\Jlte Qlemyltiler of (hr. Olromleij Oloromjlt Moral 76 Is lory So rie l y

September 1998 Price 60p Free to members

c 7 /t* @ a jf 0/ / / t s 'Y J /r a /e j 0/

/ro/n //tr pror/ar/io// /t/y

/ / / f //✓ /// f¥ / / /r / /p / / / / / / rS W fo o / / o r A n y j /✓ / 7 9 3 7

Bromlcage Sept 1998

Bromley Borough Local History Society' was formed in 1974 so that anyone with an interest in any part o f the Borough could meet to exchange information and learn more about its history. 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 co­operation with the local history library, museums and other relevant organisations, to make sure at least some o f this history is preserved for future generations.

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 (there is parking available, bus services nearby and facilities for the disabled).

In addition, daytime meetings are held at 2.30pm on the second Wednesday of January, March, May, July, September and November in the Methodist Church Hall at the comer o f Bromley and Bevington Roads, Beckenham. This is on several bus routes and there is a large public car park nearby.

Members receive Bromleage four times a year.

You are welcome to come along to one o f our meetings to see if you would like to join. You will be made very welcome and won’t be pressed to join, although non-members are invited to make a donation o f £1 towards the costs o f the meeting.

However if you wish to join, the subscription rates are £8.50 for an individual, £10 for a husband and wife. Senior Citizens pay a reduced rate o f £6 for an individual, £8 for a couple.

Members joining after 30th June pay half these rates, but only receive two journals.There is also a charge o f 50p per person at the Bromley meetings.

Our next Bromley meetings will be:

Tuesday, 6th October Bromley People Tony Allnutt

Tuesday, 3rd November Local War Memorials Paul Rason

The next Beckenham meetings will be:

Wednesday, 9th September War Memorials Paul Rason

Wednesday, 11th November Christmas Party

Chairman & Membership See. Dr A. AUnuft, Woodsidc, Old Perry Street, Chislehurst, BR7 6PP

Hon. Sec: Mrs P. Knowlden, 62 Harvest Bank Road, West Wickham, BR4 9DJ (tel. 0181 462 5002)

Editors: Paul & Denise Rnson, 1 South Drive, O rpington, BR6 9NG

We are always happy to receive articles, large or small, for inclusion in the newsletter. We may not be able to use your article immediately, as we try to maintain a balance between research and reminiscences and articles about different subjects and parts of the borough Illustrations to accompany the article are always welcome.

The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editors or of the Society Each contributor is responsible for the content of their paper.

2

Rrutnlengc Scpl. 1998

EDITORIAL

Firstly we wish to welcome a number of new members who have joined us recently as a result of the article that appeared in the NewsShopper

(our thanks to David Joiinson for arranging that) and our appearances at recent local events

(our thanks as usual to Patricia Knowlden and the oilier volunteers who helped on these occasions).

Patricia is always looking for helpers for such events. Her ’phone number can be found on page 2

You will notice that illustrations are somewhat • lacking in this edition - this is because no one has ;

sent us any. ;

Silver Jubilee 1999 and the Millennium

you will know from the last newsletter that your Committee l\avc been considering what we should do to celebrate the above occasions.

For the Silver Jubilee, we would like to produce a special enlarged Jubilee Edition of Bromlcage (perhaps with a glossy silver cover). However wc do need to know soon if the articles needed for it will be forthcoming They can be longer than most of the articles usually produced in Bromleage. We did consider having a theme but decided that would be too restrictive. So if you have such an article in

your head or tucked away half written in a drawer, please let us know now We won’t actually need the article until next year.

For the Millennium, the committee are considering producing a new enlarged updated edition of ‘Around Bromley A Century Ago’ - Number 7 of our booklets, which sold out very quickly and is still frequently requested. Initially we would ask the authors of the articles if they would like to update and/or enlarge their articles for the year 2000, and we would also invite contributions on areas that were not covered

Unfortunately wc have had only two responses from members after the above appeared in the last newsletter, which is why we arc reprinting the request now.

Another possibility on a similar theme could be ‘Around Bromley in the 1920s and 30s’ which would cover the development of the area at that time and would, I know from my time in Local Studies, be welcomed, especially by the schools Perhaps, if the other two publications arc successful, we could do that in 2000!

A further proposal is that we have a Club Tie and Scarf. Please see the separate sheet included with this newsletter for details or contact our treasurer ; Bn an Reynolds,, 2 The Limes, Oakley Road, Bromley, Kent. BR2 8H., Phone: 0181 462 9526

CONTENTS

Daniel Defoe on Charity in Chislehurst Eric Green 4Local History Monograph Writing in Britain Penny Ward 5Pickhurst Lane 1938-41 Stuart Campbell 10The Festival of Empire 1911 Bill Tonkin 12Stage Coach Routes out of London - report on talk 9Local Studies Comer 15ODAS Archives 15Forthcoming Events 16Heritage Weekends 15Factory Chimneys/GLIAS 15Cudham Home Guard 15

%%%%

i

Front Page Photograph

The front page photograph is of the cast of the 1937 production of T h e Pirates of Penzance’ at the Chislchurst and Sidcup County School for boys. It was sent in by Neville Cox of British Columbia, Canada, who attended the school

from 1936-41 The production was directed by Mr Edwin Birch enough, a teacher at the school, who is also in the photograph. It was Mr Birchenough who together with a friend rediscovered the Roman Villa at Luliingstone before llie last war The excavations were then covered up during the War. Many of the family historians among you will

remember Mr Birchenough's wife, Josephine who died in 1994.

3

Hromleagc Scpl 199K

DANIEL DEFOE ON CHARITY IN CHISLEHURST Eric Green

Among all his other activities and writings Daniel Defoe wrote a considerable number of pamphlets, one of which concerns events in Chislehurst in 1718. It was entitled 'Charity still a Christian Virtue or an Impartial account of the Tryal and Conviction of Rev Mr Hendlcy for Preaching a Chanty Sermon at Chislehurst and of his companions Mr Campman, Mr Prat and Mr Harding for collecting at the same time the Alms of tiie Congregation’. The pamphlet was 'humbly offered to the consideration of the clergy of the Church of England'. It cost one shilling

On 23fd April 1718, the schoolmaster and children from the charity school in Aldersgate arrived in Chislehurst to collect money for the school with the approval of the Bishop of Rochester They were immediately ‘taken up and carried before Sir Edward Bottison. Thomas Farrington Esq. J.Ps and Major Stephens High Sheriff but were discharged with a caution Their answer to a charge of stealing and begging was 'I f the Archbishop and Bishops thought it a good work to preach for such children they imagined it be a good work to collect for them’.

