THE NEWSLETTER OF THE LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY FOR THE LONDON BOROUGH OF

Vol.2 No.3 FEBRUARY 1980 PRICE 10p Free to Members Committee to Review Local History

The Standing Conference on Local History — a national indirectly to a reduction in vandalism in the area. body — set up a Committee under the Chairmanship of Attention is drawn to the fact that no university offers a Lord Blake, to consider and review various aspects of local first degree in local history and the University of Leicester history. In the evidence which this Society submitted, the has the only local history department in the country. It is difficulties of a voluntary society such as ours, in contended that emphasis should be placed on the oppor­ endeavouring to cover the vast amount of local history tunities which local history affords for the development of work which needs to be done in the area, was stated; skills in handling and evaluating source materials and in together with the need for original records to be made using research techniques. readily available for members to work on. The difficulties The lack of local history activities in schools is criticised, which arise because so many of the Bromley area records but it is pointed out that the inclusion of such activity in jind documents are at the County Archives Office at the curriculum would demand teachers with the qualifi­ Maidstone, were also stressed. cations required to promote and guide it. They state that The Committee’s report has now been issued. They local history studies should be maintained at schools but define local history as the study of man’s past in relation to that it is difficult to imagine that any major development his locality; locality being determined by an individual’s can take place in the amount of useful work attempted, interests and experience. They point out that the growth in without the availability of more effective training. the study of local history has been remarkable, especially Training, the Committee state, is the key element in any since the end of the second world war, and state that the plan designed to meet the needs of those who teach local average membership of the 250 local history societies who history in school, higher education and in adult classes. submitted evidence, is 151. (The membership of this The Committee are of the opinion that it should be Society is over 200.) recognised as a subject for examinations. They urge that The Committee believe that local history performs a all courses on the subject should include training in a social and recreational role, and they submit that it has an knowledge and understanding of sources, a systematic environmental role too. It was reported to them that local method of investigation, the use of original documents, history lessons among school children in a London together with group and individual practical research Borough so stimulated a feeling of local pride that they led work. It is pointed out that the demand for access to study material threatens to outstrip the resources available. They criticise local record offices as being inaccessible. (There are only 70 local record offices but 5,000 public library service points). They state that copies of much used FUTURE documents in record offices should be distributed to public libraries in the area concerned. The difficulties of getting advice and information are MEETINGS referred to, as well as the shortage of finance for local Friday, 29th February Member's night. history publications. They state that there is a need for a national organisation to help local societies; to promote a Thursday, 13th March Annual General Meeting, which will wider interest in local history and to influence the be presided over by our President, the Mayor of Bromley, Councillor provision of the necessary service. J.F. David. It is predicted that the interest in local studies will continue to grow and there is a substantial case for the Saturday, 22nd March Conference on the history of West at 2.30 p.m. Wickham, at St. Francis Church development of certain services, facilities and a unifying hall, Ravenswood Avenue, West organisational framework. Wickham. Friday,28th March Churches and Local History. Copies of the full report of the Committee to Review Discussion. Local History are obtainable at £1.75p each (inclusive of postage) from 26 Bedford Square, London WC1B 3HU. □ Tuesday, 8th April . A talk by Miss Margaret Taylor of the Eltham Society. Friday, 25th April Vernacular Buildings. Discussion. FOREST HILL Wednesday, 14th May Open Spaces of . A talk Our member, Mrs. Doris Pullen, has produced another by Mr. Clifford Platt. book about a local area and the people who lived there — Friday, 30th May Visit to . Meet at Downe an area which was once a forest on a hill and is now a church, at 7.30 p.m. crowded and busy suburb of London. It tells of the early history of Forest Hill; the recollections of the people who Wednesday, 18th June . A talk by Mr. John live there and contains a wealth of detailed information at The Priory Orpington Edwards. about the area and its people. There are many very The above meetings will, except where stated, start at 8 p.m. and interesting illustrations. Copies can be obtained from the be held at Stockwell College, Bromley. author, 155 Venner Road, Sydenham SE26. The cost £2.60 ------J plus 27p postage, and it contains 160 pages. □ buildings In

