lccmunicipal.com

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Antony Carpen@acarpen.bsky.social · last wk.

Cambridge, we could have had something like this! (John Belcher, former president of @the-riba.bsky.social also designed an unexecuted building for Cambridge Guildhall in the late 1890s)

LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · last wk.

Colchester Town Hall from earlier today (I went on a Henry Collins and Joyce Pallot mural mooch earlier - more on that later). Anyway, this rather grand building in the Edwardian Baroque style was by John Belcher and opened in 1902. Reminds me of Alfred Brumwell Thomas’s Woolwich Town Hall a bit.

The view of the building and clock tower from the south east corner. Per Wikipedia: Construction of the new building began in 1897. It was designed by John Belcher in the Edwardian Baroque style and was opened by the former Prime Minister, the Earl of Rosebery in 1902. The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with seven bays facing onto the High Street; the central section featured an arched doorway with the borough coat of arms in the tympanum and flanked by Doric order pilasters. There was an ornate balcony above the doorway and there were also three pairs of huge engaged Corinthian order columns spanning the first and second floors each carrying a broken pediment. Pevsner described the design as having been completed "with more braggadocio than anyone". A 192 feet (59 m) tower, funded by a donation from James Noah Paxman, the founder of local engineers, Davey, Paxman & Co, was erected at the east end of the building to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It featured four allegorical figures by L. J. Watts representing engineering, military defence, agriculture and fishery. At the top of the tower the architect placed a large bronze figure representing Saint Helena (the patron saint of Colchester) holding the True Cross. Councillor Arthur Jarmin travelled as far as Italy to locate a suitable statue of the saint, but could only find one of the Virgin Mary, which then had to be modified locally. Just below this statue four bronze ravens by Francis Carruthers Gould could be found, representing the portreeve who ran Colchester's medieval port. A chiming clock with five bells was placed in the tower, with another 15th-century bell which is thought to have hung in the original moot hall. The clock is known locally as Charlie, after Charles Hawkins, who paid for it; it was manufactured by Smith & Sons of Derby. The bells, were by John Warner & Sons.
LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · last wk.

Colchester Town Hall from earlier today (I went on a Henry Collins and Joyce Pallot mural mooch earlier - more on that later). Anyway, this rather grand building in the Edwardian Baroque style was by John Belcher and opened in 1902. Reminds me of Alfred Brumwell Thomas’s Woolwich Town Hall a bit.

The view of the building and clock tower from the south east corner. Per Wikipedia: Construction of the new building began in 1897. It was designed by John Belcher in the Edwardian Baroque style and was opened by the former Prime Minister, the Earl of Rosebery in 1902. The design involved a symmetrical main frontage with seven bays facing onto the High Street; the central section featured an arched doorway with the borough coat of arms in the tympanum and flanked by Doric order pilasters. There was an ornate balcony above the doorway and there were also three pairs of huge engaged Corinthian order columns spanning the first and second floors each carrying a broken pediment. Pevsner described the design as having been completed "with more braggadocio than anyone". A 192 feet (59 m) tower, funded by a donation from James Noah Paxman, the founder of local engineers, Davey, Paxman & Co, was erected at the east end of the building to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria. It featured four allegorical figures by L. J. Watts representing engineering, military defence, agriculture and fishery. At the top of the tower the architect placed a large bronze figure representing Saint Helena (the patron saint of Colchester) holding the True Cross. Councillor Arthur Jarmin travelled as far as Italy to locate a suitable statue of the saint, but could only find one of the Virgin Mary, which then had to be modified locally. Just below this statue four bronze ravens by Francis Carruthers Gould could be found, representing the portreeve who ran Colchester's medieval port. A chiming clock with five bells was placed in the tower, with another 15th-century bell which is thought to have hung in the original moot hall. The clock is known locally as Charlie, after Charles Hawkins, who paid for it; it was manufactured by Smith & Sons of Derby. The bells, were by John Warner & Sons.The front of the building showing the main entrance. See previous image for description.
LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 2w ago

From the late ‘60s, a souvenir model of the Post Office Tower (as was). Per the blurb on the back: “The Tower itself is 619ft high including the 40ft steel lattice mast. The aerials and associated radio equipment will eventually provide for as many as 100,000 simultaneous telephone conversations.”