On the next day, the Sunday, the Rev. Mr Hendley preached the charity sermon in St. Nicholas’ Church but when it was time for the collection, the justices present tried to slop it and the constable was called 'who came up to the Rails with a long staff The Rector (the Rev. Gorge Wilson) however, 'had very good success’ said Defoe and ‘many crowded up to give before their time and others kept back by near force threw their money into the plate’. The collection amounted to £3.

That was not the end of the matter as Mr Hendley and the children’s guardians were subsequently brought before the Maidstone quarter sessions. They were first acquitted, but at a second trial, fined 6s 8d each They were bound over as ‘rioters and vagrants’ Defoe, on the other hand, said they were substantial citizens who did not take that journey (by the Bishop’s permission) to rob henroosts and tell fortunes’ .

Of the judge, Defoe said, ‘The poor gentleman seemed to be very much afraid the Three Pounds would be remitted to Spain to encourage an invasion in this kingdom or to support the Pretender abroad’. It is probably true that the Whigs of Lite neighbourhood suspected the Tory Bishop of Rochester and believed the collection was for the

exiled James ID. The feelings were not without justification as Bishop Atterbury was the leader of the High Church party and was subsequently banished from the country in 1722.

So far as Cliislehurst was concerned the matter of immediate concern was that 'the Rector with the fatigue of his journey to Maidstone and tire ill usage he met there died less than 48 hours after his return’. Defoe continue ‘This gentleman showed more charity to his enemies than they ever practised themselves. By his will he left to two champions in that ecclesiastical quarrel viz. Stephens and Farrington each a gold ring and excluded the third for this reason that he had not been at church from four years before. The same gentleman left £200 to the charity school in Bromley for whidi according to Modem Sentiments he died impenitent and consequently with some men he lived and died a supporter of Vagrants and Rogues’ The congregation of Cltislehurst had obviously thought otherwise when in words used by Defoe they had fought a Battle and gained a Victory

KB. For further information on this subject, see Eric Green’s article ‘Chanty Schools in the London Borough of

Bromley’ in The Local Historian August 1994. A copy is available, as always, in Bromley Local Studies library

QUARTER SESSIONS RECORDS

“RecognizancesQM / SRc 1612 / 45 2 March 1611 / 12

Christopher Lewis of Bromley, glover, in £10, to appear and to keep the peace towards his wife, Jane and ‘well, honestly order and goveme his said wife and not otherwise chastice and correct her then lawfully and reasonably’ having often beaten her so that she was in danger of miscarrying , sureties, Radolph Golsburge. locksmith and George Wright, collar maker, both of Bromley.

QM/Src 1612/58 9 March 1611/12

John Moary of Bromley, clothworker, in £20 ... to appear, do and receive and to be of good behaviour, being ‘a person of evil demeanour, a common quarreler, a common drunkard, a common slanderer of honest persons and one that maketh debate betwixt man and wife and an accustomed rayler against the Kings Majestie’s honest subjects.’ ; sureties, George Glover, husbandman and George Wright, collar maker, both of the same.”

NB. Wc are wdepted to Joyce Walker for the above

4

Unxulcjgc Sqpl. 1998

LOCAL HISTORY MONOGRAPH WRITING IN BRITAIN

This paper, by the late Penny Ward, was originally delivered at a gathering of Hungarian librarians in the summer of 1996 and was later

published in the Local Studies newsletter of the London & Home Counties Branch of the Library

Association, 1996-7.It is reprinted here with permission.

I work as a Local Studies Librarian in the towns of Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs, winch are in the district of Thanet, in tile county of Kent in the south-east of England, which is a county of the United Kingdom. Today’s boundaries of Margate, Ramsgate and Broadstairs are those of ancient parishes at least 900 years old The comities and shires and Kingdoms o f Britain are even older

When I was asked to talk about local history monograph writing in Britain, therefore, I did not know where to start. However, then 1 received a telephone call from a researcher, an archaeologist in another county of England, asking if there was a reliable history of the town of Margate, my answer was dial yes, there was a lustory of Margate, written in 1982, and most of the facts were reliable but that it was far from being a complete liistory.

Everyday Local Studies Librarians in Kent are asked similar questions: is there a history of the village of Monkton, the town of Broadstairs, the district of Thanet or the county of Kent? Mostly, the answer is the same: yes, but it is not a complete lustory or no, but it is included in the history of a larger area We would be very lucky to be able to say yes, there is a local monograph on exactly what you want.

Local lustory monograph writing relies on the knowledge and abilities of the local historian. The combination of local and historian is the key to the evolution of local history writing and the dilemma of local historians today in Britain. There are now local writers and there are historians, there are amateurs and there are academics. The result of their very different perception of local liistory writing means that local monographs by the Hungarian definition are a rarity

Because 1 did not know where to start, 1 asked for a more precise definition of what was understood by a monograph in Hungary. Back came the

answer from Erzsebet Gancs: a book which deals with all aspects of the history of the region or territory. In England, the word monograph is used now in the context of academic histories only. Local liistorians outside universities are advised to write about what they know or what interests them In other words, they seldom even attempt to write about all aspects of an area large or small, while academic historians are seldom interested in the complete lustory of a locality.

The first local historians, in the centuries before academics began to interest themselves in local history, were called antiquarians or antiquaries An antiquary then was a student of early lustory; it is now a word of disparagement as used by academics. Until the middle of the nineteenth century, there were only a limited number of people with tiie education, time and money available to research, write and publish histories of the towns or counties of Britain. These men with a classical education could read Latin and Greek They knew the law and local administration as Justices of the Peace, clergymen or lawyers. They were used to working with old documents and they had the opportunity to travel There could be no divide between academic and non-academic, because there were only educated and uneducated people. They were all amateurs who did not write professionally. These gentlemen scholars were often known to each other and exchanged manuscript histories and information.

The first English antiquary was John Leland (1506-52). He was given the title of “King’s Antiquary” by Henry V l l l of England to be an official custodian or recorder of antiquities. His task was to travel round England after Henry's dissolution of the monastenes in the 1530s and record what he could of the store of knowledge in the libraries and archives of the monks before it disappeared. Leland is now considered to be a topographer as well, because he also described the places to which he travelled. His Itinerary c 1535 to c 1545, which remained unpublished until 1710- 1712, formed the basis for many other itineraries, perambulations and traveller’s guides through the centuries.

