Ten Years O N!

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY FOR THE LONDON BOROUGH OF BROMLEY AUTUMN 1984 PRICE 10p Free to Members Ten Years On! We seem to have let the occasion slip by last March, account of ‘Bromley and Around’ a hundred years ago, but in June a column in the Kentish Times began: ‘As the intended for Publication No. 7.:- Local History Society of Bromley Borough celebrates its Most of the villages and hamlets in and around Bromhey tenth year — ’ have been adopted by one or two members, but we are Thanks to our new P.R. man Peter Heinecke for a timely still looking for others who would be willing to take on a reminder. We should indeed celebrate. Our activities over few of the smaller areas, e.g. Widmore. So that there is the past ten years have been varied and enjoyable. Meet- a modicum of comparibility, Strong’s Directory for 1885 ngs are attended by a good proportion of members; we is being used as a starting point by everybody, but how _^ave held several exhibitions and have stands on occasions this is expanded from newspaper items and census such as Keston Field Day and Kent-in-London meetings. returns and so on will be up to each contributor — but The research done by those members who have a leaning guidance and help is always available, if wanted. We are that way has been published in a series of excellent book not looking to have the draft text ready before the end of lets. the year, so that no-one should feel under pressure. Our Newsletter, ‘Bromleage’, keeps everybody in touch None of the contributions need be very long. If you have and offers a vehicle for short articles (keep them coming not done any research before, why not have a go? please). It was also ten years ago in August, 1974 that the Some of our most successful meetings have been held in the first copy of ‘Bromleage’ was printed for us by Gordon further parts of the Borough; but we have not often looked Wright of Raven Studios in Beckenham, and we wish to outside the Borough boundaries, and never actually ven offer him our sincere thanks for producing this newsletter tured outside the Borough boundaries on a Society outing. for us which is much appreciated. Perhaps we should think of doing so. Would members like There have been several society projects such as Field to comment on this? — or on what has been done up to Name Indexing and the Church Guide Survey. A more now? — or maybe make some other suggestions for the ambitious project is now under way, the production of an Society’s Second Decade? Patricia Knowlden. Also if you have any queries that you think other people may help you with we will publish these and forward on any FUTURE replies. One query to start with: - Has anyone any informa tion about ‘Nurse Children’ in the area? (Children who MEETINGS were put out to another woman to nurse for any reason).□ SUNDRIDGE PARK Thursday Archaeology and the Cray Valley 15th Nov. Dr. Alan Hart An article on Sundridge Park and the Scott family in the Thursday The Pagan side of Christmas Society’s fourth publication, stated that the house was the 13th Dec. Geoff Doel combined work of Repton, Nash and Samuel Wyatt. The Thursday meetings are held at one of the halls above “... Repton, a landscape gardener earlier employed at Hol- the Central Library, Bromley and start at 7.45pm. wood by Pitt, became famous for his transformations and improvements to over two hundred houses and seats all over England. He submitted his ‘Red Book’ for proposed improvements to Sundridge Park. It was his custom to make a survey, staying a day or two at the house, returning after one to three months with his red leather covered book CONTRIBUTIONS of black and white, and colour illustrated proposed altera It is hoped that most of you enjoy reading the articles about tions to landscape and to house. These ‘Red Books’ now the various aspects of local history that appear in these are of great value...” The article later informed that Lt pages. Col. D.V. Packs D.S.O., of Elmfield Bromley Common Have you, the readers, anything to impart about the local was the agent for his cousin Sir Samuel Scott Bart, of Sun history of any part of the London Borough of Bromley? dridge for thirty years until Sir Samuel’s death in 1943. Any stories, comments, histories, thoughts or short arti ‘‘Sundridge Park Management Centre” learned from cles that you may have, or may produce, are sure to interest Miss Packe, Colonel Packe’s daughter, that after her others and if you have anything please contact the editor, parents were dead, a red leather covered book had been whose address you will find at the foot of the last page. sent to Sotheby’s to be auctioned. The Management Centre Contributions could be on any aspect and a few ideas was able to locate and purchase the book, which proved to would be:- buildings, people, education, transport, medi be Repton’s “Red Book” for Sundridge Park. cal treatment, church life, shops, businesses, farm life and Bromley Library, having been informed that the book crops, the streets, local government, the Police and local had been found, was allowed to photograph the book page crime, water supply, gas and electricity supply, change of by page in colour. The set of photographs, suitably con use of land, clubs, societies, local sport, local politics, etc., tained in a red box, can be seen in the Local History Section etc. of the Central Library. □ The Orpington Car, 1920. In 1903 Frank Smith and his cousin, John Milroy, started a small business in Wellington Road, both of them having concessionaires who were G.N.U. Motor & Accessories had experience of motor cars going back to the very first Company of 111 Westbourne Grove, London, W, type introduced in England. This car was a two seater, finished in french-grey with Whilst they were operating from Wellington Road they fairly high sides and back with a dickey seat capable of produced in 1907 a 5cwt. solid tyre light delivery van for the accomodating two persons behind the driving seat. Under Orpington Hand Laundry operating in Chislehurst Road neath this dickey seat was ample room for spare parts and under Mrs. Wallace. tools. Lighting was provided by a dynamo outfit and the car The business prospered and soon they found their pre was said to be very comfortable and easy to drive. mises were too small. They therefore looked around for a larger site and found one at the end of the High Street on the corner of Perry Hall Road opposite to the Pond. This site was very suitable as the main road here was at its widest and there was a good draw in off the road. They obtained the site in 1912 and after the main building was put up they had it roofed in one span (80’ x 50’) to avoid any centre columns (which would thus have got in the way when moving cars) and equipped the premises with three lathes, two drilling machines, a shaping machine, overhead tackle capable of lifting a car bodily, a coal forge, a gas forge, an acetylene welding plant etc. A gas engine and dynamo provided the electric light, making them the first firm in Orpington to use this form of illumination. The firm had only really just got under way when the first war broke out and almost immediately one half of the employees went into the army where they remained until the end, though happily all were fortunate in returning unhurt, though some illness was suffered. The employees left behind, augmented by others not of military age, were engaged in making parts for trench bombs, rifle grenades and fuses with as many as six thousand items per week being turned out by day and night The light delivery van for the Orpington Hand Laundry outside the shifts. In 1914 Messrs. Smith & Milroy built a garage in Wellington Road premises, 1907. Church Hill which was also used on war production. From 1914 onwards the war items were driven to London by Mr A test run was performed by the “Light Car and Cyc- Frank Smith’s sister, Mrs. K. Scott-Murray, one of the first lecar”, which periodical reported in its issue dated women drivers. November 6th, 1920, that the car had no difficulty what After the war there was an enormous increase in the use soever in surmounting the first hill on Ranmore Common of motors and a large business was being done in recondi which had a gradient of 1 in 6 with an acute left-hand turn. tioning lorries, and additional buildings had to be erected. The car left a third of the hill behind it before a change of These buildings included a paint shop with a dust proof var gear became necessary and the bend was negotiated with nishing room, a carpenter’s shop, stores etc. and new and ease and the climb finished in second gear. improved tools were constantly being added to the plant. After passing over the top of White Downs through The firm progressed so much that in 1920 they were able Abinger, Gomshall and Shere a further hill of Combe Bot to bring out their own motor car which was known as the tom, which had a 1 in 5 gradient with a hairpin bend, was “Orpington Car”.

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