Parish Council - Cliffe History

The first meeting of the electors   called for the purpose of forming a Parish Council, was held   in the School Room on 4th December 1894, and 150 electors   attended. The following were elected: F. Wright, W. Smith,   G. Radford, A.L. Chesterton, S. Hammond, C. Knight, Hailes   Wilden, Wm Randall, Richd. Bolton, Chas.Lake and James   Smith.

One of the first things they did was to write to the   Water Works C, to “try & induce them to extend their main   into Cliffe village.”

In 1896 they commenced street lighting, and many of   these original oil lamps served the village until superseded   by electricity in 1931.

In 1898 the Parish Council took over Park Fields on   lease, allotting 6 acres for a Recreation Ground, and 4   acres for allotments. They later purchased the land, and in   recent years have erected a Sports Pavilion thereon.

There were many additions In the village, with the help of the council, among   these being the holding of a public library (ably conducted   by two voluntary librarians) twice a week, the formation of   a Youth Club in November 1946 and a “Darby & Joan” Club in   1950, and in 1952, after the Council had arranged for   suitable plot of land near Norwood Corner, a brick built bus   shelter was erected entirely by public subscription and   voluntary labour. The opening ceremony was televised by BBC,   and shown a day or so later on screens all over the country.

With the coming of the disastrous floods early in   1953, when our marshes were submerged, although the village   suffered but slight material damage, a relief fund organised   but the Parish Council quickly raised over £69 to help less   fortunate places.