Using Leland’s topographical model, these early itineraries have developed into modem guide-books Changes in modes of transport have turned horse- drawn traveller’s guides and railway guides into backpacker’s companions. Some of the original Ward Lock guides in Britain and Baedeker's in

5

Hromleuge Stpl. 1998

Europe have been updated for over 100 years Although these itineraries are, in fact, the collected local histories of many towns and villages arranged by region and country, they are not considered to be local monographs. In Britain today, local historians are discouraged from writing these fact-collecting books and calling them local histones

After Leland and his Itinerary came further antiquaries who were interested in die topography, genealogy and archaeology of their locality, and began the tradition of wnting the histones of individual counties. In Kent, William I.umharde (1536-1601) wrote his Perambulation of Kent in 1570. It was published in 1576. and is considered to be the earliest of the English county histories. Lambarde was a lawyer and very interested in the administration of justice in die county. However, he also described the agriculture, industry and communications. His book included a map of the beacons in Kent to be used as a signalling system in case of invasion by France or Spain. The Perambulation was revised and reprinted until 1826.

At about die same time in the 16di century, another antiquary, William Camden (1551 - 1623), was describing die whole country in his Britannia, of which the first edition written in Latin, appeared in 1586. He divided Britain into tribal areas, which he subdivided by county. Britannia, defined as a topographical and antiquarian description of England. Scodand, Ireland and adjacent islands was republished several times during Camden’s own lifetime. It was translated, edited and brought up to date m subsequent editions by Bishop Edmund Gibson in 1695 and Richard Gough (1735-1804) in 1789.

A direct descendant of Leland’s itinerary and nearly a local history of Britain is A Tour thro ' the whole island o f Great Britain divided into Circuits or Journies by Daniel Defoe (1660-1731). It was first published in diree volumes. 1724-26. Defoe was a professional writer and journalist, and his intention was to desenbe the towns, cities, ports, nvers, fortifications and the houses of the nobility and gentry. He included agriculture, industry, trade, customs and entertainments of the inhabitants. His tour was reprinted and revised continuously throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries

Like Leland, William Lambarde inspired others to write county histories on the model of his Perambulation. First was Richard Carew. who

began his Survey of Cornwall in the 1580’s, although it was not actually published until 1602. This in turn inspired Thomas Westcote’s View of Devonshire. William Burton produced the first history of Leicestershire in 1622. which in turn inspired William Dugdale (1605-86) to write ‘The Antiquities of Warwickshire* published in 1656 and never surpassed. His history was the pattern for a whole series of county histories including that of Edward Hasted (1732-1812), who brought out the first folio edition of The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent in four volumes between 1778 and 1799. The second revised octavo edition in 12 volumes was published from 1797to 1801.

In order to write this history he divided the county into its ancient administrative districts of Ladies and Hundreds, which he then described parish by parish. It was illustrated by specially commissioned maps and prints of the gentlemen’s houses, whose subscriptions enabled it to be published.

Hasted was helped in his research by at least 50 contemporary correspondents. Some of these, including William Boys (1735-1803) and Edward Jacob (1710-1788), were local historians in their own right. Boys published Collections for a History of Sandwich in 1792 and Jacob The History of the Town and Port of Faversham in 1774. Hasted borrowed without acknowledgment from some earlier local historians like John Lewis (1675-1747), who published The History andAntiquities of the Isle of Tenet in 1729 with arevised second edition in 1736.

In Kent, we use Hasted’s county history, the town histories of Sandwich and Faversham and the history of the Isle of Thanet every day. Indeed, there has been no book dealing with all aspects of the history of Thanet since Lewis, over 260 years ago

However in 1899, there was an attempt to produce a complete, uniform and definitive history for every county of England. The Victoria History of the Counties of England named in honour of Queen Victoria, who reigned from 1837 to 1901, was to have been a massive undertaking. The original intention of the promoters was to put together a series of general volumes containing scholarly articles on all aspects of a county’s history, followed by a history of every parish. The first

6

Hnnnlca^c Sqil 1998

volumes appeared in 1900. The original promoters did not make their expected profit and public, as well as pnvate subscnptions, were required The project was subsequently taken over by the Institute of Historical Research at the University of London and County Councils have had to decide whether to use public money to sustain the project The coverage, therefore, is very patchy The county of Middlesex is complete, except for the former London County Council area, a significant omission Surrey was completed 80 years 3go and is now outdated. For Essex, the work is still in progress but the general volumes are now outdated and only a few parishes have recently been completed. Northumberland and Westmoreland were never begun 2

Three general volumes for Kent were published between 1908 and 1932. Latterly. Kent County Council lias withdrawn funding from the project for further Kent volumes. Instead, a series of scholarly social and economic histones are being commercially published with support from Kent County Council, pnvate subscriptions and the University of Kent at Canterbury.

The second half of the nineteenth century, with the building of the railways, uncovered a vast amount of archaeology. County antiquanan or archaeological societies were founded, many of which published an annual scholarly journal TheSociety of .Antiquaries of London had been founded in 1717; the Kent Archaeological Society dates from 1857. The annual volume Archaeologia Cantiana contains scholarly articles on the local history and archaeology of Kent, with occasional indexes.

There was an upsurge of interest in local liistory as architects, doctors of medicine and clergymen saw the daily changes in their localities. National legislation had changed the traditional administration of ecclesiastical parishes and introduced civil local government. To coincide with these changes, the Ordnance Survey, a national government department, printed a scries of maps for the whole country at a scale of 1:2500 The first edition was published in the 1870’s and the second in 1898-9.

In Thanet, Doctor Christopher Richardson (1815- 88) published Fragments of history pertaining to the vnll. or villc or liberty of Ramsgate in 1885 In 1895, Doctor Charles Cotton published The History and antiquities of the church and parish

of S t Laurence, Thanet Doctor Arthur Walton Rowe published his findings on palaeontology The Zones of white chalk of the English coast in 1900. His collections for a parish history of St John. Margate, however, are still in manuscript form. These men were able to publish limited editions of their books, 250 copies in the case of Cotton, using pnvate money raised by subscnptions Doctors, as professional men, had the support of a household with a wife or housekeeper and servants. Cotton was inspired to wnte his history due to the fact that he had attended and talked to so many of the oldest inhabitants from 1880 onwards. He could see their store of knowledge disappeanng.

