Bromleag The newsletter of the Borough Local History Society

September 2004

Strong brew – the development of

Bromley’s links to 1400 ’s hero years of church history of the Titanic

Bromley Borough Local History Society

Registered Charity No 273963 Contents About the Society September 2004 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 P3 Rochester –1400 and learn more about Bromley’s history. years 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 P4 News: BBLHS library, museums and other relevant organisations, to make sure at least website and vice- some of this history is preserved for future generations. chairman We hold regular meetings and produce a journal and occasional publications where members can publish their research. P4/5 Society meetings Chairman and Membership Secretary Dr Anthony Allnut P6 Book reviews Woodside, Old Perry Street, , BR7 6PP 020 8467 3842 [email protected] P7 Library news Secretary Mrs Patricia Knowlden P8 Feature: Harold 62 Harvest Bank Road, , BR4 9DJ Bride 020 8462 5002 Bromleag P9 Reminiscence: Izard This newsletter is published four times a year. The editor welcomes articles of and Skilton between 100 and 1,000 words, along with illustrations and photographs. These can be in paper copy, disk or e-mailed. P9 Images of England Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope if you wish material to be returned. Items remain the copyright of the authors and do not necessarily reflect Society views. Each contributor is responsible for the content of their P10 Feature: Culpeper’s article. herbal Articles are not always used immediately as we try to maintain a balance between research, reminiscences and articles about different subjects and P11/12 parts of the borough. Feature: A Bromley Editor pawnbroker Christine Hellicar 150 Worlds End Lane, , Kent BR6 6AS 01689 857214 P13/15 Email chrisandpathellicar @talk21.com Research queries P16 Feature: John

Cunningham

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

2 Bromleag September 2004 News Rochester – 1400 years in the Service of God

In this special anniversary year Patricia Knowlden celebrates Bromley’s special connection with the Bishops of Rochester.

n AD 604 the Pope’s missionary to pagan Britain, Augustine, consecrated one of his band of monks, I Justus, as Bishop of a new See at the old Roman city of Rochester. His task was to convert the people of the western side of the kingdom of Kent to Christianity. King Ethelbert donated land for a church, which was built on a site overlooking the bridge across the Medway River and dedicated to St. Andrew. Rochester Cathedral Some time afterwards this first church was replaced by a modest cathedral, the ‘seat’ of the Bishop – the ‘Bishop of reorganising Church affairs, for instance establishing the Castle of West Kent’ as he was referred to in AD 670. separate courts for ecclesiastical and secular matters. The See of Rochester had its own Courts, which had In the 19th century a line of stones was found under the jurisdiction over the three Deaneries of Rochester, Malling floor of the western end of the present nave. It was part of and Dartford. These were comprised of all the parishes a semi-circle and is credited as being the apsidal end of west of the Medway plus Borstal on the east bank and this first cathedral – although some archaeologists Wouldham somewhat further east – except for the two consider it to be part of a Roman building. Archbishop’s ‘Peculiars’ of Cliffe and Shoreham (with their The earliest work which can be seen today, was erected neighbouring parishes). Many of Lanfranc’s innovations in Norman times, largely by Bishop Gundulf in the late 12th have lasted for centuries. century in ‘a few years’ as we are told; but even that is only Bishops, like Archbishops, were expected to take their part of the crypt, and ‘Gundulf’s Tower’ – which, too, is place at Court. After the king and court settled at subject to controversy. Most of the early fabric visible Westminster this meant travelling to London with a th today is 13 century. retinue, a journey of several days. To provide When William of Normandy became king of England the accommodation for overnight stops the Bishops (like the Saxon bishop of Rochester, Siward, was allowed to remain Archbishops) developed several of their estates, building in place. William appointed his own Archbishop of Canterbury, the energetic Lanfranc, who set about Continued on Page 5

Future meetings October to December 2004 Meetings are held at 7.45 pm 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 facilities for the disabled. Non-members are welcome at the society’s meetings for a nominal charge of £1.

Tuesday 5 October The Thames & Docks in Days Gone By Jim Hewitt Tuesday 2 November Medicine and surgery in the Great War Dr Andrew Bamji (see P 15) Tuesday 7 December Cinemas & Theatres of Kent and SE London Tony Moss

September 2004 Bromleag 3 Society news/meeting BBLHS website update A Dickens of a life harles Dickens, well of course I In 1846 he was editor of the Daily http:// know all about him. I am sure News, then he published Household bromleyblhs.mysite.wanadoo- C that thought ran through the Words. And then All the Year Round. members.co.uk minds of most members of the BBLHS It is probably as a novelist that when they saw Alan Watts’ subject for Dickens is best known. He first wrote a The website is fairly basic at the his talk in June. piece A dinner at Poplar Walk and it moment, being a free 'easy to How wrong we were. His talk was published, much to his setup' Freeserve (now Wanadoo) spanned Dickens’ life from cradle to amazement, in The Old Monthly site which means there are grave and what a wealth of Magazine in 1833. In 1836 the first in restrictions on what one can do. information we were treated to. a series Sketches by Boz was published At present it includes details of Who knew that he was born in followed by the first instalments of our meetings, publications, a Portsmouth in 1812 and his middle Pickwick Papers. membership form and contact names were John Huffam and he was His fortunes improved and in 1836 he details for the society. one of eight children? Charles had married Catherine Hogarth, the sister of At the time of writing (August been taught to read at an early age, his great friend George Hogarth. He 2004) we have had over 430 was an avid reader and seems to went on to write many more of his visitors. I have received a few have got his gift for novel writing from novels in serial form. His style was well local history enquiries and I his grandmother, who was a great suited to this form and he drew deeply understand John Clarke has had storyteller. from his own personal experiences. His a number of people contacting His father, being a civil servant with memorable characters were drawn him to buy publications. the Navy, was moved from from friends and acquaintances and, in I hope to do more with it as time Portsmouth to Chatham and then to later years, he attacked the injustices permits. To do this it may be London. Charles was sent alone, by experienced by the lower classes. necessary to create another site coach, from Chatham to London It is perhaps as a public reader that with a different URL (address) so packed in damp straw like game, Dickens is less well known although in that we can, among other things, which experience remained with him recent years he has been impersonated add an index of articles from and was no doubt used in some of his in this role on the stage. He always had Bromleag(e), links to the websites stories later on. an acting streak in him and in 1853 he of other organisations of interest He had a happy schooling at appeared at the Birmingham Town Hall and of course some old Chatham, but in London his father, in to read A Christmas Carol. photographs of the area. true Micawber fashion, got into debt He continued with this for many years Meanwhile if there is any and, owing £40, was thrown into but, although it brought in a lot of member who has the knowledge Marshalsea prison. Charles was found money, it effectively ruined his health and expertise to help with this, or employment at Warren's Blacking and hastened his death. indeed take it over, please get in Company at six shillings a week. He He moved about London and the touch. I can be contacted by hated this experience, which South East of the country during his email at remained with him all his life, and lifetime. On his marriage to Catherine [email protected] again it formed the background in his they lived in Doughty Street in London, novels. Yet his parents seemed quite Denise Rason then in 1839 they moved to Devonshire satisfied with the situation. After he Terrace, Regents Park where six