The model of the Post Office Tower taken out of its box. It is largely made from translucent turquoise plastic, and stands on a black plastic base.The model in its clear plastic box. The model itself is largely made from translucent turquoise plastic.The blurb on the back of the box in full: POST OFFICE TOWER LONDON Facts and Figures The Tower itself is 619 feet high including the 40ft steel lattice mast. The aerials and associated radio equipment will eventually provide for as many as 100,000 simultaneous telephone conversations and up to 40 television channels. Total weight, including foundations, 13,000 tons. 95 tons of high tensile steel were used to reinforce the base and 685 tons of mild steel to reinforce the Tower itself. The two lifts travel at 1,000 feet a minute.The rear of the box, which features an image of the Tower. For the detail of the blurb on the back, see the previous image.
LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 3w ago

A bit more municipal treasure. From 1963, a badge celebrating 60 years of Eastbourne Corporation Transport - the UK’s first municipal bus operator. [There were older municipal transport operators, but they had started with trams].

The badge is metal with enamelled decoration. In the centre is an Eastbourne bus in profile. The livery is Oxford blue and primrose yellow with a white roof. Superimposed on the bus is the coat of arms of Eastbourne Corporation. Written above on a red scroll are the words Eastbourne Corporation Transport. Written below are the words 1903 Jubilee 1963.
LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 4w ago

From 1971, the brochure produced to mark the opening of the BBC's new Birmingham Broadcasting Centre at Pebble Mill. John Madin was the architect and, like so much of his work in Birmingham, it is no longer with us, having been demolished over 20 years ago when the BBC moved into the city centre.

LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · last mo.

The Borough of Beckenham was granted its Charter in 1935 and would survive for another 30 years before it (together with four other councils) was replaced by the London Borough of Bromley. Croydon Road Rec was the centre of the 1935 celebrations - a location later associated with David Bowie…

The cover of the Charter Celebration book has an interesting modern design. It is divided into two section - one green and one white (the latter looking a little grey with age). The dividing line is roughly on the diagonal although the border between the green and white sections is a meandering line. At the top of the white sections are a collection of green circles, looking a bit like champagne bubbles rising upwards. The cover features the coat of arms (in green and white) which straddles the two blocks of colour. “1935” is written among the bubbles of the white section, while the rest of the title is on the green section. The title is: BECKENHAM CHARTER CELEBRATIONS COMMITTEE OFFICIAL HANDBOOK 3d (the price) Taken from: Beckenham Charter Day Official Souvenir Published by: Borough of Beckenham Date: 1935A black and white photo of the now demolished Beckenham Town Hall. The brick building was dominated by a large clock tower. The Neo Georgian styled building was designed by Lanchester, Lucas and Lodge. It was demolished in the 1990s to be replaced by a Marks & Spencer food hall. Photo credit: Uncredited Taken from: Beckenham Charter Day Official Souvenir Published by: Borough of Beckenham Date: 1935A black and white photo of the interior of the Council chamber. The rectangular room has simple classical themes (principally some Ionic columns). Rows of chairs and desks line either side of the room. Photo credit: Uncredited Taken from: Beckenham Charter Day Official Souvenir Published by: Borough of Beckenham Date: 1935A hand drawn map of the festivities entitled “Croydon Road Recreation Ground Charter Celebrations, Sept. 26, 27, 28, 1935” Taken from: Beckenham Charter Day Official Souvenir Published by: Borough of Beckenham Date: 1935
LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · last mo.

A guide to the Metropolitan Borough of Holborn’s Library Services from the mid-60s. An interesting stapled addendum is a note informing readers that the library was transferring to LB Camden Library Services from 1/4/65 - an immediate casualty was Saturday opening hours, with an hour lopped off!