There are two methods by which buildings can be which it is thought, make a valuable contribution to the protected against alteration or demolition. They can either character of West Wickham. Although these buildings are be “listed” as being of special architectural or historic not statutorily protected, the local Council will endeavour interest or included in a Conservation Area which can be to ensure that they are, as far as possible left undisturbed:- designated by the local authority. 77, Addington Road. “Modern” style house, built 1934, The following buildings in West Wickham have been by Leslie Kemp & Tasker. “listed” by the Secretary of State for the Environment and 54 and 56, The Alders. Early 19th century cottages. cannot be altered or demolished without specific consent Marley Homecentre, Road, (1935), by Leslie from the local authority in liaison with the Kemp & Tasker. Council Historic Buildings Committee:- Lodge to Coney Hall School, Croydon Road. A Victorian 25, Corkscrew Hill. An early 19th century weatherboard red brick lodge with tile-hanging. cottage. St. Christopher’s Chapel, Assembly Rooms, Gates Green 42, Corkscrew Hill. An 18th century house, stuccoed with Road. Originally a 15th century granary, refaced in gables, formerly the Rectory. 17th/18th century. The Warren, Croydon Road. A mansion, built in red brick 62 to 74 (even), Gates Green Road. Modern style houses with gables, dating from 1882, designed by the Chisle- (1935) by Morrell’s. hurst architect, George Somers Leigh Clarke for the Ex-Fire Station, Glebe Way. About 1938, banker, William De Zoete. Now used by the Metro­ Council Fire Station. politan Police as a sports and social club. Tudor Court, Hawes Lane. A Victorian red brick, tile- The Lodge and Gatepiers at the Warren. hung house. The Rectory, Gates Green Road. A 17th century red brick High Street. house, at one time, Coney Hall Farmhouse. (i) 1 to 11, Wickham House, rebuilt by R. Norman Shaw, l_ (V The Swan, High Street. About 1840 stuccoed, hipped slate 1868. roof. (ii) 47 and 49, Mid Victorian houses, converted into 18, High Street. An early 19th century, possibly earlier, banks. cottage. (iii) 92 to 100. 92 is a Victorian stable block to Wickham Church of St. John the Baptist, Layhams Road. Dating Hall. from the 15th century with Victorian restorations and (iv) 94 to 100 are later buildings in similar style. additions. (v) Wheatsheaf — basically a Georgian house with later The Lychgate at the church. additions. Wickham Court, Layhams Road. A 15th century red- Nash, Nash Lane, plus adjacent barn and cottages. The brown brick semi-fortified house. house is basically 17th century, greatly altered. Wickham Court Lodge. St. Nicholas School, 56 Springfield Gardens. An 1890 1 and 2, Burnt House Cottages, Layhams Road. 17th Victorian house, red brick with half-timbering. century red brick cottages. Wood Lodge, 1 Woodland Way. A Victorian lodge. Oak Lodge, South Eden Park Road. Mid 19th century. Two storeys, yellow brick. Taken from West Wickham Appraisal Area Report — a Wickham Court is one of only seven buildings in the Borough Plan Document for public consultation — issued borough of Bromley, which the Secretary of State by the London Borough of Bromley. □ considered to be worthy of a Grade I listing (i.e. of outstanding architectural and historic interest). In addition to these “listed” buildings, there are others

I*Vickham Court: front entrance, c. 1900 id Marlowe Write Shakespeare's Floods and Fish in 1865