had a quarrel with the owner of the children were born. In 1852 they New vice- blacking company it was decided that moved to Tavistock House in Tavistock Charles should continue his Square. chairman for the schooling. In 1860 he moved to Gads Hill Place, He was a constant visitor to the Higham by Rochester following his society British Museum Reading Room and separation from Catherine in 1858. also taught himself complicated Michael Rawcliffe has been Gads Hill was purchased as a summer shorthand. During his lifetime Dickens home but became permanent. Dickens appointed as the society’s new had three distinct professions: vice-chairman. He succeeds Chris died of a stroke on the 9th June 1870 journalist, novelist and public reader. and is buried in Westminster Abbey. He Porteous who resigned the As a journalist he was, for a time, position as he has moved away left £93,000, in today's money about writing for The Mirror of Parliament, £6 million. from the borough. However, Chris which today is Hansard and also for will be staying as a member of Brian Reynolds the Morning Chronicle.

4 Bromleag September 2004 Society meeting Kent’s early pioneers of flight

oday North West Kent’s claim to aviation fame is gun mounted on a bicycle. After early experiments with with its World War II history and current up man-lifting kites — which were used in the Boer War for T -market commercial use. But other corners of Kent observation — and balloons, he became president of the also have their place in aviation history. Aeronautical Society and built his own planes. In his talk, Pioneers of Flight in North West Kent, Monty Another figure in aviation history was John Moisant Parkin told BBLHS members about some memorable who, in 1910, crossed Kent as he flew from Paris to events and people, starting with the flight in 1825 of a London. His actual flying time was a matter of hours but hydrogen balloon from Seal Chart. The two French he crash-landed so many times his journey took him aviationists chose the site for its remote location. But in three weeks. the five days they took preparing - for what turned out to In the early years of the 20th century, before proper be just a three-mile flight ending in a hop garden - they designated airfields, pioneering aviators used open sites were besieged by onlookers. wherever they could be found, including Knockholt Seventy years later, on the hills above Eynsford, flight Cricket Ground and golf course where Malcolm pioneer Percy Pilcher made experimental glides in his Campbell twice made flights from his plane built in Hawk hang glider. Flying was a very dangerous business in Bromley. There was also a plane built at Farnborough. those early years and Pilcher was killed, giving a Many famous aviation names were connected with demonstration, in 1899. It was just before he was about Kent. The Short brothers were in East Kent and to test his first powered machine. Alexander Duckham, of the oil family, was at Rooks Hill Those early pioneers were brave and sometimes at Underriver, Sevenoaks. eccentric. Monty told us about Major Major Baden-Powell Little tangible remains of Kent’s early aviation history from Riverhead, brother of the founder of the scout but at Sundridge, near Sevenoaks, where there was an movement. He invented many things including a machine airfield, one of the original hangers still survives. Rochester – 1400 years in the Service of God Continued from Page 3 the Diocese. In this year of our Lord 2004 they, with the other churches of the See, are celebrating Rochester’s ‘Palaces’ - a term strictly referring to the Bishop’s 1400th anniversary in many and varied ways with much joy residence in the cathedral precincts – to stay in. The and thanksgiving. manor of Bromley was one of these; others were Halling, Stone and Trottescliffe. Bromley had belonged to the For more information on the Palace of the Bishops of Rochester in Bromley see Bromley Manor and Palace through Bishops of Rochester from the late 10th century. the Centuries, by Patricia E. Knowlden published by BBLHS. The first manorial hall-house had probably been close to Bromley church where there was a substantial farm complete with tithe barn until the 19th century, known as Church House. In 1185 it is recorded that Bishop de Clergy of the Church of Glanville replaced his palace at Bromley with one ‘more congruous’. The writer contends he did so on a new England database ‘greenfield’ site, some half mile away, surrounding it by a A database reconstructing Church of England moat part of which can be seen and enjoyed today. clerical careers from the Reformation to This mansion was added to, and subtracted from, until it Victorian times, and compiled from ordination could no longer be patched up and in its turn was replaced and other records such as Visitation returns, can in 1774 with the elegant brick built mansion that is still at be found at the heart of Bromley’s local government. www.kcl.ac.uk/humanities/cch/cce/ Over the years many of the Bishops found that Bromley’s The section on the Diocese of Rochester – which air was sweeter and the site less tending to the rheumatics will be going on-line shortly – is the pilot scheme than the Palace by the river in Rochester, and it became a because its’ 94 parishes are a small enough favourite residence. number for trials. The web site also includes a Bromley’s special connection with the Bishops of history of the Diocese and its bishops and Rochester came to an end in 1845 when the Church bibliography. Commissioners decided to sell. But, of course, most of the parishes in the London Borough of Bromley are still within

