About

In 1925, a resident of Warren Road wrote to a local paper suggesting that collective action should be taken to improve the dire situation that the Nork residents were enduring after the collapse of the Halden Estates Company in April 1925. At a meeting of residents and prospective residents on November 11 1925, it was agreed that an association be formed whose aims were to protect their interests in matters of local government and to promote social intercourse among the inhabitants of the new estate.

The Prime Movers

The prime movers were Alderman A. J. Hurley of Warren Farm (the old building on the site now forming The Driftway) and Mr J. C. Scargill of “The Croft”, 2, Warren Road, the chairman and secretary respectively of the provisional committee. At the meeting, the chairman, Alderman Hurley, said it was not necessary for him to go into the history of the estate; those present would know how necessary it was to form an association to protect their interests. In a reference to the appalling state of Nork Way, he said it was true that most of the provisional committee came from there, but he did not, and he was glad of it (Laughter). He had never seen a newly developed estate in such a terrible condition. They had no light or police protection. For the £30 he paid in rates, only the house refuse was collected which, he calculated, cost him £3 each time the dustman called.

Mr Scargill (on the left) then spoke, saying that the circular issued by the provisional committee calling the meeting had made no promises, having been warned by the promises already made by others to residents on the estate. In a reference to the unmade roads and non-existent footways he said that residents had been promised paddling pools; they had already arrived at their doors and the children were enjoying them much more than their parents (Laughter). Residents, he said, had been deserted by those who made the promises. The association was named the Nork Association and its policies, in all matters, would be non-party and non-sectarian. The meeting endorsed the proposed constitution concluding with the election of the officers and committee.

The Nork Quarterly

At the first meeting, the executive committee set the annual subscription at 2s. 6d (12.5p new money). They also needed some kind of printed matter for propaganda purposes. A four page leaflet was proposed. In the event, many local businesses contributed and, with over eight pages of advertisements, the 20 page magazine made its debut in January 1926. The cover, designed and drawn by Mr Scargill, remained the same until 1931 when development of Banstead Village and surrounding areas resulted in the merger of the Nork and neighbouring residents’ associations. A new magazine covering all of Banstead, named the Banstead Quarterly, was published. It continued until 1948 when the association for Nork became a separate body again and the Nork Quarterly magazine resumed publication.