The cover of the guide. The title is HOLBORN LIBRARIES GUIDE TO THE SERVICES It features a drawing of the front elevation of the Holborn Central Library. Per the C20th Society write up: Built by the Holborn Borough Council Architects’ Department under Sydney Cook, the design is attributed to his deputy Ernest Ives and assistants I D Aylott and E L Ansell, in close collaboration with Borough Librarian J Swift.An extract from the leaflet with a map showing the location of the Central Library and the branch library at the Borough Town Hall on High Holborn. The text reads: LIBRARIES GRAMOPHONE LIBRARY 2nd Floor, Central Library Open Monday-Friday 12 noon-8 p.m. and on Saturday 9.30 a.m.-6p.m. Gramophone records may be borrowed for use within the Borough of Holborn only, by societies and groups which can include informal listening groups. Gramophones are inspected before registration. Language instruction records are also available. GRAMOPHONE RECITALS are held in the Hall (3rd Floor), Central Library on Mondays from 7 p.m.-8.30 p.m. Fridays from 12.15 p.m.-2 p.m. and at the Town Hall, 197, High Holborn, on Wednesdays from 12.15 p.m.-2 p.m. Monthly programmes are available from both Libraries. LECTURES are given in the Hall (3rd Floor), Central Library once a month from October-April at 7 p.m. Programmes are available from both Libraries. PICTURE LENDING SCHEME Paintings by local artists are exhibited on the 3rd Floor of the Central Library and may be hired for 10/- a quarter or bought outright. Hirers must be members of the Library. The Libraries Committee also arranges other activities such as an Annual Art Exhibition, concerts, play-readings and poetry-readings and sponsors the Holborn Society and Holborn Film Society whose programmes can be obtained in the Libraries. Taken from: Holborn Libraries - guide to the services Published by: The Metropolitan Borough of Holborn Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c1963/4A page from the leaflet. Extract only due to character limit: LENDING LIBRARIES Central Lending Library, 32-38, Theobalds Road, W.C.1. (HOLborn 2705) 198 High Holborn Town Hall Branch Library, W.C.1. (HOLborn 1678) Open Monday-Friday 9.30 a.m.-8 p.m. and on Saturday 9.30 a.m.-6 p.m. YOU MAY JOIN the Library if you live, work, pay rates or attend an educational nstitution in Holborn Your membership season" ticket can only be used in Holborn but you can have, on request, tickets to use in other Metropolitan Public Libraries. YOU MAY BORROW four books at a time not more than two novels). Books are lent for 3 weeks but you can renew the loan if they are not wanted by other readers. You must show your membership ticket every time you borrow or renew a book. BOOKS ARE ARRANGED on the shelves in subject number order (non-fiction) and in alphabetical order of authors (fiction). THE CATALOGUES list the books in both Lending Libraries. The subject number is given on the card for cach book in the nonfiction catalogue. Please ask the Staff for help if you cannot find the book you want. YOU MAY RESERVE any book listed in the catalogues and books not in stock can usually be obtained. The reservation fee is 4d. and you are notified by post when the book is available. A MONTHLY LIST OF NEW BOOKS added to the Lending Libraries, with select lists of additions to the Reference and Children's Libraries is on sale, price 3d. Taken from: Holborn Libraries - guide to the services Published by: The Metropolitan Borough of Holborn Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c1963/4A note stapled to the guide, reflecting that fact that this was a time of major change in London Local Government; From the 1st April 1965 this library will become one of the Camden Public Libraries. This affects some of the information given in this guide. Until a new guide is available, would you please note the following changes which are now in operation. 1. All departments of the Holborn Central Library and High Holborn library (formerly Town Hall Branch library) close at 5.0 p.m. on Saturdays. 2. The maximum number of books any reader may have on loan is six. 3. The Book Reservation fee is 3d. and fines for books overdue beyond thethree week period of loan are now charged at the rate of 1d. per day or part of a day. 4. The monthly list of new books added to the stock of the Holborn Libraries has been temporarily discontinued. Taken from: Holborn Libraries - guide to the services Published by: The Metropolitan Borough of Holborn Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c1963/4
LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · last mo.

