Bromleag The Journal of Bromley Borough Local History Society Volume 2: Issue 20: March 2012 Archive project preserves Keston’s past Orpington’s great political moment half a century on Scadbury — a very special survivor Bromleag The journal of the Bromley Borough Local History Society Society officers Chairman and Membership Secretary Tony Allnutt Woodside, Old Perry Street, Chislehurst, BR7 6PP 020 8467 3842 [email protected] Treasurer Brian Reynolds 2 The Limes, Oakley Road, Bromley, BR2 8HH 020 8462 9526 [email protected] Programme co-ordinator Peter Leigh 29 Woodland Way West Wickham, BR4 9LR 020 8777 9244 [email protected] Publicity and website Max Batten 5 South View, Bromley, BR13DR 020 8460 1284 [email protected] Publications John Barnes 38 Sandilands Crescent, Hayes, BR2 7DR 020 8462 2603 [email protected] Bromleag Editor Christine Hellicar 150 Worlds End Lane, Chelsfield, BR6 6AS 01689 857214 [email protected] Minutes Secretary Valerie Stealey 9 Mayfield Road, Bickley BR1 2HB 020 8467 2988 [email protected] BBLHS website http://bblhs.website.orange.co.uk/ Bromleag is published four times a year. The editor welcomes articles along with illustrations and photographs. These can be e-mailed, on disk or a paper copy. Items remain the copyright of the authors and do not necessarily reflect Society views. Each contributor is responsible for the content of their article. Articles may be edited to meet the constraints of the journal. Articles are not always used immediately as we try to maintain a balance between research, reminiscences and news and features about different subjects and parts of the borough. Next journal deadline — 1 May 2012 2 Bromleag March 2012 News New Bromley Local Studies librarian joins BBLHS committee Bromley and Bexley library services have now merged, some months earlier than originally planned, and Local Studies librarian Simon McKeon is to join the BBLHS committee as an ex-officio member. Simon will be in charge of Local Studies in both boroughs. He was Local Studies librarian for Bexley prior to the merger. BBLHS and Local Studies have always worked closely and the librarian has been a committee member since we were formed in 1974. We look forward to continuing that close relationship with Simon. There are to be some changes in the library layout but the Local Studies area will not be merged with the Reference section as had been mooted last year. Simon wants to make it more accessible, create more desk space have an open exhibition area and a more visible reception desk. Irrelevant information in filing cabinets will be removed and the eighth floor archive will be sorted out with multiple copies of books being sold. Bexley Local Studies has an annual events programme of talks, workshops, walks and film shows, and Simon will circulate a copy of this. A similar programme could be introduced in Bromley. A new updated edition of Along the River Cray with more photographs will be published by the end of 2012. This will also be of interest to both boroughs as the Cray rises in Orpington and then runs through Bexley. March 2012 — contents News and Events 3— 8 Letters 17 — 23 Society Meetings G W Smith photographic collection 9 — 11 Features Orpington’s famous by-election 12 —16 Smugglers in Beckenham 17 History of Scadbury 24 — 30 Bromley’s lost Roman Road 31 3 Bromleag March 2012 News Society meetings April — July 2012 Meetings are held at 7.45 pm on the first Tuesday of the month (unless otherwise stated), from September to July, at Trinity United Reformed Church, Freelands Road, Bromley. The hall has free on and off-street parking, good public transport links and facilities for the disabled. Non-members are welcome at meetings for a nominal charge of £1. MEETINGS 10 April AGM Discovering Roman Bromley — Brian Philp NOTE: The April meeting is the SECOND Tuesday of the month 1 May A tonic to the nation — London 1951 and the Festival of Britain — Michael Gilbert 5 June Biggin on the Bump, the story of the Second World War Biggin Hill airfield — Bob Ogley VISITS To book a place on the visits to Holwood, High Elms or Jubilee Park please contact Peter Leigh on 020 8777 9244 or email [email protected] 19 May, 2.30pm — to be confirmed Visit to the Iron Age Hill Fort at Holwood Brian Philp, the speaker at our April meeting, will be leading the walk, of approximately two miles, from the car park by Caesar’s Well above the upper lake at Keston. It will include a visit to the medieval tile kiln and will take about two hours. Sensible footwear should be worn. Please register your interest with Peter at the contact numbers above and he will confirm details nearer the time. 12 