Bromleag The newsletter of the Borough Local History Society

March 2004

Chelsfield — uncovering five centuries of history P6

Beckenham — the life of a 19th century author P8

A Russian tragedy P4 Bromley Borough Local History Society

Registered Charity No 273963 About the Society Contents Bromley Borough Local History Society was formed in 1974 so that anyone with an interest in any part of the borough could meet to exchange information March 2004 and learn more about Bromley’s history. History is continually being made and at the same time destroyed, buildings are altered or demolished, memories fade and people pass away, records get destroyed or thrown in the bin. We aim, in co-operation with the local history library, museums and other relevant organisations, to make sure at least Local studies computer some of this history is preserved for future generations. Database 3 We hold regular meetings and produce a journal and occasional publications where members can publish their research. History of the Chairman and Membership Secretary Dr Anthony Allnut Letter Box 4 Woodside, Old Perry Street, , BR7 6PP 020 8467 3820 Feature: Murder in [email protected] North Russia 5 Secretary Mrs Patricia Knowlden 62 Harvest Bank Road, , BR4 9DJ Review: 020 8462 5002 Chronicles 6-7 Bromleag

This newsletter is published four times a year. The editor welcomes articles College appeal 7 of between 100 and 1,000 words, along with illustrations and photographs. These can be in paper copy, disk or e-mailed. Feature: Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope if you wish material to be returned. Items remain the copyright of the authors and do not necessarily Dinah Maria Craik 8-11 reflect Society views. Each contributor is responsible for the content of their article. Review 11 Articles are not always used immediately as we try to maintain a balance between research, reminiscences and articles about different subjects and parts of the borough. Feature: Farnborough Editor Hospital 12-13 Christine Hellicar 150 Worlds End Lane, Chelsfield, BR6 6AS News 13 01689 857214 Email chrisandpathellicar @talk21.com News/Research Queries 14-16

All copy for the June Subscription Rates edition of Bromleag must reach the editor by Yearly subscription from 1 January Individual £8.50; couple £10. Senior citizens pay a re- Monday 26 April 2004 duced rate of £6 per person or £8 for a couple. Members joining after 30 June pay half rates.

2 Bromleag March 2004 Society meeting Calm and collected in the Bromley local studies library

new computer database that will make searching looking for volunteers to help with the cataloguing of the Bromley Local Studies collections easier, and biographies and sale particulars. A which will eventually be available on the Internet, was demonstrated to society members by archivist Bromley records on the Internet Elizabeth Silverthorne at the February meeting. CALM – which is already used by several other local Some Bromley archive catalogues are already on the studies libraries – is a cataloguing system for archives, Internet on A2A, Access to Archives, which contains libraries and museums. Elizabeth and Loraine Budge have catalogues describing archives held throughout been working with the system for the past six months to and dating from the 900s to the present day. make it as effective and user friendly as possible. A2A is a series of projects to put archive catalogues on At present data is only viewable on staff PCs and the the Internet. It is funded mainly through grants from the public can either ask staff to carry out a CALM search or heritage lottery fund and currently has 5.7 million continue to use the old written catalogues. But, over the catalogue entries from 335 record offices and other next couple of years, as more data is added, CALM will repositories. A2A bids for funding for specific projects. become accessible to the public both in the library and on Bromley has already contributed details of records in the the Internet. It is hoped that the first stage of public access series, Aladdin's Cave, a wide variety of non-official will be ready for Archives Awareness week in the autumn. archives held in six record offices in the South East and Local Governance and the Community, archives of local The data is currently only at collection level, with each bodies including parish councils, Poor Law Unions and entry a simple description of each collection. It doesn’t yet give information on individual items within collections, schools held in 11 repositories in the South East. which will still have to be searched for in the old manual typed lists. View on line The system is easy to use. The user enters one or more To see how CALM works look at the Hampshire records terms, such as a name or a category i.e. Darwin or office site at www.hants.gov.uk/record-office/catalog/ naturalists, or a phrase in the search box. The results of index.html. And Access to Archives is on www.A2A.org.uk. the search are displayed in a list of the catalogue entries. Internet access is available in the borough’s libraries. While the long task of cataloguing the main archives onto CALM will continue to be done by library staff Elizabeth is

Future meetings March to June 2004

Meetings are held at 7.45pm on the first Tuesday of the month, from October to July, in the Methodist Church Hall, North Street, Bromley. The hall has free off-street parking, good public transport links and fascilities for the disabled. Non-members are welcome at the society’s meetings for a nominal charge of £1.

Tuesday 2 March Spirit of Invicta: Kent in 20th century — Bob Ogley Tuesday 6 April Annual General Meeting To follow: Darwin at : Annie & the World — Randal Keynes Tuesday 4 May Pioneers of Flight in North West Kent — Monty Parkin Tuesday 4 June Life of Charles Dickens — Alan Watts

March 2004 Bromleag 3 Society meeting Uncovering the history of the humble letter box

