Bromleag the Journal of the Bromley Borough Local History Society
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Bromleag The journal of the Bromley Borough Local History Society March 2003 Caption for the photograph Maps — showing the way in history Bromleag to Bromley West Wickham - and all the spellings - turn of the century in between memories Bromley Borough Local History Society Registered Charity No 273963 Contents About the Society March 2003 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 Bromleag and learn more about Bromley’s history. What’s in a name? P3 History is continually being made and at the same time destroyed, buildings are altered or demolished, memories fade and people pass away, records get Feature: Maps P4 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 some of this history is preserved for future generations. News P5 We hold regular meetings and produce a journal and occasional publications where members can publish their research. Society Meetings: Chairman and Membership Secretary Thomas Clark Quire P6 Dr Anthony Allnut Local studies Woodside, Old Perry Street, Chislehurst, BR7 6PP 020 8467 3820 evening P6-7 [email protected] Beckenham’s Famous P8 Secretary Mrs Patricia Knowlden 62 Harvest Bank Road, West Wickham, BR4 9DJ News 020 8462 5002 Victoria County History Wickham Court P9 Bromleag This newsletter is published four times a year. The editor welcomes articles of Feature: Memories of between 100 and 1,000 words, along with illustrations and photographs. West Wickham P10-11 These can be in paper copy, disk or e-mailed. Please enclose a stamped addressed envelope if you wish material to be returned. Items remain the copyright of the authors and do not necessarily News reflect Society views. Each contributor is responsible for the content of their Muirhead’s P12 article. Articles are not always used immediately as we try to maintain a balance Feature: between research, reminiscences and articles about different subjects and Elmers End Church P13 parts of the borough. Editor Christine Hellicar News P14 150 Worlds End Lane, Chelsfield, Kent BR6 6AS 01689 857214 Reasearch queries P15 Email chrisandpathellicar @talk21.com New Chelsfield History P16 Subscription Rates Yearly subscription from 1 January All copy for the June Individual £8.50; couple £10. Senior citizens pay a re- edition of Bromleag must duced rate of £6 per person or £8 for a couple. reach the editor by Members joining after 30 June pay half rates. Monday 12 May. Bromleag March 2003 P2 The Bromleag question - an ‘e’ or not an ‘e’ elcome to Bromleag 2003 – a new year, a new to Brumlegh, other legal documents refer to Brumlegh editor and an almost new name. But why the (1254), Bromleghe (1255), Bromleigh (1346) Bromle W name change? The name Bromleage, which has (1320) and Bromlegh (1453). served the journal well for some years, was introduced to So, after a small consultation, the journal has reflect the more archaic spellings of the borough’s name modernised, or gone back to basics, depending on your and as a play on the words Bromley and age. viewpoint and been renamed, Bromleag, being the Our secretary, former chairman and stalwart of the earliest spelling of the name. society Patricia Knowlden says that many people have **** queried the name and wondered how it should be On the subject of names my own is often queried by pronounced. I was one of them. Patricia tells me: “On those whose main interest is Bromley itself. I am a the face of it Bromley –age would seem to be very Hellicar by marriage so I am not descended from that suitable for a local history newsletter. However, Victorian worthy the Rev Arthur Gresley Hellicar, vicar of colleagues who know about the Anglo-Saxon language Bromley. Nor can I really lay any claim through marriage. insist it is said with a gutteral ending Bromle-agh! Not My husband’s and Arthur Gresley’s families both came being dark age Anglo-Saxons we find this quite from Somerset and no doubt shared an ancestor around impossible.” the 16th century but that is as near as I get to a ‘famous’ George Clinch in his Antiquarian Jottings of Bromley Bromley connection. and District, published over a century ago and quoting **** from Edward Hasted, gives the name’s origin as: “Anciently Bromleag, Bromleah, in Latin Bromlega, from Last, but by no means least, I would like to thank Elaine a field or pasture where broom grows.” Baker, who was editor for the past year, and Denise and Paul Rason, editors for the previous seven years, for The earliest reference to our borough says Horsburgh, handling onto me such a well respected and enjoyable in his 1929 