To assist and encourage these amateur local histonans in their research, other experts were already writing and publishing books of instruction, hi 1888, Walter Rye brought out Records and record Searching - a guide to the genealogist and topographer to help beginners. The first two chapters were ‘How to compile a Pedigree' and ‘How to wnte the history of a Parish or other place. His advice to family historians is as sound today as it was then Only die language is dated, and more records are now available for searching

His advice to pansh histonans was heeded for many years until the 1970s, when a new school of local history writing had emerged, centred around Professor W. G. Hoskins, H P Finberg and Leicester University The local histonan in 1888 was advised to start with the parish church and its records, to progress to the manors or landholdings and then to the important families. Charles Cotton wrote his history of the pansh of St Laurence entirely to this instruction, including careful transcnption of all the inscnptions within the walls of the church. Later town histories used the municipal administrative records and town hall regalia in the same way. They recorded the development of houses and roads, the succession of mayors and dignitaries, the building of schools, hospitals and churches Until the 1920‘s, there were still professional men, working or retired, with the time, education, dedication and money to research, wnte and publish histones of their locality with no reward except for the sense of achievement. Writing local history was an end in itself.

Changes in the society of Britain after the First World War increased the range of people interested in local liistory. In 1922 in Kent the CountyEducation Committee published a book to encourage schools to teach local history. It was

llr (mileage Svpt IV9R

still considered to be an end in itself, but was now also valuable for the ‘romance of the locality' It would broaden horizons and encourage a sympathy with all dial had happened there. Teachers were asked to bring to life the nation’s history by using local events.

Unfortunately, the increase in education in the twentieth century did not initially bring with it an increase in the love of knowledge of the locality History teaching in schools and universities was concentrated on national events and saw no relevance in local history. Local historians were not usually in touch with die academic establishment

After die Second World War, dierc was a further shift of emphasis. Local history was now defined as the origin, rise and development of die local community. By now, this community was seal to include not only die leaders of society, but also die previously unsung masses whose history had hitherto gone largely unrecorded

Two wars had brought about the destruction both of buildings and of traditional communities. It was newcomers, eager to put down roots, who were likely to take an interest in dieir localities As amateurs, diey were regarded by academic historians as mere compilers of facts, frequently ignorant as to die accuracy or relevance of diose facts

From diese years, few local monographs emerged except those from pioneer academic local historians. William George Hoskins (1908- ) wrote Industry, trade and people in Exeter 1688-1800 (1935) and Devon (1954) while A L. Rowse, another pioneer, wrote Tudor Cornwall: portrait of a society (1954). In Kent they are represented by Christopher Clialklin ‘Sevcntccntli-century Kent - a social and economic history’ (1965) and Alan Everitt ‘The Community of Kent and the Great Rebellion 1640-60’ (1966). For die first time liistorians were investigating localities and using local documents to draw nationally important conclusions.

The stagnation in amateur local history was dispelled by a new wave of researchers driven to search for their roots by tracing dieir family history and dierefore, die history of die places where dieir ancestors had lived. New records were opened to the public which brought the previously obscure history of die masses to the attention of liistorians.

The pressure of family history researchers, now no longer mere genealogists compiling pedigrees, forced the Public Record Office to publish the Census Enumerators Returns for die censuses taken in 1841, 1851 and 1861. The enumerators' books had been protected by a 100 year closure from inspection after they had been used to compile statistics as originally intended. The natural urge of die keepers was to destroy diis unwieldy collection of information about the entire population of Britain. Luckily, they were persuaded to publish it on microfilm instead, winch transformed Britain's social and economic history research and writing.

Academic historians came to see die value of die locality to national movements and events, instead of vice versa. The Department of English History was founded at Leicester University in 1948, and in 1959. Hoskins wrote Local History in England. These pioneers, influenced by the ‘Leicester School' of local History, have encouraged a higher standard of local lustory all over Britain. The current head of the Department, Charles Pythian-Adams. can now confidently assert diat local history should no longer be seen merely as a mirror of national history. On die contrary national historical trends caii be deduced from academic local history. 3 Unfortunately for local communities, these monographs, which contribute so much to British social and economic history, are not local histories as such of the communities on which they are based.

Alongside diis growth in academic local liistory. interest in local lustory in the community revived. In die 1960s, everyone noticed the wholesale destruction of buildings and streets by town planners, intent on sweeping away die past Local societies were formed to save the threatened buildings, usually the historic heart of a town or city. The buildings were then protected by statutory Listing as being of national lustoncal importance by die Department of die Environment.

Margate Civic society was started in 1967 to prevait die demolition of buildings of architectural and historical importance and revive the pride and love for die town which had nearly been lost. The members’ newsletter, published 10 times a year, always contains articles by local historians, which exemplify the best and the worst in amateur local lustory writing. They are of interest locally, but are often inaccurate, with inadequate sourcing so that inaccuracies cannot be tracked back to their origin4

8

Bromleage Sqpt 1998

Local monograph writing in Britain is dominated by academic historians but driven by the market place. Academic local liistories are expensive to publish with limited sales They are often helped into publication by university and academic presses such as Exeter. Leicester and Manchester. There are a few specialised and a few popular local history publishers. In Kent for example there is Mercsborough Books. National publishers look for nationwide sales and local publishers also need volume sales to cover costs

In fact, there have never been so many local Iiistory and local interest books published as today. In the autumn the start of the Christmas present season is marked by the deluge of photo-histories of towns and villages everywhere in Britain. The other very noticeable trend is the growth in local self- publishing made possible by desk-top printing Local historical societies and local authors have often given up trying to find a publisher and continue the long tradition of printing privately and distributing their own imprint Out of 19 books on the history of Britain advertised on 3 May 1996, seven were published from private addresses, and on 30 May, 14 out of 30. Of those 30. only one. Origins of Suffolk by Peter Warner, from Manchester University Press, could be considered a local monograph.

Local studies libraries are generally not well served by local monograph writing in Britain today Local studies librarians learn to use popular local histories with care. We encourage the study of local history and hope that our local historians will grow to see the value of a more academic approach to local liistory writing for the future.

Penny Ward

‘ For a detailed account of the VCH, sec Christopher Elrington. The Victoria County History: progress and problems' in Local Studies Croup, Loudon and Home Counties Branch, Newsletter 1995 1996.

