Bromleag The newsletter of the Bromley Borough Local History Society September 2007 In this issue — A centenary of scouting in Beckenham Farnborough tribute to WWII soldiers The changing face of Keston and abolition and slavery in Bromley Bromleag The newsletter of the Bromley Borough Local History Society Society officers Chairman and Membership Secretary — Dr Anthony Allnutt Woodside, Old Perry Street, Chislehurst, BR7 6PP 020 8467 3842 [email protected] Secretary — Mrs Patricia Knowlden 62 Harvest Bank Road, West Wickham, BR4 9DJ 020 8462 5002 Treasuer/ Publications Officer — Brian Reynolds 2 The Limes, Oakley Road, Bromley, BR2 8HH 020 8462 9526 [email protected].,uk Bromleag is published four times a year. The editor welcomes articles along with illustrations and photographs. These can be in paper copy, disk or e-mailed. 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 maybe edited to meet the constraints of the newsletter. Articles are not always used immediately as we try to maintain a balance between research, reminiscences and articles about different subjects and parts of the borough. Editor — Christine Hellicar 150 Worlds End Lane, Chelsfield, Kent BR6 6AS 01689 857214 [email protected] Next newsletter deadline — Monday 29 October 2 Bromleag September 2007 World Heritage site status for Downe on hold Contents News P 3 — 7 The nomination of Charles Darwin’s former home at Downe as a World Heritage Site has been withdrawn. Letters P 8 The Government took the decision following Society meetings an evaluation by Unesco advisor, the Bromley Red Cross in International Council on Monuments and Sites the Great War [ICOMOS]. P9 — 11 It said ICOMOS had failed to recognise the property’s “heritage of science”. A new view of Keston The nomination was to have been P12 — 15 considered by the World Heritage Committee Keeping you posted at its meeting this summer in New Zealand. P16 — 18 In its report to the Committee, ICOMOS Features questioned the outstanding universal value, authenticity and integrity of the site. However, Bromley and the the Government considers that the report fails abolition of the slave to recognise the significance of the site for the trade P19 — 23 heritage of science. Beckenham firemen Culture Minister, David Lammy said: “The P24 — 25 Government firmly believes that Darwin at Farnborough war Downe fully justifies World Heritage status. We memorial remain committed to this nomination. We need P26— 27 to consider very carefully the issues raised. A century of scouting Withdrawing the nomination this year will give P28 — 31 us the opportunity to do just that – and we look forward to submitting a revised bid to UNESCO in 2009. Leader of the bid partnership, Councilor Stephen Carr, leader of Bromley Council said: “Our initial disappointment has been tempered by our optimism for the future. We would like to thank everyone who has worked so hard on the bid - we are examining the issues raised in detail.” Bromleag September 2007 3 News Open House events in Bromley Several historic buildings in The Keston Windmill, Heathfield Bromley are joining in the Open Road, Keston House London event on 15-16 The Odeon, Beckenham, High September. Street, Beckenham The Capital's biggest architectural Tours and talks festival, Open House London, An Armchair Walk around provides the annual opportunity to visit Chislehurst — talk 7 pm on many buildings that are not normally Saturday, Chislehurst Methodist open to the public. Church, Prince Imperial Road, All access is free of charge but Chislehurst. places for some visits must be booked Self-guided trail of Chislehurst in advance . organised by the Chislehurst All details are now on-line at Society. Collect trail brochures from www.openhouse.org.uk or are the Chislehurst Society's stand in available from libraries. Chislehurst High Street Circular tour of Darwin's Village, 2 Bromley properties pm outside St Mary's Church, High Babington House School, Grange Street, Downe Drive, Chislehurst Royalist skirmishes at the Beckenham Public Hall 4 Bromley Road, Beckenham Priory Biggin Hill Airfield, Scott Aviation A regiment of the Sealed Knot Centre, 518 Churchill Road, Biggin Hill (100 or so) will be holding Bromley and Sheppard's College, demonstrations of musketry, drill London Road (entrance via Wren and also skirmishing at the Priory Gates, no vehicle entry), Bromley Gardens as part of the Open Camden Place (Chislehurst Golf House weekend, from 12 — 5 pm Club), Camden Park Road, Museum curator Adrian Green Crofton Roman Villa, Crofton Road, said: “The link with the Priory is the Orpington Richard Spencer connection - so the Eltham College, Grove Park Road Sealed Knot will be Royalists - but I St George's RAF Chapel of am afraid there will be no horses. Remembrance, Main Road, Biggin Hill “However, there will be a living The Berresford House, Brooklyn, history camp and they are planning Lodge Road, Bromley to camp in the park overnight. “ The Churchill Theatre, High Street, Alongside the Sealed Knot there Bromley will be a small fete organised by the Friends of Priory Gardens. 