days at Chislehurst? The Bromley Record reported that a violent thunderstorm visited the neighbourhood of Bromley on Tuesday, 23 May, 1865, especially the Crays where the Christopher Marlowe, the dramatist, is believed to have roads were completely ploughed up by the torrents of rain been the son of a shoemaker at Canterbury, where he was which fell and in many instances flooded the ground floors born in 1563 or 1564. He went to King’s College, of the houses to a depth of several feet. The residents had Cambridge, where he took a degree. After leaving the to make rapid escapes to the upstairs rooms. Fish were University he became connected with the stage. He was washed out of the rivers and ponds and were found in often at Scadbury Manor, Chislehurst, which was then the considerable quantities in adjoining fields and in cottages home of his patron, Sir (then Mr.) Thomas Walsingham, near the river at St. Mary Cray. Large eels were found on and it is believed that some of his plays were written there. the floors of cottages when the water subsided. It was On 18th May, 1593 the Privy Council directed Henry reported that there was a good “fry up” in the village that Maunder, the Queen’s messenger, “to repaire to the house night, notwithstanding the vigilance of the police, who of Mr. Thomas Walsingham in Kent, or to anie other place ordered that all the fish picked up in the High Street and in where he shall understand Christofer Marlow to be the fields, should be put back into the river. The damage remayning and .... to apprehend and bring him to Court done to the fruit trees was considerable and one fruit in his companie” . grower in the area reported that 50 bushels of gooseberries Much has been written about Marlowe being a spy and had been destroyed. The flood made its way through the connected with the world of espionage, and a great mansion of Mr. Joynson, the paper maker, flooding the mystery has been created about his death, which was lower part and leaving fish floundering on the kitchen apparently as a result of a pub brawl at Deptford, on 30th floor. □ May, 1593. The register of St. Nicholas’ church, Deptford, records the burial “ 1st June, 1593, Christopher Marlowe, River View, St. Paul’s Cray. vlaine by Francis Archer” . In the Public Records Office there is a pardon issued by Queen Elizabeth for Ingram Frizer for his part in the dramatist’s death. It is understood that Frizer was an agent or servant of Thomas Walsingham, as were also Skeres and Poley, the only others present when Marlowe was killed. An American, Mr. Calvin Hoffman, was of the opinion that Marlowe was not killed at Deptford; that the affray was arranged and that another body was buried in the name of Marlowe. He also believed that Marlowe lived on after 1593 and wrote all the plays attributed to Shakespeare. In 1956, he set out to prove his theory and sought the original manuscripts, which he expected to be able to show were written by Marlowe. The ancient timber manor house of Scadbury was demolished about 1751, so Mr. Hoffman went over the area when the manor stood with a mine detector, in the hope that an iron chest containing manuscripts may have been buried before the last Walsingham owner sold the manor in about 1650. The search was unsuccessful. He then got permission to open Balloonist Cecil v. Shadbolt the tomb in the Scadbury chapel of Chislehurst parish church, where it was believed that Thomas Walsingham In 1892, the Bromley Record reported the death of Cecil who died in 1630, was buried. There was some local feeling Victor Shadbolt of Beachcroft, Ravensbourne Road, ^out the opening of his tomb, as some felt it was Bromley, who was one of the best known amateur Sacrilege, whilst others felt it was the right thing to do, if aeronauts of that time. He died in Norwood Cottage the controversy about who wrote Shakespeare’s plays, hospital on 9th July, after a balloon accident at Crystal could be settled. The tomb was opened on 1st May, 1956, Palace, on 29th June. He was 33 years of age. and was found to be full of Normandy sand. The late Mr. Shadbolt was a member of the firm of timber Tom Bushell, the noted Chislehurst historian, was of the merchants, Messrs. George Shadbolt & Son, of Billiter opinion that Thomas Walsingham was not buried in the Street, London, E.C. and had made about one hundred tomb and said that the Walsinghams were buried in the balloon ascents, mostly from the Crystal Palace grounds. vault below the tomb. This vault was last opened in 1893, In these ascents he found great excitement and interest, and was known to contain no manuscripts. and he did not regard them as dangerous. He was a skilful An odd comment in the Bromley and Kentish Times for photographer and a world-wide traveller, particularly to 18th May, 1956, states that the easy nonchalance with the Holy Land, and the photographs he took there were so which officials and Press have dismissed the opened valuable that they were eagerly sought after by publishers. Walsingham tomb as containing “nothing but sand” is not Collections of his pictures were exhibited throughout the justified. The reason given for thinking that the matter country and received several awards for their excellence. should be treated a little more earnestly was based on the Mr Shadbolt was also a much sought after lecturer. His fact that the only other tomb the writer for the newspaper lectures were always illustrated by his oxy-hydrogen knew of, where the interior had been examined, in this lantern and the slides were prepared by himself from district and which also was supposed to contain a body, photographs he had taken. In addition to all these was filled with similar rubble. To go further afield, the activities, he did a lot of work for the West Kent Sunday writer believed that in the restoration of Rochester School Union, and for twelve years was Secretary of the Cathedral, the tomb of St. Paulinus was opened in order to Sunday School at Christ Church, Lower Camden, check up on the saint’s burial, and this too was found to be Chislehurst. empty except for rubble. He was buried at Norwood Cemetery on 18th July, Calvin Hoffman did supply some proof however, that at 1892, and a memorial service, with a large attendance, was least Shakespeare owed a great debt to the inspiration he held the same evening at the Bromley Congregational received from Marlowe’s works. □ Church. □ aLF-DAY WEST WICKHAM LOCAL FAMILY HISTORY PUBLICATIONS /STORY CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION The North West Kent Family History Society publishes a This will be held on Saturday, 22nd March, starting at booklet each quarter containing local genealogical infor­ T.30 p.m. in the hall of St. Francis of Assisi church, mation and articles about local families and family history, Ravenswood Avenue, West Wickham. Tickets will be 60p in the area of North West Kent. This of course, includes each to cover the cost of refreshments, etc. Members are the London Borough of Bromley. Members who are- asked to advertise this meeting as widely as possible and interested can obtain copies of the booklets from F.J. sell as many tickets as they can. The hall holds 220 people. Whyler, 163 Tubbenden Lane, Orpington, Kent. BR6 9PS. The speakers will be Dr. R.C.W. Cox, who will talk The cost is 60p for each copy, plus 15p for postage etc. □ about West Wickham in the 19th and 20th centuries, and Patricia Knowlden, who will talk about the earlier times. These are two excellent speakers so we shall be sure of an Bromley Charitable Society interesting afternoon. There will be an interval for tea and This Society was formed in the autumn of 1885, to cakes and an exhibition of photographs etc., of the West organise charitable relief throughout the town. There was Wickham of yore, will be staged. It is hoped that this a committee of seventy spread over six districts, i.e. (i) venture on behalf of the Society will get the full support of Bromley Town, (ii) Plaistow, (iii) New Bromley, (that is members and the general public. the area between Bromley and Widmore), (iv) Widmore Volunteers are wanted to help with the refreshments, and Homesdale, (v) Mason’s Hill and (vi) Bromley arranging the exhibition and other duties. The Secretary Common. will be pleased to hear from you. His telephone number is During the winter months each area committee met Farnborough 58679. weekly, and by this system of area committees it was Tickets will be available at meetings, at West Wickham claimed that no needy person in the parish of Bromley, was library and the Local Studies Department of the Central beyond the reach of assistance. Families were helped when Library, Bromley, and from the Secretary. □ the bread winner had been ill or was prevented from working because of severe weather or his trade was slack. GREATER LONDON RECORD OFFICE The sick and aged were provided with extra comforts and ^-^The archive Search Room of the Greater London in the case of windows with families, the relief made Record Office serving the former London and Middlesex available by the Guardians was in suitable cases supple­ sections, re-opened on 2nd January. Some collections are mented. Other poor people were given help to return to the now stored in an out-repository and will have to be ordered parishes of settlement, and numerous children from poor at least three working days before a visit. It is not possible homes were provided with a good dinner two or three times to issue hand-lists detailing the contents of the different a week. In addition to these practical aids, sympathy and repositories and they will, anyway be subject to change. advice were given to others in time of want or sorrow. Readers are advised to check whether records they wish to The committee members sought out those who needed consult need to be ordered in advance. Specific orders can help and the public were asked to draw the attention of the of course, be made by letter or telephone. Bromley Charitable Society to anyone who appeared to be The Search Room, B21, at the County Hall, London, in need of help. In Bromley it was a much more charitable SE1 7PB, is open Monday to Friday, 9.30 a.m. to 4.45 age than it is generally believed to have been, or perhaps p.m. and will be open on Tuesdays from 4.45 p.m. to 7.30 was in other parts of the country. p.m. by appointment only. For enquiries and appoint­ The Bromley public gave the Society considerable ments please telephone 01-633 6851. financial assistance and the system of aid appears to have A report on the contents of the Record Office was worked extremely well until the Society ceased to exist printed in the July 1978, issue of ‘Bromleage’. □ early during the first world war. □