Posting a letter has taken on a whole new perspective Returning to 1857, it was decided that pillar boxes were for those of us who heard Neil Lloyd give his rather expensive and could obstruct country roads. Thus the fascinating and humorous talk on the history of letter wall box appeared in those areas duly bricked into a pillar or boxes. For those who were unable to attend Neil has a convenient wall. Some of these could have a larger capacity than pillar boxes and wall boxes soon spread to written a summary of his entertaining talk towns. In 1885 James Ludlow produced a design for insertion into the facades of sub-post offices. These boxes riginally, anyone wishing to post a letter had to were made of wood with a metal front normally including either take it to a post office or, on payment of a the royal cipher on an enamel plate. A smaller alternative to O small extra fee, give it to a bell-man who would both these models was introduced in 1896 in the form of a ensure its entry into the postal system. However, Anthony lamp box which could be fixed to lamp posts or telegraph Trollope worked for the Post Office as a surveyor's clerk poles but would only be suitable for cards and letters. and was sent to the Channel Islands to see if The Penfold Box lasted until 1879 when it was decided to improvements could be made as it was known that return to cylindrical pillars but unfortunately the designers roadside boxes were in use in France. forgot the lower aperture and the royal cipher - Queen Trollope submitted a report and it was agreed to trial the Victoria would not have been amused! idea initially in Jersey and, in 1852, the first hexagonal After suitable adjustments the basic design has remained pillar boxes appeared. The oldest box now in use dates the same ever since although we had to wait until 1899 for from 1853 and is sited in St. Peter Port in Guernsey. A year the arrival of the oval pillar box with two apertures for use later saw some octagonal pillars on on busy sites. the mainland and the oldest of Experiments have taken place, especially these can be found at a country during the reign of George V, when the GPO cross-roads at Bishops Caundle in tried letterboxes in the back of telephone Dorset. Different designs were kiosks and stamp machines built into pillar introduced by the district postal boxes as well as special Air Mail boxes painted surveyors including a bizarre 8 ft blue. tall fluted column surmounted by a crown! There is still a box at Cork A number of EviiR boxes, large and small, Station with the aperture on top of exist around the country but the observer will the pillar. Luckily, this is under not find any EiiR ones in Scotland as the cover as the design failed generally Scottish crown was used instead to placate because of the problem of rain. A the purists! However this has not prevented National Standard was applied the arrival of six lampboxes in Kent happily from 1859 but discipline slipped to sporting Scottish crowns! During the present the extent that crowns appeared Queen's reign we have seen cuboid -shaped on top of these boxes in Liverpool pillar boxes made of sheet steel and cast iron and one in Rochdale even sported as well the stylish cylindrical K-type box which can be seen represented opposite Bromley a gas lamp! South station. Various trials with plastics have In 1866 J. W. Penfold produced taken place but the traditional pillar and lamp his decorative hexagonal box in boxes are still being produced although some three different sizes and they were of the former have recently had to support generally successful but, despite a pouch boxes to enable the postman to carry sensible siting of the aperture, the even more junk mail on his round. With the rain still got in. An 1871 report dawn of another century it is to be hoped that recommended an upshoot on the the humble letter box will continue to help us posting slot but experience showed all to communicate effectively with each other. that mail was getting stuck under Crash victim: A large Penfold pillar the roof of the box so a lowering of box , c1866, at the aperture was approved. Studley ,Warwickshire. This is no longer in use having been hit by a

4 Bromleag March 2004 Feature Murder in north Russia The battle between the Bolsheviks Another purpose was to provide a were unusually quiet and reserved. He and the British forces 1918 –19 bridgehead for the shipment of those then gives what he says is the official asking to leave Russia for Europe and record of what happened on 7 July, By Eric Green other parts of the world (6,000 which he was not able to give at the applied for passages). It was hoped time and, like this comments on the came across this note when that with the training that they were two captains, was written some time researching the history of education being given there would be a after the actual events. in Bromley. It was included in the sufficient number of Russians able to “The 3rd company of the 1st battalion I resist the Bolsheviks if the Allies Kent Education report for 1914 –19 Slavo-British Legion and the machine that included a roll of honour of 39 in withdrew. gun company of the Rifle Regiment. the committee’s service who lost their Three British officers and four lives in that period. “One of the Russian officers were murdered. Two Capt. Finch, Technical British and two Russians wounded. Institute, volunteered for service in N. Russians … stole The mutiny was suppressed by the Russia and joined a battalion of action of the British officers and by Russian solders. July 1919 they into his room and gunfire brought to bear on the camp. mutinied and shot Capt. Finch and eight Invaluable assistance was rendered in shot him through this emergency by the naval or nine other officers. the head.” personnel of the flotilla… Poor Finch A recent article in History Today he never awoke from the deep sleep examined the Allied intervention in the into which he had fallen. His Russian Civil War and made reference It was in relation to the latter scoundrelly batman – one of the to the mutiny in which Capt. Finch was purpose that General Ironside had Russians to whom he had extended killed. I looked up further references formed the Dyer’s Battalion – named many kindnesses – stole into the with help from the author of the article, after a young Canadian officer who room and shot him through the head Antony Lockley, and the staff of the was later killed in action. The with a rifle bullet.” Imperial War Museum and Bromley Battalion was raised from among General Ironside wrote: Library. Bolshevik prisoners and deserters. “The mutiny of Dyer’s Battalion had Capt Audrey M C Finch volunteered With hindsight it seems a doubtful caused me a greater shock than I like for service shortly after the outbreak of proposition. It has been said that the to admit, even in my innermost war and joined the ranks of the 1st/4th experiment was forced on General thoughts. I now felt a distinct urge to Battalion Seaforth Highlanders Ironside, but he placed a lot of hope extricate myself, and my troops, as ‘although still a boy.’ He rose quickly in it and the unit had received quickly as I could. The danger of through the ranks and was considerable training from officers further mutinies amongst the commissioned in February 1915 in his such as Capt. Finch. They were Russians had been greatly own battalion. He was sent to France presented with colours woven by the and took part in many of the great women of Archangel and blessed by a increased.” battles of 1915 to 1917 before being bishop of the Greek Church. The Dyer Battalion was disbanded and the men former into a labour unit. sent to America as an expert in modern There are a number of accounts of Plans continued for the withdrawal of tactical warfare. He returned to England the mutiny in which Capt. Finch lost the Allied force and the last British but in 1919 volunteered for duty in his life. The most interesting is to be troops left Archangel on 27th north Russia. found in a book With Ironside in North The various accounts of the Allied Russia by Andrew Soutar, a war September 1919. presence in north Russian in 1918-19 correspondent for The Times. It References: vary in the purposes of that presence includes a photograph of British and Antony Lockley Propaganda and the first and about the effect of Bolo (British Russian officers of Dyer’s Battalion Cold War in North Russian 1918 –1919 slang for Bolsheviks) propaganda. with the caption Captains Barr and (History Today September 2002 With regard to purpose, General Finch 1st and 2nd front row were Sir Edmund Ironside Inside Archangel Ironside, a commander-in-chief, in his murdered. 1918 –1919 book Archangel 1918-19, published in In the book Soutar says he prepared Andrew Soutar With Ironside in North 1953, makes reference to plans for lunch for ‘my old friends Capts. Barr Russia forces from that area linking up with and Finch (It wasn’t lunch the Savoy John Silverlight The Victors Dilemma White Russians in other parts of Russia would be proud of’). He described Michael Kettle Russia and the Allies and holding the fort until the Provisional them as the Scots twins – Barr short 1917 -1920 Government could organise its forces. and stocky, Finch tall and slim – who