4 Bromleag September 2007 News Meetings September — December 2007 Meetings are held at 7.45 pm on the first Tuesday of the month, from September 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. 4 Sept Members Evening — stories, researches and collections from society members 2 Oct Medical Bromley — from the workhouse to the PRUE, Adrian Thomas 6 Nov Squirreled Away — this year’s archives ‘harvest’ A visit to the Local Studies Section, Bromley Library 4 Dec Around old Penge and Beckenham — Eric Spottiswoode and David Johnson AUTUMN VISITS The medical museum Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough — 5 October, 2.30 meet main reception Dr Adrian Thomas will be hosting a visit for BBLHS members to the Princess Royal University Hospital, Farnborough to view the hospital archive that he has collected. St Mary’s College Road — 13 October 10..30 am This is a unique opportunity to have a guided tour of this very special church. Built in 1863, it has fabulous stained glass windows and beautifully painted wall decorations. If you would like to go on the visits please contact Elaine Baker on 01689 854408, particularly the PRUE visit as spaces are limited. Bromleag September 2007 5 News Recording Bromley’s parks and gardens Would you be able to help any listed structures – if appropriate preserve and record your local – who owns or manages it, any local green space? designations, topography, history and The London Parks and Gardens flora and fauna. Trust is looking for volunteers who So far LPGT has an inventory of are local historians, park lovers or nearly 2,500 parks, cemeteries, garden enthusiasts who could help churchyards and other green spaces with a project to research and record of local historic interest across the the parks, gardens, churchyards and whole of London's 33 boroughs. open spaces in Bromley? It is supported by all the borough You may already have collected councils and aims to create an material, particularly the history, inventory of all the green space which could be used in the project. across London. Our chairman, Tony Allnutt A list of sites, with their history and attended an initial meeting to set up a often a tree survey, which is properly Bromley working group which will documented and recorded, will meet regularly over the next few benefit everybody, including the years to collect information. planners, say LPGT. Volunteers can work in groups or You can see more information on individually, but there will be regular LPGT at meetings at the Church House www.londongardenstrust.org where Gardens Lodge, Bromley Town you can also see a list of the Bromley Centre, where the volunteers can green spaces that the trust has share their work and sort out already identified. problems. For further information contact Tony There will be another initial meeting on 0208 467 3842 or Kristina Taylor, on Saturday 9 September. Even if LPGT, 18 Aquinas Street, London you can’t attend this meeting Tony SE1 8AE or email at will be happy to give you more [email protected] information about what is involved. The sort of information collected is the name of the space and any previous names, type of site, size, important dates associated with it, who designed it and 6 Bromleag September 2007 News Publications marketing manager In the past few years the society has expanded its publications arm to include CDs, DVDs and videos, and changes in print publications are opening up the possibilities of enhancing our range of book publications. But with the retirement of John Clark as our Publications Officer we need a member - or members - with sales experience, to help us make the most of these new opportunities. We are therefore seeking someone with a flair for inspirational marketing, who can take on the role of Publications Marketing Manager. We have already many established channels for selling our publications but feel that there are many more that are untapped. We also think that the new products we are producing may have other outlets that we have not thought of. This is a challenging opportunity but not too time consuming or onerous. It is whatever you like to make of it. The society’s committee will support and help the publications manager. If you are interested in having a go at this most interesting project give our chairman Tony Allnutt a call on 020 8467 3842 Adrian Green leaves Bromley museum Adrian Green has left the Bromley up a strong educational programme Museum to take up a new for local school children, held regular appointment as director of the exhibitions and promoted the Salisbury and South Wiltshire archaeological work of the museum.