SUBSCRIPTIONS These became due on the 1st January, and it is hoped Bromley’s Thursday Market that all members will renew their subscriptions as quickly possible. New members who joined the Society after 1st This started as far back as 1447, when John Lowe, the ^tober, 1979, are reminded that their subscriptions will Bishop of Rochester, who resided at, and was Lord of the cover the whole of 1980. Manor of Bromley, obtained from Henry VI, a charter for Subscriptions may be paid to any officer of the Society holding a market once a week. The charter also granted the or sent to the Hon. Treasurer, Mr. J.S. Nelson, Ensilmont, privilege of holding a fair twice a year at Bromley. 69 Road, , , Kent. TN16 A translation of the charter, which is in Latin, is:- 3LX. The rates are £2 for an individual member, £2.50 A.D. 1447. To the pious Bishop Roffensis and to the for a husband and wife, and £1 for a pensioner. Cheques Archbishops, Bishops, etc., and all and each, We, the may be made payable to the Bromley Local History King, send greetings. Society. □ We have also granted to that same present Bishop and to his successors, that they may hold a Market on their Manor of Bromley, to be held on Thursday of every Pitt's Pictures week; also a Fair every year, in the town on the same This was the name given to windows blocked in to avoid spot, with the theolonium and picagium of the same, the payment of Window Tax. This happened particularly to last during three days, namely the day of St. James after 1784 and 1797 when William Pitt increased the tax. the Apostle, and the preceding and following days; Evidently the tax was levied not on the individual window, notwithstanding that he holds within the aforesaid but on the total number of windows. Thus, in 1818, it was Manor a certain other Fair on the day of St. Blaize and £1 -13s for 8 windows, but £19-12s for 30 windows, i.e. a the following day. highly progressive tax. What I discovered only recently was Roffensis means simply Rochester; Theolonium is the that a dairy window was exempt if the word ‘Dairy’ was right of exacting tolls and Picagium is the right to impose a painted or chiselled on the window head. I wonder if any charge on the erection of stalls. such markings survive locally. The day of St. James was 25th July, and St. Blaize was The tax ceased in 1851. 3rd February, but after the reform of the calendar in 1752, Philip Daniell the fairs were held on 5th August and 14th February. □

Designed and produced by Raven Studios Ltd., 5 Rectory Road, Beckenham, Kent on behalf of The Local History Society for the Londori Borough o f Bromley. Editorial contributions or enquiries to: Mr. F.J. Whyler, 163 Tubbenden Lane, Orpington.