September 2004 Bromleag 5 Book reviews — a new book brings

Around Crystal Palace & Penge by David R Johnson

Reviewed by Cliff Watkins

avid Johnson As mentioned, the quality of David’s commentary on the has a real illustrations lifts this above the usual tome of sepia D passion and images. And historians will find very useful the inclusion of enthusiasm for Penge an index - the first I have seen in a book in the Sutton and the Crystal Palace series. and I looked forward to David has included a great deal of what, to me, is new this book, his third for and fascinating information, but from a personal Sutton Publishing, with viewpoint. I would like to have learnt so much more. Let’s great anticipation, hope that soon David can give us more of his in-depth ready to compare it knowledge about such an important area, recently ignored with Mick Scott’s by serious historians and so nearly desecrated by Bromley Crystal Palace, Penge Council. and in Old Ken Livingstone says that he "wants to make Crystal Photographs, also from Sutton’s, in 1995. Palace come to life to attract people from all over London." This is by far David’s best work and is superior, both in When people again flock into the area, David’s book will editorial content and in the quality of the reproduction of tell them what has taken place during the 150 years since the photos, to Mick Scott’s book, which looks a little Paxton’s Palace moved here in 1854. Among some of the dated by comparison. fascinating vignettes penned by David are those about: a

Green Street Green from brewery to village

estling on the very edge of Bromley, between hamlet with its inhabitants being attached either by Orpington and the M25, Green Street Green is geography, or inclination, to the villages of Chelsfield and N one of the smaller communities in the borough. It Farnborough. is also one of the newer. The authors take the reader, in detail, through the It was for most of its history no more than two farms, a growth of Green Street Green over the past two hundred few cottages and an inn for travellers on the London to years, using a thematic rather than a chronological Hastings Road. structure. Then in the early 19th century a small farm brewery There are chapters on local administration, village life, took off. Very soon an incongruously large factory the brewery, transport, religion and education and they building - the Oak Brewery (cover picture) - was built in take the story right up to the present day. Highlights are the middle of the countryside. the boom years of the brewery and its heyday when day- Within a few decades, “The enterprise was to stimulate trippers on the 47 bus and cyclists brought and the need for housing, for education for the children and prosperity to the village. for facilities for social activities and religious meetings.” All of this was within the last 150 years. It is not Not surprisingly, in The Story of Green Street Green, possible, however, to pinpoint the goings on in the little local residents Marjorie Ford and Geoffrey Rickard hamlet much before 1800 so for earlier times the devote a whole chapter to the brewery, its growth and authors have given us a more general picture drawing on demise and subsequent industrial uses and its key part material mainly from Chelsfield and Farnborough parish in the development of Green Street Green as a village records. community. They also have some interesting, but not conclusive, Until then Green Street Green had been an outlying theories on the origins of the names Green Street Green and Worlds End Lane and of the siting of the local gibbet.

6 Bromleag September 2004 News fresh insights News from the Local Studies Library placid cow used to lead animals to slaughter by the Archives butchers in Penge, the disappearance of children in During the autumn we are not beginning any new Sydenham, the height of the 8th Wonder in the World projects. After all the staff changes of the last year we and the chilling death of the barefoot eight-year-old will be continuing to work on listing the archives, both chimney sweep. new items and conversion and expansion of existing This book is well worth buying and I am sure that lists. via the Access to Archives project which lists our readers from a wide catchment area will enjoy it. records on www.a2a.org.uk. New Opportunities Fund financed project Penge to Petts Wood This project has allowed us to appoint a specialist archives cataloguer, Vicki Perry, who stared work in Palace of the People August for 18 months. Vicki comes from Grantham The New edition of Graham Reeves Palace of the and has recently been working on a similar project in People, first published in 1986, has been produced Dublin. by Bromley Libraries. Staffing The book covers the history of the Crystal Palace, Sally Deves is returning to Bromley Local Studies as its building and uses. Assistant Archivist, a recreation of a post last held by Vi Cannon in 1996. Another change is that Lottie Collins, currently at the museum, will now be working part of her time on Local Studies and Archives projects too. Currently we are both working on: People's War Project With the Bromley Oral History Group we hope to produce an exhibition at the museum next year. This includes work on the re-recording of many of the oral The Story of history/reminiscence tapes that Alex Freeman made Green Street in the 1980s onto more modern formats. Some are also being transcribed for the first time. Green Developing resources for schools by Marjorie These will be based on the archives and local studies collections to complement and extend the range of Ford and resources the museum currently offers— i.e. the Geoffrey schools loans boxes. These will be particularly for key stage 2 primary school children studying a local Rickard history project. CALM We have had problems recently with our new CALM The book would have benefited from having the archives database, which has been unavailable for chapter on the growth of the brewery much earlier, rather several weeks due to server problems. Once they are than half way, as all the other developments are a direct resolved we will continue work making the database result of its establishment. But in its 120 pages it has a available over the Internet. Autumn 2005 is now my wealth of information and it is written in a succinct style target for achieving this. bringing to life one of Bromley’s lesser-known corners. Reminiscence session in Chelsfield The Story of Green Street Green is published by We have a reminiscence session planned for Bromley Libraries in its Bromley Local Histories series. September/October in Chelsfield Village as part of our Priced £8.00 it is available from borough libraries. 'What did you do after the war' (1945-60) series. This is being organised in conjunction with Claire Hogben. Simon Finch