Today’s municipal treasure: a County Borough of East Ham Home Help Service badge. It sits alongside the EH Technical College badge that I posted a few weeks ago, both featuring the “unofficial” coat of arms of the Borough.

A round metal and enamel badge. The words County Borough of East Ham are written in a ring around the edge in a gold colour on a light blue enamel background. In a white enamel band running across the badge about a third of the way up are the words Home Help Service. The top two thirds of the badge are dominated by the Borough’s unofficial coats of arms.
LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Today’s municipal treasure - a badge featuring the coats of arms of the London Borough of Newham. Newham largely adopted the former Couny Borough of West Ham arms, CB East Ham not having been formally granted them.

A small enamel and metal badge featuring the coats of arms of the London Borough of Newham. The word “Newham” is written across the top. Per Wikipedia: The borough adopted West Ham's coat of arms, but with a motto adapted from that of East Ham. The arms include the following elements: The crosier signified the Cistercian Stratford Langthorne Abbey. The sword and the red and yellow chevronells are taken from the arms of William de Montfitchet, a major local landowner and founder of the abbey. The crossed hammers represent the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company, once a major local employer. The ship in full sail represents the maritime trades and the area's links to the sea. The arms also include a sun rising in the east. The borough's motto, "Progress with the People" is an English translation of East Ham's Latin "Progressio cum Populo".
LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Two related items here: a cap badge for the pre-65 Borough of Leyton (left), and one for the post-65 LB Waltham Forest (right). Not much of Leyton’s coat of arms made it into the successor’s, only really the black and gold lion at the top (“rampant” for Leyton and “passant” for Waltham Forest).

On the left is the Leyton coat of arms. Per heraldry-wiki: Arms: Or three Chevronels Gules on a Chief Gules a Lion passant Or. Crest: On a Wreath Or and Gules a Lion rampant per pale Or and Sable supporting a Crozier Gold. Motto: 'MINISTANDO DIGNITAS' - Dignity in service https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/wiki/Leyton On the right is the Waltham Forest coat of arms. Per heraldry-wiki: Arms: Vert a Stag's Head caboshed proper between the attires an Ancient Crown Or on a Chief wavy Argent three Oak Trees couped proper fructed Or. Crest: On a Mural Crown in front of a Cross Staff Or a Lion passant per pale Or and Sable; Mantled Vert doubled Argent. Supporters: On either side a Stag gorged with a Wreath of Oak proper pendent therefrom a Billet that on the dexter Gules charged with an Anchor Argent that on the sinister Vert charged with a Sword point upwards Argent hilt and pommel Or. Motto: 'FELLOWSHIP IS LIFE' https://www.heraldry-wiki.com/wiki/Waltham_ForestThe rampant (i.e. upright) black and gold lion on the Leyton coat of arms. This comes from the Frauncey family arms.The "passant" (i.e. walking forward). This comes from the Frauncey family arms.
LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Helsinki City Hall, initially a hotel designed by Carl Ludvig Engel - the original neoclassical style building was radically remodelled and extended by Aarno Ruusuvuori during the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

The wide pale blue 3-storey frontage of Helsinki City Hall in a neoclassical style. Per Wikipedia: Completed in 1833, the building originally served as Hotel Seurahuone and was an important cultural facility hosting many premieres. The hotel was designed by Carl Ludvig Engel who also designed the major buildings around the nearby Senate Square. The city purchased the building in 1901 and, after the hotel moved out in 1913, renovated it as a city hall.Aarno Ruusuvuori’s 1980s extension to Helsinki City Hall. The block is of concrete and glass.
Mike@mikeyashworth.bsky.social · 2mo ago

The tone & text of the leaflet makes clear that this was a 'cry to municipal arms' in the face of the wave of 'pirate' bus operators who were a serious disruption to the order of things in the Capital at the time. One West Ham tram survives in the LTM Collections. @lccmunicipal.bsky.social