March 2004 Bromleag 5 Review Chelsfield Chronicles Annals of a Kentish Parish. by Geoffrey Copus

he world has waited long for this book and the Reviewed by Peter M. Heinecke wait has been worthwhile. Shortly after her T marriage to Geoffrey in Chelsfield Parish The arrangement is Church in 1953, Brenda Copus confided to Dr. Gordon subtle, the first chapter Ward that her husband was writing a parish history. "My setting the scene in the dear young lady," commented Dr. Ward, "that will take him parish as described in the at least fifty years." And so the prophesy has come to Valuation Survey — the pass, but the connection goes back even to childhood, as New Domesday — of Geoffrey's father was choirmaster at the Parish Church of 1914. The final chapter is St. Martin. Already in 1949 Geoffrey Copus was then a poignant tribute to transcribing manorial documents at the office of the the young men of Waring family's solicitors. Since then he has sifted through, Chelsfield killed in the catalogued, copied and evaluated countless documents, Great War. To encase family papers, diaries, deeds, leases, wills, manorial rolls, everything else, en croute court records as well as newspaper reports relating to so to speak, between 1914 and 1918 is to emphasise the Chelsfield and its inhabitants. The research has brought enormity of the impact of that Armageddon on our social him contacts with many of the old Chelsfield families and history. their descendants world-wide. His catalogue alone of the Having taken a tour of the old parish, establishing the Harris family papers runs to thirty pages. geographical limits and its character, the reader is treated To collect all this material is one thing, to distil from it a to a warm-up and a taster. The first of these, "Scandal in readable, the parish" tells a Chaucerian tale of a pre-Reformation saleable book priest who gets into trouble and stirs up his flock through of a hundred his familiarity with certain ladies of the parish. The next, and eighty short chapter introduces the style adopted in other pages, is quite sections of the book. It looks at one small farm, "Worlds another. The End," in order to adduce something about the successive historian needs owners, their economic and social status, largely from to let the wills. documents The monumental eighteenth century county history by speak and yet to select and Edward Hasted, which traced the ownership of manors from the Norman Conquest to his own time and looked at interpret in order not to each parish church and its endowments, created a mould or framework that is evident in almost every Kentish local overburden the Focus of Village Life: The Five Bells, a reader. history since his day. So how does Geoffrey Copus deal with this pervasive influence ? In two ways : “…. although woodcut by Mary Hodgson Geoffrey Copus I have no reason to doubt the accuracy of what Hasted does this with consummate skill, as he teases out human wrote about the early period, there is no point in repeating pathos and comedy, strength and frailty from the dry the story yet again,” he writes. Instead he begins where parchment. Hasted leaves off, but at the same time not denying the Local history poses special problems. For instance, is a overriding importance of manor and parish as the strictly chronological approach necessary How does one economic and spiritual or social framework for most of the deal with those who may have covered some of the ground period. Thus we are presented with two valuable chapters before? How far is one constrained by traditional on “Church, priest and people” before and after the approaches and formats? How does one handle a sudden Reformation. In the ensuing topical chapters we return to imbalance in the amount of source material? “St. Martin’s Church and the Victorians,” before arriving at The way in which this book is structured and compiled, a detailed chapter on each of the four manors : Chelsfield, shows not only the author's acute sensitivity to such , Norstead and Hewitts. This, far from being questions, but his ability to provide balanced, happy and repetition, is ground breaking stuff. We see how the often original solutions, despite acknowledging a debt to vestigial feudal system of manor courts, quit rents and Ward's "Sevenoaks Essays" as a model. other dues that Hasted took for granted, was already

6 Bromleag March 2004 News

beginning to break up in his own time. We witness its slow demise as well as the last great flourish of Victorian seignioralty before all is swept away after the Great War. Bromley college Through all this we accompany Geoffrey Copus on an intensely personal journey which he will sometimes interrupt to recall how he found a particular source or launches £1m document. In the case of Lilleys Farm so much material accumulated, that it warranted a chapter to itself taking the story to World War Two and the farm’s destruction by a renovations flying bomb. Another interesting cache of material is opened up in the chapter on Chelsfield and the Mormons, recounting the comings and goings between Pratts Bottom appeal and Utah in the nineteenth century. This said, I would have liked a chapter on the impact of Bromley and Sheppard’s College has launched an the Wesleyian Methodists, whose chapel was placed so appeal to raise £1 million to bring the Colleges up strategically at the rear of the garden of that focus of to 21st century standards and to improve the village life, the Five Bells, in 1872. There are a couple of quality of life for the Collegians. passing references and quotes, but the reader is referred In Bromleag (December 2003) BBLH member to a script dated 1912 in Sevenoaks library. Elaine Baker reported on the society visit to the Footnotes, at the end of each chapter, and the college and traced its history from 1660 to the last bibliography are admirable, as are the many evocative modernisation programmes in the mid 1970s and illustrations. If I may be permitted just one other criticism, 1984. Since then little work has been done, apart it is a pity that we were not offered the choice of a de luxe from regular maintenance. edition in boards with a sewn binding as well as the cut Now after consultation with the Collegians the and glued pages in limp card covers. Physically the book Trustees have decided to launch an appeal to allow needs to stand the test of time because intellectually I them to upgrade kitchens & bathrooms, install a lift, doubt whether it will ever be surpassed. undertake energy conservation measures, improve Chelsfield Chronicles is available from Geoff Copus, shared areas and restore boundary walls, gate pillars 17 Oakdale Road, Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8DS or and the Wren gates. email [email protected].. Appeal director Carol Ward says: “The Colleges have Price £10. ISBN 1-872886-01-9. very little in the way of endowments beyond what is required to provide the present accommodation. There is now, however, a growing needs to modernise the History connected: flats and upgrade other parts of the Colleges. With the average age of the Collegians increasing from 73 “Alice Bray, who in1992 to almost 80 in 2004, many residents will died in 1510, gave require extra aids and appliances to make their homes to St Martin’s more suitable for their needs. Church, Chelsfield, “Apart from upgrading the accommodation, any a small field, the alterations made to the Colleges should improve the rent from which way of life for the Collegians without destroying the was to be used to heritage of a building that in some places is over 300 buy new bellropes years old. Because they are listed buildings any major whenever improvements or building works have to be carried out necessary … the under the auspices of English Heritage. These rent from the field buildings are our heritage and include some fine continued to examples of seventeenth century architecture. They supply this need need to be protected so that future generations can until it was sold in 1886 to Henry appreciate the design and crafts-manship of this era.” Thompson of Cross If you would like to know more about how to help the Hall, village appeal please contact: shopkeeper and Carol Ward, Appeal Director, Bromley & Sheppard’s small holder. The Colleges, c/o 48 Strickland Way, , Kent. BR6 small income from 9UE. Phone on 07961 363417 or by e-mail to the invested proceeds still goes towards the provision of [email protected] new bellropes.”  The first fund raising event, a concert in Bromley Alice Bray brass in St Martin’s Church Church Parish raised £1000.

