Description and History of Site:-
Local inventor, industrialist and philanthropist William Ford Robinson Stanley (1829-1909) realised £100,000 when his firm became a limited company in 1900. He used much of it as 'Architect and Donor' of these ugly but charming buildings, in a style best described as eclectic.

The foundation stone of the large hall 31 May 1902; completed February 1903-5; smaller hall 1904; two smaller rooms and secretary's house 1909.

To Croydon Corp. 1934. Once included an art gallery, now gone. Portraits of Mr & Mrs Stanley on the east wall. Busts of him and six eminent Victorians were stolen in 1966.

The Stanley People's Initiative (SPI) was set up in 2011 to manage the Grade II listed halls. Stanley Arts run events, offer performance spaces, and act as a hub for local businesses.

English Heritage blue plaque commemorating William Ford Robinson Stanley [he discontinued use of 'Robinson' in later life]:

W.F.R.
STANLEY
1829-1909
Inventor, Manufacturer and Philanthropist founded and designed these halls and technical school

Further Reading and References:-
Akpan, Eloise. 'The Story of William Stanley: A Self-made Man'. 2000

https://stanleyarts.org/about-us/our-history/
https://southnorwood.net/local-history/51-william-ford-robinson-stanley.html
https://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/news/830846.longlasting-legacy/
https://heritagecalling.com/2023/07/21/stanley-arts-the-eccentric-architecture-of-inventor-william-stanley-in-south-london/
http://www.glias.org.uk/news/160news.html#A

https://www.stanleyhalls.org.uk/
https://www.heritageoflondon.org/projects/stanley-halls

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Key Words :- hall

Address :- Stanley Halls, South Norwood Hill, South Norwood, London, Greater London
Grid Ref :- TQ 3398 6854
Co-ordinates :- Lat 51.400078 , Long -0.075381
Local Authority :- Croydon London Borough Council
Pre 1974 County :- Surrey
Site Status :- Listed - Grade II
Historic England List No - 1252932,
Contributor :- GLIAS Database - 2 June 2018

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