history of Bromley, dates from the time of journal. Ethelbert, King of Wessex and Kent, in a charter of 862 where it is referred to as Bromleag. In 955 another Denise and Paul put a lot of work into developing the charter uses the modern spelling of Bromley and in journal and making is such an interesting read. I hope 1086, in the Domesday Book, it appears in the Latin as all those who have written for Bromleage will continue to Bronlei. do so for Bromleag and that new contributors will come forward to share with readers their special interests and But consistency of spelling was never a strong point for insights into the history of the borough of Bromley our ancestors and documents down the ages use a variety of spellings. Bromleage was used in the ‘forged’ charter of King Edgar, of about 967, that granted Christine Hellicar Bromley to the Bishops of Rochester. We find Welfgert de Bromlega (1189), King John grants the market of 1205 AGM – change of speaker Unfortunately our speaker for the AGM on Tuesday 1 April cannot attend . Our fellow member Dr Ron Cox has agreed to step in at short notice to give a talk: The happiest days ....? - Life as seen through school log books. For full details of our monthly meetings see P7 Visit to Bromley Sheppards Colleges A visit has been arranged for Saturday 10 May We will meet at 2.00pm inside the main Wren Gate opposite the Magistrates court. One of the Collegians will act as a guide which will last about one hour . This is a wonderful opportunity for the society to look around this historic secret part of Bromley, first established in 1693. We hope you will be able to make a small donation to the college if you come on the walk. Numbers are limited so please phone Elaine Baker on 01689 854408 to book a place. P3 Bromleag March 2003 P3 Feature House hunting … on the map“ Two little fragments of the original one-inch by Patricia Knowlden ordnance map will be more eloquent than would be many paragraphs of written discourse” * aps are one of the most important sources for house history. In fact every map of the area in M a large enough scale ought to show the house under investigation, in more or less detail, at the time the map was surveyed (not printed). Besides providing clues to the date of buildings, the map will show at a glance not only the siting of the house itself but its surroundings: whether the locality is – already – built up, the relative affluence of the neighbourhood (from size and spacing of dwellings), the provision of certain amenities. Alone it cannot , of course, show where an area has ‘gone downhill’ and the properties perhaps converted into multiple occupancy. A series of maps will tell much of the story even further back in time, such as the uses the land was put to before the house was built. It is strongly recommended to begin with a recent edition of the Ordnance Survey maps and work backward through whatever the local library has to offer. Houses can be clearly identified on the For the Bromley area Local Studies in the Central 1868 Ordnance Survey Map of Orpington Library is first port of call, and then the Centre for Kentish Studies in Maidstone. Greater London Record Office and Guildhall Library have extensive collections The reason for the making of the map should always be for the inner parts of London, both of OS and of other borne in mind because that had a bearing on what was types of map. included on it and what was left off. One thing you can be That in the Map Library at the British Library is sure of is that it was not drawn with house historians in comprehensive and well-indexed, and much of their view. Whether the map was newly surveyed or based on an holdings are not on microfilm and copies can be run off. earlier, perhaps out of date, one and how skilful was the It is usually possible to have better quality photographic surveyor must also be considered: and remember that copies made although it can be expensive. It may be conventional symbols must not be confused with actual possible to trace. representations. One expects to rely implicitly on the accuracy of the OS, Besides the OS the most useful are tithe and enclosure and basically this trust is well-founded. The very early maps, and estate maps. Others were made for a whole editions were, however, experimental and some host of reasons, some of use and some not. But once mistakes were made. Wichambreaux in east Kent for bitten by the bug the house hunter can find himself instance appears to have inexplicably migrated to our exploring the many varied treasures gathered into the record offices and libraries both locally and, maybe, further West Wickham.