March 2004 Bromleag 7 Feature Dinah Maria Craik

National Employment & Education Society, and in 1843 Joyce Walker for the Institution for Assisting Heirs-in-law. He made the looks at the acquaintance of Charles Mathews, Manager of Covent Garden, who allowed the family the occasional use of a life of the box and extended that hospitality to his own home. Here Beckenham the young Dinah met actors and comedians. Other author of John acquaintances, made through Thomas Mulock’s connections, were writers, dramatists and painters. So, Halifax - for a time, life was more settled and more comfortable Gentleman for the family. Young Dinah was able to study languages Dinah Maria Craik from the fronispiece and learn drawing at Somerset House, despite the fact of John Halifax—Gentleman that her mother’s health was failing and she was having to take over the running of the household. Dinah and her mother travelled to Newcastle with the intention of opening a school as soon as Mrs Mulick had inah Maria Mulock, who later became Mrs Dinah recovered. But, she died in 1845 at which point Thomas Maria Craik, was born at Stoke-on-Trent on 20 April Mulock deserted his children leaving them in some D 1826, the first child of Thomas and Dinah Mulock. difficulties. Dinah would not inherit money from her Her borthers Tom and Ben followed in 1827 and 1829 mother’s trust fund until she was 21 and so chose to respectively. Thomas Mulock was, at the time, the minister earn her living by writing. It was difficult at times and it at a small independent nonconformist chapel and reliant was necessary for her trustees occasionally to advance on the favour of his congregation. He was a charismatic sums of money to save the Mulocks from complete preacher but, according to Sally Mitchell in Dinah Mulock destitution. Dinah suffered more angst when her elder Craik, was also an opinionated, contentious and unreliable brother, Tom, who had articled himself to the captain of person. The inevitable happened when Thomas Mulock fell a merchant ship, was killed in an accident just before out with influential members of the congregation and so sailing on his second voyage in February 1847. lost his position as minister. In April 1847 Dinah Mulock was paid her share of the By the time Dinah was six-years-old the Quakers had capital from her mother’s trust fund. At the time she was acquired the Stoke-on-Trent chapel and the Mulock family living with her brother Ben in lodgings off Tottenham moved to Newcastle. It was difficult for the family at this Court Road, and working very hard at her chosen time because, for a short while, Thomas was confined to a profession. During this period she wrote and sold 5,000- lunatic asylum. Mrs Mulock, the daughter of a wealthy word stories every two or three weeks. They appeared in widow, helped a little with a small income from her father’s weekly magazines, prestigious monthly journals and Will, thus enabling Dinah to be educated at nearby fashionable annuals. By 1849 Dinah Mulock was in a Brampton House Academy. However, constraints on the position to devote herself to writing a full-length novel. family budget meant that there were no funds for the The resulting The Ogilvies was published later that year. purchase of books. Those that did find their way into the Olive followed in 1850 when £150 was paid for the house were loaned. copyright of both novels. At the age of 25 Dinah Mulock was an accepted professional. She was also handsome, At some point someone, possible an aunt, “began to high-spirited and a brilliant conversationalist who read aloud from Shakespeare, Chaucer and modern verse. Then … when the children were shut up indoors with enjoyed life in literary London. measles, whooping cough and chicken pox in succession, In 1850 Ben, now 21, armed with his share of his a friendly bookseller supplied them with stock from his mother’s estate, left England for Australia to try his hand lending library. At the point of transition into adolescence at civil engineering. Dinah Mulock continued to write and the future novelist became a fanatic novel reader.” (1) By was able to exchange her lodgings for a small house the time Dinah Mulock was twelve she was composing near Camden Town. In 1852, in company with a friend, children’s stories and able to help her mother, who had Clarence Dobell, Dinah visited Tewkesbury and noted the opened a school in Newcastle. name ‘John Halifax’ on a tombstone in Tewkesbury Abbey’s churchyard. She used the name for the hero in When Mrs Dinah Mulock’s mother died Thomas Mulock, her novel of the same name published in the spring of on the strength of his wife’s inheritance, moved the family 1856 – the work by which Dinah Mulock is principally to Earls Court Terrace in London. Here Thomas Mulock held a variety of positions. In 1842 he was working for the remembered.