September 2004 Bromleag 7 Feature Blue plaque commemorates Titanic hero Harold Bride

The house where Harold Bride lived in Ravensbourne Avenue, Shortlands until 1920, has been given a blue plaque. Cliff Watkins relates how the Beckenham radio operator, who was aboard the Titanic, became a national hero.

arold Sidney Bride was born aboard ships was the way of fulfilling on January 11, 1890 in Hull. his ambitions. H His parents, Arthur and Mary He soon completed the training Ann (nee Rowe) had three other sons - needed for him to be registered at the Arthur, Frank, and Edwin - and a British School of Telegraphy. When he daughter Marie was 20 Harold and his father, to the Celeste. astonishment of the neighbours, built Early in the an immense antenna on the roof of 1900's, the family their house to practise telegraphy. A moved to 58 year later, in the summer of 1911, Ravensbourne study of art and Harold joined the Marconi Avenue in International Marine Company and sciences". Beckenham where worked on various ships including Arthur was one of In addition to the Haverford, Lusitania, Lafranc, Anselm the first pupils at facilities in the and finally, in the spring of 1912, the building the school the Technical Titanic. Institute, the new had its own sports ground on Turners On board were two young radio County Secondary operators: Jack Phillips and his deputy School in Meadow and, importantly as it Harold Bride. Wireless telegraphy Beckenham Road. was new and its role on ships was It had opened in proved for Harold Bride, it was mainly to send messages for the first 1901. adjacent to the new class passengers. The land had municipal baths Marconi held the monopoly in been given as a opened a year wireless telegraphy and their gift by Albemarle The Bride’s family home in earlier. equipment was installed on virtually Cator specifically Ravensbourne Ave, Shortlands Harold was a model pupil all ships and manned by radio for use as the site operators employed by them. The for the school. The and at the age of 14 he told his family that he wanted to become a operators had to be between 21 and building costs of the then Beckenham 25 years old and able to receive and Urban District Council had been met telegraphist and to travel. Working by central government funds which had been raised by a tax on distillers, the so-called "whisky money". Plaque for famous opera star At the end of the 19th Century, the The home of opera singer Heddle Nash, who became an international government was aware that Britain's star in the inter-war years, in Towncourt Road, Petts Wood is also being pre-eminence in world trade was commemorated with a blue plaque. under threat as the industries in other countries began to catch up. The aim Heddle Nash studied in Milan before making his debut there in The of the new secondary schools, to Barber of Seville. He sung in many Italian opera houses before returning quote from the brochure produced for to England in 1925. He toured with the British National Opera Company, Beckenham, was to "educate leaders appeared at Covent Garden and was at the first Glynbourne Festival in of our national industry, make the 1934. Latter he taught at the Royal College of Music. children good linguists, teach methods of trade, and encourage the

8 Bromleag September 2004 Reminiscence Rendering a living

By Arthur Howe y family moved to Bromley from Croydon in 1930. My father purchased the freehold of a house and business M premises on the Bromley side of the Downham Estate. The retail outlet was a grocery and provision shop. There were occasions when my father visited a wholesale grocers in the Harold Bride Market Square, Bromley, an old established family firm named Edward Izard Ltd, to purchase supplies of goods he needed to replenish his stock. As a schoolboy I accompanied him on a number of occasions. transmit Morse code at least 25 Next door to Izard was an old family butchers named W. F. Skilton. Mr Skilton words a minute. grazed his cattle on land at the rear of the convent in Plaistow Lane and Despite being told by the captain of Orchard Road. the Titanic to abandon ship, both In the thirties when the sheep and cattle were ready to be slaughtered they Phillips and Bride stayed at the radio were brought through Izard’s yard to the rear of Skiltons where there were sets sending messages for help until facilities to slaughter the livestock. When the butchers had dissected the water started to wash into the carcases, the bones, fat and any other non-saleable portions were transported wireless room. By staying at their post back to Izard’s premises where they operated what was called a rendering until the end they were instrumental plant. in saving many lives. This plant was used to boil the bones, fat and other waste products to allow The two men took different escape them to be used in other ways. The liquid fat was run into metal keys and sold routes. Bride helped to assemble a to a firm named Prices who manufactured nightlights and candles. I think they collapsible life raft but was washed were based in South West London. The remaining solids were cooled and overboard and under the raft. Bride's pressed into slabs the size of paving stones and used in the manufacture of teachers at the Technical School dog biscuits. A firm in Greenwich named Mallassines, who were in that claimed that it was their compulsory business, comes to mind. swimming classes that saved him that To maintain a viable return on the capital outlay, needed to build their night as he swam away from the rendering plant, waste products and bones from other butchers in the Bromley feared suction of the Titanic to reach and surrounding area were used. A firm based in Walters Yard, named the life raft. Laurence Bros, operated a collection service. The men on the raft recited the Unfortunately during the early bombing raids of the Second World War Izard’s Lords Prayer which was answered premises were fire bombed and the rendering plant was completely destroyed. when one of the ship's lifeboats, already overfill, made room for them. It was never rebuilt. Jack Phillips also made it to the same lifeboat but he died of hypothermia before the arrival, in the morning, of Listed buildings to view the Carpathia to rescue many of the Every listed building in England is being photographed and put onto the web in survivors. English Heritage’s Images of England photographic survey. Bride received a hero's welcome when he returned home to Over the past five years 1,500 volunteers, with an interest in photography Beckenham. On Empire Day in June and their local historic buildings, have been taking photos of listed buildings. 1912 he stood on the bandstand in One photo of each building – to-date there are 370,000 - will eventually be Croydon Road recreation ground displayed with a written statutory description of the building. waving to the crowd who responded Alongside the 7,484 parish churches, 424 castles and 3,425 country houses with loud applause. there are listed 55 garden sheds, one pigeon The Beckenham Journal reported loft, 516 pigsties, 291 lavatories and 11 that "As Mr Bride left the bandstand skating rinks. many thronged around him eager to www.imagesofengland.org.uk will be one of shake his hand, and then a body of the world’s largest, free, on-line picture his old school fellows of the libraries. Beckenham Secondary School got This Late C18th weatherboarded cottage in hold of him and carried him amidst Chelsfield is among many Bromley buildings cheers around the ground." already on the site