J The Namier school of academic historians might be seen as early progenitors of this viewpoint.

1 Tlie lack of footnotes, even in award winning journals, such as the Ipswich Society Newsletter, continues to be a significant deficiency.

Unfortunately since this paper was first published, Penny Ward has died. Our sympathies are

extended to her family and friends.

Stage Coach Routes out of London

{{effort o f the talk to the Society by Adrian Prockter on Tuesday 7th July 1998

"Coach to Bromley", "Yes Sir, it starts at The Spread Eagle, Gracechurch Street near London Bridge". Starting Inns for coach journeys were common knowledge in London and would easily be given to a stranger. A network had been well established in the century or so before the railways arrived. Some lingered longer and we were treated to a photograph of the Bromley coach at New Cross Turnpike Gate ( The George ) in 1870. Our speaker, Mr A Prockter, thought there must have been a niche market which allowed this coach to continue even after the railways had killed off appealing picturesque coaching elsewhere. Bakewell in Derbyshire, exceptionally, had a coach service which lasted well after The First World War. This was within living memory in the 1990s. to a few visitors to the Bakewell Coach Museum.

The audience were swimming in nostalgia for those colourful days of galleried Inns like The George near London Bridge, Borough High Street, when we were reminded of paying 4/6 to sit outside in winter on the Maidstone coach. Hypothermia meant you really did ‘drop o ff and consequently died Tins was not uncommon. The 10/- inside passengers might well have thought their money well spent

Horses only averaged 10 miles before they were changed This meant there were at least 1500 horses on the frequent service existing on the Brighton road The numbers employed to service tliis transport could easily be imagined.

To make sure that passengers were happy and coach operators were correct in their dealings. Roach and Carey made maps, and milestones were placed along coach routes. The milestone at Dulwich gives miles from the Treasury near Westminster Bridge The route probably went through Penge to Beckenham but the speaker could not be certain of this. The milestones on the Bromley road were measured from London Bridge and the locations of railway Termini were consequentially evolved from coach starting spots. The Borough High Street is a good example since some parts of some coaching Inns have survived. Next time we receive a coaching Christmas card we will get more joy from our new knowledge.

David Johnson

9

Ilim ilcagc Scpl 1998

A R ECO LLECTIO N O F PICKHURST LANE 1938/41.

Between 1930 and die early fifties, Pickhurst Lane (known to residents as The Lane) was senu-rural. Tlie houses of die Park Langley Estate, which had been developed by Killicks and die builder Spencer around 1929/30. ran all the way along die western side of the Lane, but from die Bamficld Wood / Westmoreland Road comer to just beyond Pickhurst Green, diere were very few houses on the eastern side I grew up in a semi-detached house, 271 Pickhurst Lane, named "Callantuic" after the farm where my paraits spent dieir honeymoon near Callender The house was directly opposite die woods, shown on the map as Cupola, but known to us simply as ‘The Woods’ The field between die Lane and the Woods was called Longcroft and the section of diis bordering die woods was used as a sports field for soccer and cricket by Barnhill School, which I attended 1938-41 and 1946-49 Up until a year or two before the outbreak of war a large stone bam existed at die north end of Longcroft, widi a large circular window facing die Lane. It was with great excitement diat I watdied this being demolished by a large explosion It was at approx. ‘ 11.00 o'clock' from the front of Callantuie and 100/200 yards into die field, close to what is now Meadway.

I diink the residual mrality was typified by the presence of an old style gypsy caravan, complete with horse, and beautifully painted . This was occasionally to be seen at die Barnhill end of ‘Pickhurst Park’ which dicn was a couple of country footpaths running down by the side of die school grounds and divided by trees. The caravan was inhabited by an old lady who was friendly and whom mother called ‘Rose Lee’. The interior glittered with polished brass and I was very impressed The gypsies I saw in the Lane after die war, and who came clothes peg selling, were a scruffy lot by comparison

By far the largest house in die area around die top of the Avenue was Barnhill. It was a late Victorian or Edwardian property winch sometime between the Wars was converted into a small private grammar school. It was approached by a circular drive, which entered from die comer opposite die Avenue and encircled a well developed rhododendron bed The original owners must have put plenty of peat or other acid soil in to enable azalea type plants to dirive on Pickhurst which is chalk and day mix. The school's grounds ran back alongside the twin

footpadis for about 150 yards, to a group of trees under which we used to perform plays. At some stage a further building was added just back from die Lane and below the main building and which remained there until demolition of the school in the fifties to make way for more housing

The half development of the Lane was also typified by die lack of pavement. Along eastern side of die Lane a curb had been installed around 1930 and the pavement area infilled widi clinker, on whidi we diildren cut our knees. The 138 bus route had started to serve the new commuter community, the growth of which had only stopped temporarily for die 1930’s slump and the war The early fifties put paid to lingenng agnculture ouL as far as Hayes Common, and suburbanisadon was complete.

However, before the post-war developments, Adolf Scluckelgrilber was doing his best to inflict damage. The war brought excitement to a boy of six, but nothing much happened in die first few months except the recruitment of the LDV, my father joining the Bromley P I. Battalion, later the 51st Kent, in July 1940 His number was 683. Later the Battalion, as Home Guard, reached a number over 3000, but this is misleading and the result of later recruiting and reduced by die large number of leavers. In August die King reviewed the Battalion and a photo was taken which features in die Battalion History booklet and also in die Hawkingc Battle of Britain museum Dad is sixth in die rank being portrayed The rifles were loaned for die parade!)

w i f e t v # ik s m m m m m

••Ly i ■*■■■!

The other locally based troops were Canadians who arrived before things hotted up in the late summer They were billeted in die detached house on die comer (south) of die Avenue and Pickhurst Lane They excavated a small emplacement, near where die bam had been, and installed a Lewis gun. Later a Heinkel 111 flew low over die woods with an engine on fire and crashed ( / was told later) over

10

Dromkagc Sqrt 1998

Shortlands way Whether tiie soldiers got to the gun or not, I do not know.