8 Bromleag March 2004 Feature and the ‘Gift of God’ Ben returned from Australia, having given up civil business side of his flourishing publishing house. The engineering in favour of photography. He lived occasionally position was offered to, and accepted by, George Craik. with his sister in a cottage, Wildwood, which she had leased George and Dinah Craik came south and set up house in near Hampstead. At times Ben was extremely unwell Chilchester Lodge in Wickham Road, Beckenham. Here they mentally and finally had to be committed to an asylum. He began to entertain their large circle of friends and made was badly injured trying to escape and died on 17 June many more in the locality, including the Misses Emily and 1863. Dinah Mulock then sublet Wildwood and took Ellen hall of Ravenswood, West Wickham. Emily Hall first temporary lodgings at Wemyss Bay on the Clyde. She began met Dinah Craik in August 1866. Emily’s diary recorded that: to write less fiction, instead writing essays on serious “She lives in all the simplicity of a house without bell or subjects and social causes and was awarded a £60 annual knocker … so I had some difficulty in gaining ingress. She is pension from the Civil List in recognition of her services to tall and must have been pretty … Now her hair is nearly literature. This was passed on regularly to new and while … a small comely and not old face. Her manner, like struggling writers. her writing, is gentle and quiet – very pleasing but perhaps a George Lillie Craik, the historian and writer, was a friend of little wanting in energy or animation.” (2) many years standing. A nephew of the same name was born Emily was able to return Dinah Craik’s hospitality by in 1837, the eldest son of the Revd Dr James Craik. He was entertaining her, and her husband, to dinner at Ravenswood. “Mr Craik is a Scotchman … he is very quiet, with a plain humorous face, and a sententious way of speaking … it would be very nice if one might sometimes meet the notorieties of the library world at her little cottage.” (3) Emily and Ellen were able to do just that for the Craiks and Halls met and entertained each other frequently. Dinah Craik continued to write after her marriage. She published five novels in the first five years of her marriage, wrote for magazines, produced children’s stories and helped her husband read manuscripts for Macmillan. One of the novels, published in 1867, was Two Marriages. She confided in Emily that it “had not yet been reviewed by any periodical. She says she must take it as an indication that her day is past and leave off writing,” (4) It would seem that posterity agreed because the Dictionary of National Biography judged that “after John Halifax – Gentleman her subsequent novels were of no great account.” Much to Emily Hall’s delight Dinah Craik called on her in June 1868 to tell her that “they like this neighbourhood so much that they have bought a piece of ground at and are going to build a house.” (5) Norman Shaw was to be Beckenham home: Dinah’s house at 114 Shortland’s Road. the architect. But, before the house was completed an event Photo courtesy of Cliff Watkins occurred which set the teacups rattling in the genteel circles of Beckenham and its surrounds and which was to provide educated at Glasgow High School and University and the plot for a story subsequently written by Dinah Craik, became an accountant, setting up his own business in entitled Little Sunshine’s Holiday. Glasgow. Sometimes in the early 1860s he was badly It all began in January 1869 when a gardener named injured in a railway accident, in or near London, and had to William, on his way to work on New Year’s Day, was passing have a leg amputated. He convalesced at Wildwood, the junction of St George’s Road and Bromley Road, probably due to his uncle’s connection with Dinah Mulock. Beckenham when he heard a faint cry near a pile of bricks. Dinah and the younger George Craik became close, got The Bromley Record reported at the time that: “the poor engaged and were married by special licence on29 April little creature was nearly dead from cold and exposure, but 1865 at Trinity Church in Bath, where some of Dinah’s aunts by kind and careful treatment at Beckenham Police Station, lived. George and Dinah Craik took furnished rooms at a (then next to the Three Tuns) it soon recovered and was farmhouse near Glasgow and began to look for a house. It was at this time that Alexander Macmillan (another of Continued on Page 10 Dinah’s friends) was looking for a partner to run the

March 2004 Bromleag 9 Feature Dinah Maria Craik and the ‘Gift of God’ Continued from Page 9 piece for a picture – the mantlepiece has a motto – ‘East or West Home is Best’” (8) taken to the Union.” A week later the Revd F When Dinah Craik visited Ravenswood in October 1886 Calmers, Rector of Beckenham, appeared before the Emily commented that: Bromley Union Board of Guardians’ weekly meting asking “for permission to take charge “She has become very large and suffers from of a female foundling infant, rheumatism. Her doctor insolently informs her that about nine months old, found at her maladies arise from old age.’ She is just 60!” (9) Beckenham on the morning of There was news too at this time of Dinah Craik’s 1st January 1869, and from daughter, Dorothy who was “engaged to be married there brought to the to a sort of connection of Mrs Craik’s … He is one of Workhouse.” (6) The Board ten children, so there is not much money on his acceded to the application and side and Mrs Craik considers … that it is wisest to a memorandum was drawn up wait for two years, until she is 21 – the other by Revd Calmers, signed by two 26.” (10) It would seem that Dinah Craik relented, ladies, residents of Beckenham for the wedding plans were well in hand in late engaging to deliver up the child 1887. But then fate intervened when she collapsed in the event of any legal and died of heart failure on Wednesday 12 October claimants appearing at the 1887 and was buried in churchyard. The direction of the Board of Times reported the funeral: “ … in the presence of Guardians. The two ladies in several hundred spectators … the coffin was of oak question were Miss Wilkinson … borne on an open car, drawn by two horses and and Mrs Dinah Craik, both of the pall was completely hidden by a mass of whom had been touched by the beautiful wreaths and crosses.” story. A committee was formed to place a memorial to The Bromley Board of Dinah Craik in Tewkesbury Abbey. Its members Cross and stone on Mrs Craik's Guardians duly notified the included Lord Tennyson, Matthew Arnold, Robert grave in Keston cemetery Commissioners of Police, who Browning, Mrs Oliphant, Sir John E Millais, Professor publicised the finding of the Photo courtesy of David Johnson TH Huxley and James Russell Lowell. Another infant. There was no response memorial tablet was placed in St Mary’s Church, to the appeal for the parents to Shortlands, but it was lost when the church was come forward and so on 10th destroyed during the Second World War. January 1869 the baby was christened Dorothy at St Mary’s On 8 November 1887, four weeks after the funeral, Church, Shortlands. Mrs Dinah Craik took the baby home Dorothy Craik was married. The announcement in the with her and brought her up as her adopted daughter. Both Emily and Ellen Hall soon met the baby – in February 1869. Emily wrote in her diary: “Mrs Craik is satisfied herself Some of the works written by Mrs Craik that it’s a lady’s child … She has become so fond of it that during her time in Beckenham and she added, ‘But I don’t care who was her mother.’ It was Shortlands some time before Mr Craik could make up his mind to let her adopt it … It has been christened Dorothy – the Gift of God.” (7) For four years Dorothy’s nurse was Elizabeth 1865 Christian’s Mistake; The head Dennis, a member of an old Beckenham family who, on of the Family’ A Brave Lady marriage, became Elizabeth Levens. In Little Sunshine’s 1866 Two Marriages Holiday, published in 1880, Little Sunshine has a 1874 Mother and I; Little Lamb’ The nurse,’Lizzie’ i.e. Elizabeth Dennis. Little Lame Prince In the summer of 1869 Norman Shaw finished building 1875 The Laurel Bush The corner House at Shortlands and the Craik household 1880 Little Sunshine’s Holiday; moved in. Emily and Ellen Hall visited in May 1870. Emily recorded the visit. “We looked in at Mrs Craik’s house – the Thoughts on Women dining room has a most enchanting inglenook that is a 1881 Poems of 30 years, New and recess with a window at each end – and the fireplace in the Old middle – divided from the room by an archway projecting – 1884 Miss Tommy where she can sit and read – big enough for huge armchairs 1885 King Arthur – picture – and rich colouring – most enchanting and quite a