September 2004 Bromleag 9 Feature A puzzle from a 17th century embers of this society get out and about from time to time under the guise of running a display stall at some event or other. And visitors to the BBLH stall are always intrigued by Patricia Knowlden’s M Culpeper’s Herbal Competition. She thought it was about time members had a chance to dip into her literary herbal. Around 1640 Nicholas Culpeper published his Complete Herbal, so complete that a good many of the plants he included in it are rather hard to find. Every plant is described at length, its physical features and what he calls its ‘virtues’, or medical properties. The damask rose, for instance, is under the dominion of Venus: and a syrup made from the flowers, he tells us, is “an excellent purge for children and grown people of a costive habit”. Not what you would expect of such a beautiful flower, and one under the dominion of the goddess of love, to boot. Our competition consists of short versions of his descriptions of the better known herbs, like sage, together with an array of labelled specimens. The challenge is to match herb to description. At Ripley Arts Centre the winner got eight out of the ten correct. Could the gardeners/cooks among our members do better? Patricia says there is a small prize on offer and anyone taking up her challenge should send their answers to the editor (details inside front cover). The herbs are balm, bay, lavender, marjoram, mint, rosemary, rue, sage, southernwood or old man, and thyme. Wickham Court open day: preparing the BBLHS stall and the Culpeper competition for the visitors NOTE The pictures are decoration not clues.

A. C. The stems are numerous, with leaves divided A shrubby plant having smooth blueish green into many fine bristly segments, of a fine pale leaves divided into small oval sections. It is an green colour, and of a pleasant smell. This is a herb of the Sun, and under Leo. It eases the Mercurial plant. The seed bruised, heated in tormenting pains of the sciatica and the joints, warm water and drunk helps those that are troubled if anointed, or laid to the places. Also the gout or with cramps and sciatica. The seed and dried herb pains in the hands, feet or knees, when applied kills worms in children; but is disagreeable and thereto; and with figs it helps the dropsy, if bathed nauseous. Boiled with barley meal, it will remove therewith. It takes away all sort of warts if boiled in pimples. The ashes mingled with old salad oil, helps wine with pepper and nitre and the place rubbed those that are bald, causing the hair to grown again therewith. on the head or beard. D. B. This grows commonly in gardens, some sorts The stalks numerous, woody and much grow wild in the borders of cornfields and branched, the leaves of a dusky green, flowers pastures. It is an herb of Mercury, and under a pale red. It is a strengthener of the lungs; a Aries, warming and comforting in cold good remedy for the chin-cough in children, an diseases of the head, stomach, sinews, and other excellent remedy for shortness of breath. Being a parts, taken inwardly or outwardly applied. The notable herb of Venus it gives speedy delivery to decoction thereof being drunk helps diseases of the women in travail. An ointment of it takes away hot chest. Made into a powder and mixed with honey, it swellings and warts, it is excellent for those that are takes away the marks of blows. For swellings also, troubled with gout. The herb taken inwardly, and places out of joint. comforts the stomach much, and expels wind.

10 Bromleag September 2004 Feature garden - Culpeper’s Herbal

E. I. A shrubby plant, native of France and Spain, It is an Herb of Jupiter, and under Cancer, and Mercury owns this herb. It is of especial use in strengthens nature much in all its actions. Let pains of the head and brain which proceed a syrup be made of the juice of it and sugar be from cold, apoplexy, falling-sickness, the kept in every gentlewoman’s house to relieve dropsy, or sluggish malady, cramp convulsions, the weak stomachs and sick bodies of their poor palsies, and often fainting. Two spoonfuls of the neighbours. The Arabian physicians have extolled the distilled water of the flowers help them that have lost virtues therof to the skies; Seraphio saith it causes their voices, the tremblings and passions of the heart, the mind and heart to be merry. The leaves and fainting and swoonings, applied to the temples or externally applied is a remedy against the sting of a nostrils to be smelt unto. scorpion, and the biting of mad dogs J. F. It is a tree of the Sun, and under the celestial This rises from a long woody root. The leaves sign Leo, and resisteth witchcraft very are numerous, oblong, narrow sharp-pointed, potently, as also all the evils old Saturn can do firm, and very fragrant, of a beautiful green on to the body of man, and they are not a few … the upper side and silvery grey underneath. neither witch nor devil, thunder nor lightening, will The flowers are pale blue. The Sun claims dominion hurt a man where a tree is. Galen said, that the over it. It helps a weak memory, quickens the leaves or bark do dry and heal very much, and the senses. To make an oil take the flowers put them into berries more than the leaves are effectual against all a strong glass, tie a linen cloth over the mouth, and poisons of venomous creatures, and the stings of turn it over another strong glass, which being set in wasps and bees, as also against the pestilence. the sun, an oil will distil down, to be preserved a s precious, for divers uses. G. This has many square stalks which, in good ground, will grow to two or three feet high, Museum of Garden History having two long sharp-pointed leaves, The history of plants and gardening is wonderfully opposite, serrated at the edges. The root displayed in the Tradescant Trust’s Museum of creeps much in the earth. Leaves, stalks, and flowers Garden History in St Mary’s Church next to have a pleasant and agreeable smell. It is an herb of Lambeth Palace. Venus. It is useful in all disorders of the stomach; a The museum is in the deconsecrated church. In the powder, taken after meat aids the digestion The churchyard, where both Bligh of the Bounty and the decoction gargled in the mouth cures gums that are Tradescants are buried, is the Tradescant Garden, sore, and amends an ill favoured breath. a replica 17th century Knot Garden planted with H. plants of the period. A shrubby plant with long rough wrinkled The John Tradescants, father and son, were leaves of a hoary green or sometimes a famous 17th century gardeners and plant hunters reddish purple colour, of a pretty strong smell. and they had a nursery in Lambeth not far from the Jupiter claims this; and it is good for the liver museum. and to breed blood. Threes spoonfuls of the juice The garden contains specimens of plants growing taken fasting, with a little honey, stays the spitting or in England during the lifetimes of the Tradescants, casting of blood of those in consumptions. Gargles 1570 to 1662, including some first introduced into are made with rosemary, honeysuckles and plantain the country by them. Among the Tradescant and boiled in wine or water with some honey or alum introductions we grow are Yucca filamentosa, added to wash sore mouths. The juice if drunk with Aquilegia canadensis and a Tulip tree, Liriodendron vinegar is good for the plague. tulipifera For more information visit www.cix.co.uk/~museumgh/garden.htm