Inner three folds - under heading "A few facts about your tramways" are three columns of text explaining the history and development of the undertaking, inc. electrification and expansion, and the finances re; fares and rates. There is also a discussion about bus operators, their numbers and their lack of support for the Borough.Outer three folds - central panel of the tramcar appears rotated - left panel has fares from Stratford, Canning Town and Abbey Arms inc Workmen's Returns - right panel has a List of Last Cars on services 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 61, 63 and 67. The latter three were jointly operated 'west- east' services from Aldgate across the Borough - the others, some again joint operations, largely were north-south serving the mighty Docks.
LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Some Helsinki tram action for you. Here are two of the four main types (so Wikipedia tells me) currently in operation. The first image is of a Škoda Transtech Artic MLNRV-3, while the second is a newer Škoda Transtech Artic X54.

A green and yellow Škoda Transtech Artic MLNRV-3 tram outside the central Helsinki station. Per Wikipedia: In December 2010 the design was included in the winning tender to deliver 40 new trams to the Helsinki City Transport (HKL), the municipal tram operator of Helsinki Regional Transport Authority (HSL), with an option for 90 units more. The winning bid was worth €113 million, which makes the unit cost of the initial agreement €2.8 million per tram.A green and white Škoda Transtech Artic X54 tray. Per Wikipedia Helsinki City Transport, the predecessor of Metropolitan Area Transport, has ordered 29 bi-directional Artic X54 units for Helsinki light rail line 15 and 23 for the Crown Bridges light rail lines. The first prototype unit arrived in Helsinki in April 2021.
LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 2mo ago

Municipal guide of the day: the London Borough of Merton from the mid-70s, with the PR department working overtime to shoehorn the contents into a MERTON mnemonic. This also features some of Merton’s distinctive low rise social housing from the era. Oh, and Wombles.

The cover is orange which has faded at the edge to yellow. The word “Merton” is written in a black modern sans serif typeface repeatedly on the diagonal. Taken from: London Borough of Merton: The Official Guide and Directory Designed by: Ivor Kaplin Published by: London Borough of Merton (in association with G.W. May Ltd) Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c.1976 The contents page. The first letters of each section spell out Merton: Mandate Executive Responsibilities Tomorrow Oyez! Oyez! Nostalgia Taken from: London Borough of Merton: The Official Guide and Directory Designed by: Ivor Kaplin Published by: London Borough of Merton (in association with G.W. May Ltd) Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c. 1976A black and white image of two children on bikes in front of a low rise social housing development. The caption reads: The latest ideas in housing design are incorporated in new housing estates as shown here at Pollards Hill. The second photo is of an architectural model. The caption reads: Model of proposed housing development-the Locomotors site Mitcham which will provide 186 dwellings. Photo credit: Kenneth Markham Studios Ltd Taken from: London Borough of Merton: The Official Guide and Directory Designed by: Ivor Kaplin Published by: London Borough of Merton (in association with G.W. May Ltd) Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c. 1976A group of people dressed as Wombles. The caption reads: Local Merton Festival Fans. Photo credit: Kenneth Markham Studios Ltd Taken from: London Borough of Merton: The Official Guide and Directory Designed by: Ivor Kaplin Published by: London Borough of Merton (in association with G.W. May Ltd) Publication date: Undated, but appears to be c. 1976
LCC municipal@lccmunicipal.bsky.social · 3mo ago

I didn’t get any further than the main reception, but still got to see some of the nice details inside. Those lovely wooden doors with the T-shaped handles, the great tiled floor and David Partridge’s amazing Metropolis nail sculpture.

The lobby floor is main up of long irregular strips of Italian Carrara marble.Large wooden double doors in the lobby entrance. The door handles make the shape of a T when the doors are closed (each door having an inverted L shape, with one in reverse, as a door handles)A curved staircase in concrete with slender wooden handrailsDavid Partridge’s Metropolis, a large wall mural/sculpture made of nails protruding from the wall. A circular feature is at its centre.