10 Bromleag March 2004 Review marriage columns of the Bromley Record read: “At St Mary’s Shortlands, by the Rev HF Wolley, Vicar, Alexander John M’Donell, second son of Mr Henry A River Cray journey Mulock Pilkington QC,LLD, of Tore, Westmeath, to Dorothy, adopted daughter of Mr George Lillie Craik and Along the River Cray: a pictorial history of the Cray the late Mrs George Lillie Craik of The Corner House, Valley Shortlands.” George Lillie Craik died in 1905 at Folkestone where he by Katherine Harding and Denise Baldwin was buried. The Corner House is now rather prosaically 114 Along the River Cray is an historical ‘coffee table’ book Shortlands Road and is split up into eight flats. It is on which has been produced under the wing of Bexley Bromley Council’s Local List of buildings of architectural Council. The book looks at a river – just nine miles in interest and is describes as: “An excellent house. Still in length – mainly in pictures but with very short potted good condition.” The erstwhile stables/lodge now serve histories of each of the villages/towns along the way. The as Shortlands Branch Library. In 1956 Beckenham book traces the Cray from Orpington to its final destination Borough Council turned down a request from the at Crayford Marshes where it joins the Darent and runs Shortlands Ward Residents Association that a with it into the Thames. commemorative plaque should be placed on the wall of It is a good quality production, set out attractively - the library giving as its reason that Mrs Craik did not though with perhaps a little too many blank pages - and write her best seller at Shortlands. Dinah Craik’s name the photographs, which are, after all, the most important was submitted to Bromley Council in1998 for a blue aspect of the book, produced to a high standard. commemorative plaque – but again it was rejected. Something that is often lacking in historical pictorial Chilchester Lodge has been demolished in recent years compilations. Most of the Orpington and and the site redeveloped with a complex of flats known pictures I have seen before and they have clearly been as Chilchester Court. digitally improved for this publication. The eulogy declaimed at Mrs Dinah Craik’s funeral The Orpington entry is dominated by the history of the contained some of her own words: “When they lay me in Priory as the first sight of the Cray is in the ponds in Priory the green kirkyard, say not that she did well or ill, only Gardens. We then have short pen pictures of rural St Mary say she did her best.” (11) Cray and Joynson’s mill and St Paul’s Cray and Nash’s mill. References The Bromley borough section is a small part of the book, 1 Dinah Mulock Craik by Sally Mitchell which for me was its attraction as I was interested in 2 Diary of Emily Hall 855 F2/11 learning more about the lower reaches of the river. 3 Ibid 4 Ibid 12 February 1867 But, with only a few hundred words per place it only 5 Ibid scratches the surface of the histories of Foots and North 6 Bromley Union Minutes 846 Gby AM 10 Cray, Bexley, Crayford, Barnes Cray and Crayford Marshes. 7 Diary of Emily Hall 855 F2/11 Mills, Churches and large houses, and their well known 8 Ibid historical occupants, predominate. There is little about the 9 Ibid ordinary people who lived in these villages and it would 10 Ibid. F2/18 have been good if the book could have had a narrative 11 Beckenham Journal 22 October 1887 thread that showed how the villages interacted with each Sources other and how the river, as Beckenham Journal a highway, connected the Beckenham & Advertiser lives of the different British Census 1881 villages and its importance, Bromley Council Minutes – Environment Services Committee if any, in their inter- 14 July 1998 development. Bromley Record Of its kind – pictorial Bromley Union Minutes 846 Gby AM 10 history - this book has Diaries of Emily Hall F2/11 & F2/18 much to recommend it. For (Bromley Local Studies Library those who know nothing of Dictionary of National Biography the villages it is taster, General Register Office Indexes which may be all they want, Sally Mitchell. Dinah Mulock Craik. Twayne 1983 via the or it may encourage Victorian Web readers to explore the Charles Morgan The house of Macmillan. Macmillan 1943 history of the villages of this rather neglected river. Street Directories The Times Priced £6 it is available at Bromley Central Library.

March 2004 Bromleag 11 Feature Old chapel of the Farnborough workhouse by Patricia Knowlden

John Hackwood’s reminiscences of Farnborough Hospital, in the last issue of Bromleag, reminded me that I have some photographs of the old chapel, taken in 1990 by Peter Francis. Already the first indications of changes to come were being felt and we were concerned that this little building, part of the original Workhouse, might he lost. We were assured that even though it was then unlisted it would be saved and indeed, there it still stands in sight of the main Hastings Road with later, grander buildings in rubble around it. Nevertheless, in 1990, a sceptical doubt remained and so these photos were taken. It also seemed a good time to see what could be found out about it in the Legacy: Farnborough Hospital chapel, the only records of Bromley Union Workhouse in Bromley Library. reminder of the old workhouse and hospital. Photo Peter Francis 1990 t first, after the workhouse opened in 1846, inmates had to go all the way to Farnborough Church for and expected a rise in salary. He went sick, and remained off work until the following April. The Guardians Sunday services, until the Vestry: A found a substitute and eventually discussed asking for “expressed a wish that the inmates of the Union House his resignation. Where-upon he quickly recovered. should discontinue their attendance at Farnborough Church on Sunday in consequence of the inadequacy of Surely, the chapel must have been in use by Christmas at least, but no mention has been found as to when it church accommodation in the Parish.” was actually opened. In 1990 the then chaplain’s The idea of a chapel at the Workhouse had already been records only commenced with a baptismal register in discussed, and in October 1861 the design was approved 1884. Over the years chapel and chaplains have played for a “descent but plain chapel” at a cost of £550. To be their part in the changing life of first the workhouse, and paid for by public subscription. In January 1862 the site then of Farnborough Hospital. was agreed. In the meantime services were held in the In the later years it was not a place of compulsory dining hall, which was not considered really suitable. attendance, but a place of comfort and solace. That role Work must have proceeded swiftly for by June the has been taken over by a new chapel within the Princess Bromley Record reported work had commenced and in Royal buildings, so there are plans for the old workhouse August that the roof was going on. Maybe too swiftly, for by chapel to continue in a caring role within the hospital, April 1875 repairs were necessary as the roof was “very but in a different way. bad”; just five years later repairs needed to the roof were estimated at £10. Be that as it may, in October seating was going in and by December the Union was taking out insurance on the brick and tile building for £300, plus £50 for furniture and fittings. In mid-November, “the New Chapel on the premises of the Union was nearly in readiness for Divide Worship, and would soon be opened; and it was the wish of the Guardians that two full Services should be performed therein on the Sunday” – they had a special meeting to discuss if they had the legal right to insist on the Chaplin taking these services as well as one during the week, besides visiting the house, infirmary and the schools. Workhouse and hospital: Farnborough treated German airmen in WWII (see story above right). The chaplain protested that he would be over-worked Photo Peter Francis 1990