September 2004 Bromleag 11 Feature Pfeil – a Bromley family of

When Gertrude Rebecca Pfeil – the daughter of a Bromley pawnbroker -l died on 15 May 1969 at 9 Ravensbourne Road, Bromley the executors found a book, in various handwritings, entitled Writing Album, with entries from 1899 – 1952 and letters dating from 1924 – 1933. They were concerned that these family records might end up in the recycling bin and it was through the good offices of our now secretary, Patricia Knowlden, that they came into the possession of Gertrude’s distant relative Charles Pfeil. From this book, his own researches and subsequent information provided by Patricia, Charles has drawn together information on the Bromley pawnbrokers.

knew from an old piece of writing headed Memoirs of properties were owned and disposed of by the trustees of the late Mary Pfeil that her birthplace was at Epsom the Pfeil estate: I and she had a very strict religious upbringing. 1. 138 (formerly 32) High Street to Saxone, Lilley Mary went to London at the age of nineteen and in 1807 and Skinner (Holdings) Ltd. From 1916, 138 had she joined the Church at Queen Street. It says she married been let to Frank Eustace Head for 21 years at Christopher Ferdinand Pfeil, a German with “national £100 pa characteristics” … and she gave much to religion until her 2. 140 (formerly 33) High Street was sold to death in 1859. Woolworth & Co Ltd. From 1927 – 1949 it had Their ninth child was William and he was by profession a been let to the company for £200 pa, thereafter pawnbroker with a great financial insight and ability in £250 pa. commerce in Bromley. He married Elizabeth Maria from 3. 33 (formerly 19 The Broadway) High Street was Bromley and there were four children of the marriage, sold to Barnefield Properties Ltd Christopher Ferdinand (d.1935), Elizabeth Mary (d.1945), 4. 31 (formerly 20 The Broadway) High Street was Emily Rebecca (d.1960) and Alice Letitia (d.1908) who sold to Robert Norman Walker, gentleman. The married Henry Charles Bush. He owned a printers business premises had been let to Christopher Ferdinand in the High Street and published, among other things, a Pfeil, junior, for 30 years from 1889 at £70 pa long run of trade directories. 5. 209 (formerly 114) High Street was sold to Archie William built up a flourishing business, which was continued by his son, and he arranged money to be lent on and Marjorie Sherman. every description of valuable property. The business was Not only William but his sister Rebecca had also moved recorded as C.F. Pfeil’s 20 Broadway, Bromley. It began to from Tower Hamlets to Bromley. She married Samuel expand beyond the pawnbroking into a jewellers shop as Geeson and their daughter Elizabeth married her cousin well as a clothier and gentleman’s outfitters. Other Christopher Ferdinand Pfeil (William’s eldest son) in 1884 sidelines included a large variety of new and second-hand at Bromley Congregational Church/Chapel. He was then goods, for example, boxes and trunks, Gladstone bags and described as a pawnbroker of 71 High Street. Their two brief bags, watches, jewellery, electroplated goods and children Christopher William and Gertrude Rebecca were clocks of every description. both born at 20 The Broadway. When William, retired pawnbroker, died on 5 February Christopher Ferdinand continued the pawnbroking 1907 at his family home of The Laurels, 107 Masons Hill, business until about 1924 when he built a property in he gave the residue of his considerable fortune in trust for Ravensbourne Road, it is now a block of four flats. He died life to his wife Elizabeth and his two daughters or survivor, in 1935. His son Christopher spent time in Canada and and then on the survivor’s death to Henry Charles Bush served in the First World War but then in 1924 emigrated absolutely. But in the events that happened the trust to New Zealand, married but had no children. ensured that the Pfeil family descendants inherited. So the line ended when Getrude Rebecca died on 15 For a time two of the Pfeil daughters moved to Wendover May 1969. She was described as a most valued member in Buckinghamshire but when her sister Elizabeth died in of the United Reformed Church, Bromley and is 1945 Emily returned to Bromley to Ravensbourne Road. remembered with affection by those who knew her. She Emily later moved to Westmoreland Road and spent the was a very keen Sunday School worker, and on the last few years of her life at the Ravenscroft Hotel, Masons rebuilding of the Church in 1958, and for several years, Hill. (The hotel made way for Bromley Hospital, which in ran the weekly Saturday coffee mornings, which, I believe, turn has now been replaced by housing). She died in a are still a feature of church life. nursing home in Blyth Road in 1960. Charles Pfeil At the time of Emily’s death the following Bromley