One hot sunny day I stayed in the trench with a couple of the Canadian soldiers watching the contrails of a dogfight over Bromley and listening to the stutter of machine guns . The only soldier 1 remember was Sergeant ‘Tiny’ Slipitz from Winnipeg, who was large with a pock marked face and popular with everyone along the Lane

Another day in September, my father was mowing the front lawn, and I cannot remember whether the sirens had gone or not. (nobody took much nouce during those earlier days) when there was a growing droning in the sky and echelons of aircraft came high over the woods in arrowheads of three. I (at 7 years) had like most youngsters great interest and knew from the rise and fall sound of their engines that these were German. When 1 said so. Father pooh poohed this, and carried on mowing wliilst the armada passed overhead. When two bombs were jettisoned he grabbed me and pushed me into die Mackie's house next door for shelter as the bombs exploded behind the Woods. They threw great lumps of earth into the air The craters were dierc as wild ponds for a number of years after die war. as was a long and deep tank trap ditch along the length of die back of the Woods, which became, until it was filled in around 49/50, a great place for us to play. This also part filled with water and after the war we, the local youngsters, built rafts for adventures on this feature. A pillbox was also constructed at die comer of Westmoreland Rd and Pickhurst Lane, at die end of where die shops are now. The shop area was woodland, although diere were houses opposite in Westmoreland Road, one of which (die first or maybe second from die Hayes Lane comer) was totally destroyed by a direct hit with loss of life during die Blitz.

A great sense of community developed in die Lane in 1940, and along our stretch between die Avenue and Pickhurst Rise in particular - die Packmans at 267, The Lemburgers (escapees from Vienna), Wcstcmians, Gwen Massey, die piano teacher and Bill and Mick Coomber (along beyond die one plot, and thus open space, diat had not been Spencerized - next to old Mr. Hills), Barky next door and many others The Coombers built a concrete shelter in dieir garden and later had a Morrison indoors, and I think Mr Hill had something to shelter in I diink die Packmans built an Anderson shelter in their garden but nobody else, as far as I can recollect, bothered!

We stayed at Callantuie until late February 1941 when die house was let and we moved to Glasgow. November, December, January ,and February were frightening because of the night attacks on London. There was relief when die landmine in the Avenue at die back of us failed to explode, and die terrifying night when a house nearby, in die Avenue, was hit by ''Screamers''. We were in the rear downstairs room at Callantuie and I remember my mother holding on to me as these shrieking things sounded as if they were coming straight down onto us It was the only time that real fnght was communicated to me The explosion lifted our floorboards with a jump and there was a strange tense silence immediately afterwards. I wonder where Mr. Bullock, the ARP warden, was when this happened He lived virtually opposite the bombed house.

Another evening, vaguely remembered, was when the same room was invaded by auxiliary firemen who were arguing on the telephone about which borough the Woods were in. They had gone up in flames. Dad and many other residents were out diere putting out the incendiaries whilst the firemen argued He said later that he thought that there was such a concentration of bombs that it must have been a canister drop. At odier times individual mccndianes came down in the Lane, one 1 believe on our roof, but this is a vague memory. Another "snapshot", and very dear in my mind, was sitting at the upstairs window with my mother one night watdiing the searchlights over Bromley and their picking up a little silver blip in the sky, amid a welter of very noisy ack ack 1 used to go out in die morning to retrieve the shrapnel that had fallen in die garden One particular piece 1 picked up was still so hot it was hard to hold.

We returned from Glasgow just after the war, once our tenants die Mitdiells, had left Callantuie had been damaged only by blast causing the inward bowing of the leaded light windows at the front. There was a period of a few years before the rural character was fully eliminated, but by the mid fifties die fields had been built over and the woods and Longcroft disappeared behind housing and became a park. Infilling on a massive scale took place and where before die war we had been able to walk to Bromley across open countryside, now the only greenery was the residual bit encompassed in the Park, and year by year the traffic increased along the Lane turning it into a main road. Progress........ I doubt it.

Sluart Campbell. Bath. Somerset

II

Brotnlcagc Sqit 1998

Festival of E m pire C rystal Palace 1911

Notes of the talk and display given to the Society by Bill Tonkin on Tuesday, 2nd June

1 am going to deal with a very short period in the history of the Crystal Palace For just under six months in 1911, they staged a large outdoors exhibition, and in the Palace itself, the “All British Exhibition of Arts and Industries", as well as a Pageant, all under the title of ‘The Festival of Empire’.

It is difficult to discuss the Festival of Empire without overlapping a bit at the edges. The fortunes of the Crystal Palace had been in decline for many years, it was bankrupt, and receivers had been appointed in 1909. After the Festival closed the Court of Chancery ordered the sale of the property which was then valued at £230,000. It was purchased by die Earl of Plymouth who presented it to the Nation in 1913. Later a Lord Mayor’s Fund was set up to raise money to relieve him of diis burden

So the Festival of Empire could be regarded as the Crystal Palace’s swan song, and what a wonderful exit it was It should have been held die previous year in 1910, but the sudden death of Edward VT1 caused it to be postponed for a year. After so much work had been done it would have been unthinkable to cancel it The trustees would liave been committed, and anxious to recoup some of their expenditure. Also, being held in the Coronation year of King George V, it was seen as part of die coronation celebrations. Indeed some of die exhibitors stressed die royal connection more than the festival side.

At a luncheon given in the Savoy, the Lord Mayor asked die Mayors of the Metropolitan Boroughs for their support in a spectacle to be staged at die Crystal Palace in die summer of 1911. It was to consist of two parts, an Imperial Exhibition open from May to October, and a scries of pageants running from May to July. Over £250,000 had already been raised, and it was estimated dial as much again would be needed.

It was opened on the 12di of May by King George V and Queen Mary, and closed on 28th of October. Special arrangements had been made to line die streets to die Crystal Palace with some 50 to 60,000 school children. After being welcomed by the Duke of Plymouth, die King and Queen made their way

to the Royal Box in die centre transept to attend the Opening Concert. This was lead by die Imperial Choir of 4,500 voices making its first public appearance, singing die National Anthem conducted by Dr Charles Harriss. This has been described as a most moving spectacle with the men of die dioir in black, the ladies in white widi a great splash of scarlet in die centre caused by the uniforms of die Festival of Empire Military' Band. One of die artists at the opening was Madame Clara Butt who sang two songs, one being Elgar’s Land of Hope and Glory.

After the official opening and a cup of tea, the Royal visitors entered a coach for a tour round die Exhibition, and on reaching the pageant ground reviewed die bulk of the 15,000 performers in the pageant They were attended by die Earl of Plymoudi and Frank Lascelles.