12 Bromleag March 2004 News WWII German pilots at New ODAS publications Farnborough Hospital Orpington & District Archaeological Society have revised two of their he reminiscences of navigator. Lamberty had been a publications and produced a new part Farnborough Hospital in the member of the YMCA, had taken T recent issue of Bromleag by part in exchange visits to England of their Scadbury excavation report. Surgeon Superintendent JF before the war, joined the Luftwaffe Volume I of the Upper Cray Valley Hackwood, have been most in 1936 and was awarded the Iron Project, covering the Palaeolithic and interesting. Part of the second article Cross in 1939. Mesolithic periods, has been revised. The project records all the references, relates to August 1940. Mr Hackwood The 9th Staffel of KG76 (nine in the Museum archives and other describes his experiences during the aircraft), was a unit specialising in archaeological and historical records, Battle of Britain and recalls two low level attack, often at tree top to all sites and finds ever recorded in German aircrew who were admitted to height, the crews were experienced the Upper Cray Valley. Each period Farnborough Hospital. The pilot, who and confident, the deep penetration covered consists of a brief description spoke perfect English, complained of in the South East on Sunday the of that period followed by a gazetteer their position on a top floor ward and 18th, was the first such attack in of the sites and finds and a map anticipated release in a matter of England. The target airfield Kenley, showing their location. Three other weeks, when the forces of the Third on the outskirts of London, received volumes up to the medieval period Reich occupied England. severe damage. The Dornier I traced the pilot and subsequently bombers suffered heavy casualties, have been published. met him in his hometown of Trier, of the 40 aircrew taking part, nine ODAS’s booklet on Scadbury giving a West Germany in 1970, we continued were killed, three wounded and five summary of the history of the estate to correspond until his death in 1992. became POWs, the cost was so high and details excavations has also been On 19 August 1940 the two German that such a low level attack was not revised. aircrew were admitted to Farnborough to be repeated. The third part of the Scadbury Hospital, under escort, from the sick Lamberty and Roth were removed Excavation Report, written by Alan quarters at RAF . They had from Farnborough Hospital a few Hart, and covering the excavation of been taken there the previous day, days later to the Royal Herbert the barn is also now available. following the crash of their Dornier at Hospital at . One of the For further information contact , Keston, after leading sisters on the German wards there Michael Meekums 0208 302 1572 the low level attack on the RAF airfield now nearly 90, remembers them. at Kenley. Finally in 1941 the German officers Whiteley’s of Chislehurst The pilot was Oberleutnant Rudolf transferred to Canada as POWs. Lamberty, with Hauptmann Joachim Mr L G Smith As well as new local history books on Roth, Staffel commander, acting as Chelsfield, the Crays and Beckenham (all of which have been reviewed in this or last month’s Bromleag) the local studies library has a copy of English Heritage go interactive at Eltham Laurence Elvin’s Pipes and actions: some organ builders in the Midlands English Heritage have launched the first in a series of websites dedicated and beyond. to some of their most popular properties, with Eltham Palace. On line you can: The beyonds include a chapter Explore Now! with a time line, interactive maps and story galleries to devoted to the Whiteley family, organ orientate visitors and link the property to a wider historical context. builders of Chester and Chislehurst. Visiting the Property - has all the information you need about getting to the site and other attractions in the area. Pictured—50 years apart Teachers and Parents - includes downloadable activity sheets for planning The Bromley Camera Club site visits plus background history linked to core curriculum. photographs of 1951 in the local The Kids' Zone - is packed with activities to keep your children entertained studies library have been added to by What's Happening Now - includes details of hiring Eltham Palace for parties a new set taken in 2001. As far as and events and keeps you up to date with conservation news. possible they are on the same site or And Community - links to local groups, volunteers and personal histories. on the same subject. www.english-heritage.org.uk/elthampalace

March 2004 Bromleag 13 Research queries Every picture tells a story — but what story?

Loraine Budge, assistant supervisor at Bromley Local Studies Library, is looking for help in identifying an ever-growing number of uncaptioned pictures, which have been carefully stored in boxes and filing cabinets in the Central Library. Her aim is, eventually, to get all the pictures that can be identified Beckenham street scene: Could Intriguing: information on the back of properly labelled and grid this be Manor Road? this photo says Old Hills, 1941 and, referenced. However, as a first step added later, “an old Knockholt Loraine is looking for people who character who ended up in Hampton have an in-depth knowledge of a Cottages (the Alms Houses), I think an particular area of the borough to agricultural worker.” They were sent spare a couple of hours to look to the library in 1993, along with the through the photos and see if they pre-war photo (below), taken at can do an initial identification of any Shelleys Farm, by Mrs M Ackroyd. of them. Some are late 19th and But there are other rural scenes in early 20th century photos, such as Loraine’s collection that are the street scene right, which is unidentified. believed to be Manor Road. Boarded up shop: the sign says Others were taken well within Worthington stout – suggesting living memory such as the boarded the building next door was a pub. up house. But where was it? Or is it still there and renovated beyond information with it but many do not recognition? and these are likely to be the most There are also a lot of rural shots difficult to identify. such as those of haymaking in If you would like to help Loraine Knockholt. This, luckily, has give her a call on 020 8461 7170