12 Bromleag September 2004 Research queries Now a touch of pawnbrokers Olde English at the Chinese garage

I’m pleased to see that the Burmese/ Japanese/Chinese garage is still of 20 The interest (Bromleag June 2004) and I Broadway: the have another spanner to throw in the shop where works. William Pfeil I was sent a drawing of the land used to ran his build Marian Vian School at pawnbroking in 1930 and it shows the same and later lamppost design as is thought to have jewellery caused the Park Langley architect to business produce a garage in an oriental style. Apparently the houses built beside the ‘Marian Vian’ site had lampposts that were Olde English! Pat Manning

German Pfeils with some historical connections Old Beckenham Charles Pfeil can trace his Pfeil German ancestors back to the first Lutheran Pfeil, Johann Heinrich Pfeil, a contemporary and books wanted acquaintance of Dr Martin Luther. Pat Bennett would like to purchase Four generations later, in the 18th century, Bernhardt Pfeil was a any old books on Beckenham and it’s career servant in the household of Prince Heinrich von Hess in the schools, particularly those relating to Schloss Butzbach and became a Burger of the town of Butzbach. Eden Park and Elmers End. If you can He later founded a family merchant banking business in Frankfurt. help please contact Pat at 21 Reid His son Leopold became headmaster and proprietor of the Pfeil Way, North Lynn, Kings Lynn, Norfolk, private school and Leopold’s son, Johann Wilhelm Pfeil (1748 - PE30 2LH 1809), and the famous poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (b 1749) were second cousins and both pupils at the school. Farnborough Johann Pfeil emigrated from Germany to England and settled in the East End. He changed his name to John William Pfeil and petitioned cottages for full naturalization status to the House of Lords on 2 June 1801. Please can anyone tell me the exact It was successful and William Pfeil was fully naturalized on 23 June location of centre photo page 33 of A 1801. He was Charles Pfeil’s 4xgreat-grandfather. Century of Bromley and do the houses William Pfeil was the senior partner in a merchant business in still exist? P Heteling, 6 Lindeth Close, Bishopsgate, which by the time William retired had become part of Stanmore Midd HA7 2RQ Barings Merchant Bank. One of the eight children of William and Ed: The 1913 picture is Farnborough Anna Pfeil was Christopher Fredinand (1775 – 1844) who married High Street and pond (now Ladycroft Mary Cunningham (1787 – 1859) of Epsom. The ninth eldest of Way) just before the shops start on their 13 children was William Pfeil (1825- 1907) who moved to the left hand side. But were the shop Bromley. re-build after 1913?

September 2004 Bromleag 13 Research queries The thorny question of who purchased Thornet Wood I have recently started researching the history of the area any other ideas as to how I might go about discovering who that is now Jubilee Country Park for Bromley Countryside purchased Thornet Wood? Rangers and the Friends of Jubilee Country Park. The other thing I am curious to ask about relates to an This is the first time I have done any research into local article in Bromleage (December 2001) concerning Beating history, although I have done a fair bit of family history. I the Bounds. A small section of Bromley’s parish boundary have already found several articles in previous editions of passes near to, and through, the present Jubilee Country Bromleage have proved to be very helpful to my enquiries. Park. The article says: “To More Grove, cross Tong’s Lane, One problem I am trying to resolve is who purchased wood of Blackbrook farm Tongs Wood divided by a bank Thornet Wood – which is at the heart of …”. Is there any significance in the Jubilee Country Park – in 1845 when the underlining of the last four words? Tongs Bishop of Rochester sold the manor of Wood was another name for Thornet Wood. Bromley. Also would you know where Tong’s Lane A document exists which is an led, to or from? There appears to have been assessment of the holdings of the Bishop some sort of path, track or road running of Rochester in 1841. * In this there is a through Jubilee Country Park and I have recommendation that the woodlands been puzzled as to its purpose. I did wonder should be sold separately from the if many years ago this might have been demesne land. Horsburgh states in his linked to Botany Bay Lane, which, today, book on Bromley that: “Mr Coles Child appears to end rather abruptly. became purchaser … of the greater part I would be very grateful for any help you of the demesne land.” But is no more may be able to give me concerning this specific than that. research. I have written to the Bishop of Jennie Randall Rochester’s archive department Volunteer Countryside Ranger (assuming such a thing exists) and am 23 Greenway, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6JQ awaiting a response. Would anyone have *This is on the Commutation Survey — PK

The mystery of 43 Foxgrove Road, Beckenham

I am gathering information about all the The cricket pavilion may have been 1940, in the advance guard. He was places where my father was stationed used as a billet, and been numbered billeted at HQ – no address – and and billeted with The Royal Artillery 43. If the pavilion continued to be used then a landmine dropped a quarter of during WWII. The address in as a temporary dwelling just after the a mile away killing nine people and Beckenham is proving to be something War that could explain the 1946 entry. blowing out five windows in HQ. The of a mystery. It would have been out of character billet that they should have gone into On the only letter we have that my for my father to put the wrong number on the 15th had the roof blown off that father wrote from Beckenham (19 in the address on his letter. Bromley night. On the 18th they all went into November 1940) the address was 43 Local Studies have sent me a “an unprepared empty house with Foxgrove Road. But it seems that photocopy of a picture of 42 Foxgrove most of the windows missing. numbers 19 – 43 Foxgrove never Road, which is a large Victorian I am hoping that someone in the existed, except for one Electoral Roll mansion and is a likely property to have area might remember something entry in 1946 when a No 43 had one been commandeered as a billet. about the Royal Artillery being there or lady occupier. There was definitely an anti-aircraft be able to tell me a little about what it In the 1939-40 Electoral Roll there gun, and gunners, on playing fields was like on Foxgrove Road at the end are no Nos 19 – 43 nor do they appear south of Beckenham town centre, east of 1940.? in a 1939 street directory – and the of the A222 and west of a small lake. Irene F. Macaulay, 14 Church Walk, space between has always been a In his letter Dad says that he arrive in Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7EN cricket club. Beckenham on Sunday 17 November