The Imperial Choir of 4,500 people was the brain diild of Dr Charles Harriss who in July 1909 had suggested die need for a National Choir to sing a special patriotic functions such as this It was composed from 49 of the leading Choral groups in the Greater London area. The idea was received so well that within a month he had started enrolling members. Sectional rehearsals in die north, south, east and west were commenced in 1909, but not brought to fruition owing to the putting back of the opening. When rehearsals resumed there were three series of sectional rehearsals and dien two final rehearsals of the full dioir a few days before the event.

It is interesting to note that one of the Choral Societies enrolled in die Imperial Choir was the Penge and Beckenham Choral Society, and I suggest die name leaves no doubt about who was top dog in those days Members from the Bromley Choral Society also sang. The Imperial Choir was still going strong well into die 1920’s, and Dr Charles Harriss conducted them at the British Empire Exhibition, Empire Concert on May 31st 1924.

It is perhaps surprising dial there were so many singers available to dioose from, but it must be remembered that in diose days diere was very little dioice available in the way of music. A band in die park on special occasions perhaps and the concerts, so that singing was an inexpensive and popular “do it yoursdf ’ entertainment There was of course no wireless or tdevision.

12

Rrotulcagc Sq>l 1998

The first seven inch single sided “Berliner” wax gramophone records had only conic on the market 13 years previously. Although rapid stndes had been made in the industry and the “Gramophone and Typewnter Company” was now producing 12 inch records, recording methods were crude in the extreme. A performer stood in front of a large horn and bellowed into it, at the other end of the horn a cutting device cut waggly grooves in a revolving disc of wax. These were called acoustic records, and was the only economical way of recording in those days Having said that it must also be said by the twenties a very high standard of reproduction was attained. It was not until 1924 the first electric recordings were produced.

One of the attractions of the outside exhibition, was replicas of the Parliament Buildings of the Commonwealth countries constructed in miniature in the grounds The finest of them all was die Ottawa Canadian Government Building built at a cost of £70,000 Others were those of South Africa, Newfoundland, New Zealand and Australia. The exterior of these buildings of wood and plaster were made as exact as possible to a scale of three quarter size, except the Canadian building which according to the Canadian Guide Book published for the event, states the Canadian building was built to two thirds scale Inside the buildings each country exhibited their products and industries, and offered wonderful deals to people wishing to emigrate to a new life abroad Vast under populated countries like Canada. South Africa, New Zealand and Australia were crying out for settlers, and this state of affairs lasted well into the I920’s. The interior of the Palace itself was given over to the ‘All British Exhibition of Arts and Industries’ covering engineering, mining, chemistry, transport, art and die sciences, and many other industries

There was a Tudor Village and also an Irish Village named Ballymaclinton which had become famous in 1908 when it was first built at the White City for the Franco-British Exhibition It was claimed the colleens owed their beauty to using David Brown's Toilet Soap. He was the proprietor of the soap factory that built the make believe Irish Village of Ballymaclinton There were 200 colleens at the White City site, but the village at Crystal Palace was on a much smaller scale.

The All-Red tour on a miniature electric railway was another attraction, There was a mile and a half long ‘All Red Route’ with trains leaving every minute, to conduct visitors on a tour of the Empire.

stopping at a South African diamond mine, a Canadian logging camp and an Indian tea plantation amongst the other attractions. Passengers paying six pence for their ticket could leave the train at the various stations and rejoin it later.

The central theme of the Festival was a senes of pageants, with 15,000 voluntary performers taking part, in a 50 acre pageant ground on the north side of the grounds. A large stand in the form of a Greek Amphitheatre with seating accommodation for 40.000 was built overlooking the pageant ground Music was supplied by a band of 50 players, and a chorus of 500.

Histoncal Pageants at this time were a popular form of entertainment, and many were held through to the early 1930’s when other forms of entertainment became more popular. They were organised by a ‘Pageant Master’ and the most famous of these was Frank Lascelles. He was the organiser of most of the major pageants held in this country and abroad, including the Oxford Pageant in 1907, The Pageant for the Tercentenary of Quebec in 1908, The Bath Pageant in 1909, The Pageant for the Opening of the Union Parliament of South Afnca in 1910, and what was to be the biggest of them all the Pageant of London and the Pageant of Empire held at the Crystal Palace in 1911. There was a second Pageant of Empire some years later at Wembley in 1924 as pan of the Bntish Empire Exhibition, and once again the Pageant Master was Frank Lasccllcs. He was still going well into the thirties, and in 1932 did two, the Historical Pageant at Bexley, and the Pageant of Leicester

The Pageant was held from May through to July. There are conflicting dates for the performances. Bemrose & Sons Ltd were the printers for the Festival and their publications give three different dates. One penod given is May, June and July, but they also give May to October. When they are a bit more specific we find June 5th to July 23rd, or June 8th to July 19th. It is all very misleading It was performed on six days of the week, with performances or Parts as they were called, either in the afternoon at 4.30 or the evening at 8.00 There were two performances on Wednesdays and Fridays. Prices of tickets ranged from I/- for an unreserved seat, and from 2/6 to one guinea for reserved seats. Boxes to hold six people could be booked for ten guineas, with a reduction of prices for those booking for the complete series,

13

Brouilcjgc Sqrt 1998

The Pageant was divided into four pans, each pan divided into about eight scenes The first three pans were called the Pageant of London, and covered die history of London from its earliest days to the present. The Pageant opened with die Dawn of British History and portrayed primitive London The scenes following were put on by 24 London Boroughs, some doing more Uian one scene, and in odier cases up to three boroughs sharing one scene between diem Westminster Cathedral and die London Hospital Students eadi did a scene, and die only non British group, one composed of American visitors did die “Departure of die Pilgnm Fathers” Pride of place was given to Penge presumably because the Palace was in Penge. but it must also be bom in mind diat Penge around die turn of die century, was regarded as a far more important place dian it is now Penge put on "The Triumph of Carausius” under die chairmanship of Mr Bryce Grant, a well known name in Penge dicn. and for many years remembered for the many drapery shops bearing his name in die distnet

Carausius was a Roman Officer with a lot of naval experience, sent over here by Maxilianus the Emperor to subdue pirate raids led by the Franks and Saxons taking place in die durd century A D. He was later accused in Rome of being more interested in catching the pirates when loaded widi spoil which he confiscated, dian in actually stopping the raids.