Finding the railwaymen who fell in the Great War Eighteen thousand railwaymen died in the Great War and roll of honour – now very hard to find – and a special book their names are recorded on memorials at railway stations listing all 18,000 men had been produced for a memorial across the country. Now a present day railwayman, Barry service asked for by King George V. Kitchener, a duty station manager at Cannon Street station Using the Railway roll of honour, the Commonwealth War who is passionate about researching the roles of railway Graves Commission, battalion diaries and other records he workers in wartime, has compiled a complete list of the fallen. puts together information – ranging from half a page to 35 Five years ago as station supervisor at London’s Waterloo pages, depending on what has survived – for people who Station, Barry organised a remembrance service at the Victory ask him to research their relative. Barry says he is not a Arch. He was asked, by a member of the congregation, if he railway enthusiast and that unfortunately the railway could help identify which of the three Knotts on the arch was records of the men no longer exist but he finds the war his grandfather. research “very, very, rewarding”. He carries out research In doing so Barry, who lives in , discovered the for individuals free and is hoping to turn his database into other memorials, that each railway company had produced a a website. He can be contacted on 07763 647892

14 Bromleag March 2004 Research queries Seeking Cromarty Lodge Museum looks My birth certificate shows that I was born in 1946 at Cromarty Lodge, Wanstead Road, Bromley.

We visited Wanstead Road last week but could find no for 50 years of trace of Cromarty Lodge. It is possible the property has been renamed, or indeed demolished, to make way for the new housing built there. In addition we have also approached the planning division of Bromley Council but memories they have no record of Cromarty Lodge either. I am writing to ask if anyone in the Local History Society our memories could help introduce others – both would have any knowledge of the exact location of adults and children - to history and museums. Cromarty Lodge in Wanstead Road and whether it still Y Bromley Museum at Orpington Priory has introduced exists under another name or has indeed been Your Place an interactive gallery where visitors can come demolished? Any other information you have easily to hand and pick-up and use, or play with, games and objects on this building would be much appreciated. covering the latter part of the 20th century. If you have no information would you have any And they can also dip into My Bromley a folder that suggestions as to where we could possibly pursue this contains short personal pieces about people’s life and further? experience of the borough. Towse Harrison of Sun Jester, Christine and Colin Preece who devised the exhibition of the museum, is looking for The Skep more people to contribute to the folder. Her own 38 Summerdown Lane, East Dean experience of moving to Bromley as a young girl are in the Nr Eastborune. East Susex, BN20 OLE folder. It may well be that it will be adults who are the primary readers of the 'My Bromley' folder - they may then pass on what they have read or use it as a basis for discussion with For sale - Phillips D6650 other members of their group. Towsesays: “We do not want to be prescriptive on what people write about, but obviously it should be something Audio Box — £65 that others might want to read as opposed to a personal The society is upgrading and downsizing part of the polemic. It can relate to a specific place, event or personal technical equipment, the Audio Box, we use for memories. It can reflect the changing nature of life in the presentations. borough. It can be based on childhood or on adult “We are disposing of this system because it is too experiences. Your Place concentrates on the social and fully featured for our use. We are 'downsizing' and cultural history of the last fifty years so the time investing in a simpler system to meet the societies parameters are anything from the end of World War Two to needs,” says treasurer Brian Reynolds. “It cost over the present day. us over £100 and we are asking £65. It is in fully “We envisage that each entry (which may cover an operational order.” individual or an entire family if you prefer) would take up The Phillips D6650 is a 35-watt system with twin an A4 page. This would give space for two standard snap cassettes. shot sized photos and a text of up to 250 words. Tape A only plays. Tape B plays and records and has “As an example, my own contribution describes the a speed control for pitch adjustment and a separate experience of moving to Beckenham in 1964 which meant volume control. a new school and the need to make new friends. My dad There are bass and treble controls. took a photo of me in my new school uniform in the garden Three microphone input jacks for high or low and I have included a copy of that photo and one taken in impedance mikes and a fourth input for a high/low the same position in the garden in 2003. microphone or and electric guitar. There is an “Photos will need to be submitted as copies of originals auxiliary input jack for an electronic organ or piano, or as scans of originals as the museum does not have a synthesiser etc. or an external amplifier, recorder etc. scanner of its own. Contributions will be put together by There is an output line jack for headphones or for an the museum and displayed in Your Place as an evolving external recorder, amplifier etc. community contribution to the space.” There is an 'Echo' control All entries should be submitted directly to Adrian Green If you are interested in the audio box please ring at the museum. Brian on 0208 462 9526

March 2004 Bromleag 15 Sir Malcolm Campbell – recalling the Bromley years

Britain’s first great land and water speed record champion, Sir Malcolm Campbell, was born on 11 March 1885 in Chislehurst. He was the son of wealthy watchmaker and jeweller William Campbell. He died on 31 December 1948 in Reigate, where he lived for many years, but is buried at St. Nicholas Parish Church, Chislehurst, next to his parents. The article below, sent to me by Jean Wilson, was printed in the Bromley and West Kent Mercury. on 7 January 1949. It raises some intriguing questions? Neither Sir Malcolm’s wife – the first of three – or his sister are named. Does anyone know any more about his intrepid sister, “the first woman car driver in the district”? And, Messers Humerston, White and Petty how important was their mechanical expertise in Sir Malcolm’s early success?

Sir Malcolm Campbell’s Local Associations The death of Sir Malcolm Campbell, the motor speed ace on land and water, on Saturday, at the age of 63, will recall to older residents his early life in Bromley until his marriage at the Parish Church to the only daughter of Lady Knott, of Lauriston House, London-road. Mr S Humerston of East Street sold Campbell his first motorcycle, and his first Blue Bird racking cars were garaged at Mr T White’s yard at Masons Hill. All were second-hand French racing cars, and the streamlined racing bodies were made by Mr Petty of Ringers-road, Bromley. Early morning trials were made on local roads and on the drive of the Mansion Hotel, Sundridge Park, where Campbell stayed. His parents resided at Yester Road, Chislehurst, and his only sister was the first woman car driver in the district. HIS PIONEER PLANE Sir Malcom had a remarkable signpost erected at the entrance to Masons Hill Garage. On each arm were model racing cars, aeroplanes, etc., and the distances to Paris, Land’s End etc. It was made by Mr Petty. Sir Malcolm won his first race at Brooklands at 100mph. In the 1914 –18 war he was a RFC transport officer at Lydd. His pioneer plane, which was made in Bromley, Had a two-cylinder air-cooled engine, bamboo frame, and was flown at Orpington golf course.

16 Bromleag March 2004