14 Bromleag September 2004 Research queries Walled gardens in the Tracking down railway South East stations in Kent

I am writing with a request for information. I am currently I have been commissioned by Dovecote Press to write a researching the existence of walled gardens within the book on railway stations in Kent and was wondering if any South East of England. More especifically I am trying to BBLHS members would be able to assist me in supplying track down Victorian walled 'kitchen' gardens, usually suitable photographs of stations in the area covered by the attached to an estate or large house, that maybe within society. your area. The idea of the book is to focus on the stations Many have been developed into gardens, nurseries, themselves, so I am particularly looking for older had housing built on them or lie in various states of photographs without trains present. I am interested in both disrepair. Sometimes the main house may be derelict or currently open and closed railway stations. have been demolished, leaving only the grounds and I will be contacting the main railway photographic gardens. I am particularly interested in those that may libraries to see what they have, but would like to include as still be in a suitable state appropriate for renovation. much previously unpublished material as I can, hence my I am attempting to visit as many of these as possible, writing to the historical societies in the Kent area. I hope creating an up to date physical and photographic record. that by using previously unpublished material that this I am in contact with English Heritage, who have only very book will be a real contribution to Kent history and make limited information about such gardens, but who are very the book that more interesting. keen to see my research, such that some appropriate Full credit will be given for all photographs used. My sites may be able to be listed and preserved. publisher is able to pay a reasonable fee for the right to I know that this may not strictly fall within your usual publish any photographs you, or the society, can supply. remit, but with your knowledge and appreciation of Andrew Fogden history, and an understanding of the value of recording 104 Chatham Avenue, Hayes, Kent, BR2 7QF and preservation, I would greatly appreciate any [email protected] information you or your associates may be able to give me in this respect. If not anything directly, I would also appreciate any other agencies or individuals that you may think it useful for me to contact. Many thanks in advance for any help you may be able to give. Stop Press: preview of November’s meeting Murray Grossmith 60 Queens Park Rise, Brighton, East Sussex, BN2 9ZF Surgery in the Great War 01273 261982 [email protected] November’s talk by Dr Andrew Bamji, on medicine and surgery in the Great War, will be fascinating but is not for the faint hearted. Dr Bamji is a consultant rheumatologist at Queen Deer spotting Mary's Hospital, Sidcup. He has built up, with the hospital's support, one of the most important With Reference to the question collections of literature and medical books about regarding deer in Bromleag. medicine and surgery of the Great War. For the last I travel to and from the Halstead/ 15 years he has looked after the hospital’s archives. Knockholt area daily by bus to work The collection centres on the case notes of the and its not unusual to catch site of Queen's Hospital. Dr Bamji will describe how these deer en route. were rescued from destruction and how they illustrate Only yesterday (10/6/04) I spotted a two deer roaming in the shocking facial injuries sustained by the fighting a field near Badgers Mount. While a member of the Scout forces between 1914 and 1918. movement it was again not unusual to catch site of the The extraordinary successes of the surgeons at the odd deer within the Wilberforce camp site area at . I hospital, whose site by the ancestral home of the have no idea where these animals come from, but I think Townshends at Frognal, in the Scadbury estate, was that a herd is maintained at Chevening, which may explain an accident of history, will be graphically demonstrated. some of those seen on the LBB boundaries. Dave Perry

September 2004 Bromleag 15 John Cunningham, hero of the Elmers

End bus disaster By Pat Manning

It was sixty years ago on 18 July 1944, at After the war the garage was rebuilt and 8.30 in the evening, that John Cunningham, reopened in 1954. The title Cunningham Gate who was on the roof of the garage on the was given to the main exit in Beck Lane with a corner of Beck Lane and Elmers End Rd, memorial tablet to John Cunningham the spotted a doodlebug. plane spotter. Another tablet bearing the There was a names of the war frightening silence as victims was the familiar roar cut out positioned at the and John continued to entrance to the sound the buzzer to office block where it warn his colleagues to stayed until the take cover instantly. garage was Onlookers say that the demolished in 1986 bomb flew lower and for the building of a lower along the road housing complex. and entered the open This stone tablet doors of the garage like with the ten names a bus. It exploded was taken to the directly beneath where London Transport John Cunningham was ground in still at his post on the Hawkesbrook Lane After the doodlebug: Elmers End bus garage roof. until the ground was Chief depot inspector, closed in 1999. John Smith, called from his home, reported Today it is in the archives at Acton. It bears the the effects of the explosion: London Transport griffin at the top with the “The place was a shambles. The walls were inscription: blown out and the roof had fallen in onto buses reduced to a tangled mass of red hot John E Cunningham, Herbert W Leach, metal. The heat was so great that the wheels Florence M Rarp, Thomas W Sharpe, Walter of the vehicles had completely collapsed and J Singlehurst, Michael Smythe, Charles handrails were twisted into grotesque shapes. Thirty four buses were destroyed and Stares, Frank W Stevens, Fredk H fourteen Green Line coaches, converted for Westbroom, Alfred J Wilbourne. use as ambulances, were damaged.” London Transport staff killed here by an Ten out of the 16 people killed were bus enemy flying bomb 18 July 1944 workers, including conductress Florence Rarp, and there were 39 injured. In spite of London Transport museum in Covent this, buses were running again the next Garden do not know what happened to the morning. A single decker bus in the forecourt other tablet to John Cunningham. of Elmers End station was used as an office Do you have a tale to tell of that July evening and the buses were repaired and parked along the roads. Within three months enough in Elmers End Rd? Were you one of the of the garage had been repaired for the onlookers who saw the V1 fly along the road or do you know what happened to the tablet of buses to return. John Cunningham?

16 Bromleag September 2004