June, 10am A guided tour of High Elms — history of the estate from 1808 to the present day Starting at the main car park, High Elms Country Park, off High Elms Road, Farnborough. A footpath walk of up to two hours. Cost: £1 per head 4 Bromleag March 2012 News 3 July, 7pm The Stone House, Lewisham Instead of our usual evening meeting, we have arranged a private viewing of the unique Georgian Stone House in Lewisham. Stone House was built in 1771-73 by the architect George Gibson for his own occupation. After a succession of private owners it became a girls’ boarding school in the 1880s. The present owners carried out extensive restorations to the house in 1993-95 and subsequently restored the remaining one acre garden. The owner is giving us a private conducted tour explaining the history of the house and the architecture. Before the start of the tour there will be drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and light refreshments on the terraces of the house. The cost of the tour and the refreshments will be £8. Applications for places, which will be on a first-come basis, should be made to: John Barnes, 28 Sandiland Crescent, Hayes, Bromley BR2 7DR. Please state how many tickets you are requesting and make cheques payable to BBLHS and enclose an SAE with your application in order that a confirmation giving details of entry times and the location of the house and travel details can be sent to you later. The Stone House, Lewisham 6 July, 10am Jubilee Park historic walk Meet at Thornet Wood car park (beyond the end of Thornet Wood Road) Bickley. The walk lasts for roughly 1 to 1½hours. It is less than two miles, there are no stiles and is mostly on hard surfacing, although part of the walk is in the meadows where the ground is uneven. It is not suitable for people in wheelchairs or mobility vehicles and we ask that people do not bring dogs. 5 Bromleag March 2012 News Remembering our founder Fred Whyler BBLHS founder member Fred Whyler has died at the age of 98. In recent years he lived in a retirement home in Sussex near his daughter but he was a resident of Farnborough when in 1974 he visited the Local Studies library in Bromley and asked the librarian, Miss Plincke, for details of the Local History Society. She said: “There isn't one, but why don't you start one?” So he did! He was the first secretary of BBLHS and over the years did everything except the accounts and chairing of meetings, becoming a vice-president once he had stepped back from committee membership. He was also a founder member of the North West Kent Family History Society. His main interest was in Farnborough and he wrote articles for Bromleag and published his own local history leaflets, copies of which are deposited at Bromley Local Studies library. These include material on Farnborough Hospital, the Lubbocks of High Elms and a history of education in Bromley, published in 1994. In her obituary for the Beckenham Historian, Doris Pullen said that Fred had worked for local government, including Lewisham Borough Council, and some of his writing is on the history of that area. She added that he also had a very distinguished career in the Second World War. “He joined the RAF and trained in Canada, flying Harvards. Later he was flying Lancaster Bombers and he flew on 38 sorties over Germany, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.” Fred leaves a son, daughter, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. His funeral was held on 10 January at Worthing and the society made a donation to the National Trust in his memory. Help wanted for BBLHS events We are planning to promote BBLHS at four events this year. West Wickham Queen’s Diamond Jubilee on Sunday 3 June Keston Countryside Day on 8 July Bexley Family History Day and High Elms Local History Day – dates to be announced These events are a good way of telling a wider group of people about the society through our display boards and from selling society publications. Members of the committee will set up and run the BBLHS stall but we always need extra hands to help on the day. If you can give a couple of hours for one or more of these events please let Secretary Elaine Baker know on 01689 854408 or email [email protected] 6 Bromleag March 2012 News Denise Rason 1944 - 2012 It was with great sadness that we learnt of the passing of the former editor of this magazine, Denise Rason, who had for many years battled bravely with multiple sclerosis. Denise worked in the Local Studies library at Bromley for nearly 10 years and she will be remembered by many members for the help and advice she gave to people starting out on local and family history research.