Unfortunately Carausius had sticky fingers, and it was perhaps doubly unfortunate diat die Emperor Maximianus was also a keen collector of spoil, and when the latter discovered die Imperial Exchequer was not getting its full share, lie took umbrage. I don’t know wliat Maximainus had planned for Carausius, perhaps he was going to be billed as die star attraction, with a couple of hungry lions at one of die spectaculars the Romans were so keen on

Carausius got to hear of this and decided he might just as well be eaten as a wolf radier dian a lamb and decided to stage a revolt and having die seamen and army behind him, became the ruler of Britain A reign that lasted for seven years, building a strong navy and defeating the pirates, and also repeatedly defeating die Roman squadrons sent against him by Maximainus. Thus for die first time Britain (albeit under a Roman) became die ruler of die northern seas. In the sevendi year of his reign he became victim of a take over bid and being surplus to requirements, redundancy soon followed Not to put too fine a point on it, he was murdered by one

of his generals. The new management did not last long. Lacking expenence. they were soon defeated by the Romans who took control of Britain again

This dicn was die bare outlines of die scene acted by Penge at the beginning of the Pageant of London Tins was followed by die Borough of St Pancras with a scene about King Alfred, all very serious with no mention of cakes. .Another local Borough. Camberwell put on one about die Nomian Invasion Sydenham put on a scene about Pocahontas die Indian princess from Virginia at the Court of James 1st. Pocahontas was renowned "for features, countenance and proportion” I’m sure if they’d had drawing pins in 1616 she would have been a pin up girl Lewisham did May Day Revels in Mcrne England, described as "a gay scene of revelry* round the May Pole" and the last scene in part diree put on by Croydon was The Great War Of course in 1911 they did not know about the Great War that was to start three years later, they were referring to die Napoleonic wars and Croydon covered die Funeral of Nelson in 1806 and the visit of die Allied Sovereigns to London to take part in the Victory Procession to die Guildhall in 1814 At the time this was a bit premature as Napoleon later escaped from Elba and the Great War was still to enter its final phase.

While the first diree parts were all about London’s history played mainly by Londoners, Part four, called die Pageant of Empire was about deeds diat helped to make die Empire wliat it then was It was acted by Colonial visitors in London at the time. Scene one was about the Landing of Sir Humphrey Gilbert, and was undertaken by Newfoundland visitors. Scene two was Captain Cook in Botany Bay by Australian visitors, and visitors from South Africa, New Zealand, Canada and India did scenes relevant to their own history. The final scene The Masque Imperial, "An Allegory of the Advantages of Empire” was a collective effort by the Overseas Dominions.

The Talk was followed by a display o f post cards o f the Festival o f Empire, crested china, and all manner o f China items produced fo r the Festival and sold as souvenirs. There was also many books and guides printed fo r the Festival, including the luxurious sale by auction catalogue published by Knight, Frank & Kutley and produced fo r the auction o f the Crystal Palace in 1911, which o f course did not take place. The speaker thanked Les Stevens who had kindly brought along some items from his collection to show.

14

Brcculcagc Sept 1998

LOCAL STUDIES CORNER

We have at last been able to fill our two long term staff vacancies Sally Deves. who is a keen family historian replaces Denise Rason, while Clare Tylee's post is now filled by Zoc Wethercll who formerly worked at the Homiman museum. We are now in the process of training them in the mysteries of Local Studies and Archives.

An interesting recent acquisition on permanent loan is the archives of Syme and Duncan, the long established Beckenham building firm. Some of the ledgers are quite remarkably detailed even giving the cost of materials for individual named houses. They are however in poor condition and may need considerable repair very soon.

Simon Finch

HERITAGE W EEKEND

The S t Mary Cray Action Group and Odns are the only local groups, tliat we liave heard of,

who have arranged events for this weekend Saturday,! 2th and Sunday, 13th September.

S.M.C.A.G have arranged limited public access to several local properties including Survey House. *

O.D.A.S. will be hosting their usual Scadbury Open Weekend

. Precise details should be available in local libraries / and newspapers, nearer the time.

FACTORY CHIMNEYSor Recording London's Industrial Archaeology

An article in the latest edition of the GLIAS (Greater London Industrial Archaeology Society) Newsletter expresses concern at the lack of expertise in tire study of l.A. (Industrial Archaeology) in London Several surveys have been carried out on individual sites or wider areas by consultants contracted to QUANGOS or developers. However it is felt that GLIAS should review its knowledge of what remains in each area and what remains of each type of ‘industrial’ building

To set die ball rolling they have decided to collect information on one of the most noticeable features of an industrial landscape * factory chimneys, which may be in danger of being lost unrecorded

Factory Chimneys cover a multitude of types from the tall power-station to the squat forge or bakery. It would be very useful to know what and where those remaining are. In the first instance would anyone interested like to send in details of those chimneys they know of. including where possible:

Building MaterialHeight (at least Tall. Short, in-between)

j Location (a road name at least., a full address and. ; if practical, a Grid Reference)j Use(s) (latest first)

Date Built (if known)Date Last SeenName and Address of ‘finder’

LONDON OPEN HOUSE W EEKENDSeptember 19th & 20th

The guide to this weekend's events includes details of many interesting properties open in 24 London

Borouglis Unfortunately Bromley is not one of them. However Lewisham and Bexley arc.

The Open House Hotline no. is 0891 600 061 Calls are charged at 39p a minute cheap rate. 49p all other times

Admission to all buildings is free.

ODAS ARCHIVES

The August edition of Odas Archives contains:* 1) the first part of their report on the excavation

and examination of Survey House in St Mary Cray 2) an article based on the account book of James

Master, step-son of Thomas Walsingham V, which provides valuable information about Scadbury between 1646-1660.

They are also looking for people who would like to co-ordinate the recording efforts in particular areas of interest to them.

Please forward details of chimneys or volunteers to DJTW Hayton, 31, The High Street, Famborough Village, Orpington, Kent. BR6 7BQ mentioning Bromleage.

The following request for information has come from our member Alan Church about the

CUDHAM HOME GUARD

‘Peter Bloomfield, Bromley councillor for the Darwin Ward, is researching the history of Cudham and would like the Society’s help. If any member has wartime memones of the Cudham Home Guard, would they please write to:Mr P.J. Bloomfield, Ravens craig, Cudham Lane North, Cudham, Sevenoaks, Kent TNI4 7Q5 ’

15

Urtmilcagc Scpl 1998

FORTHCOM ING EVENTS

LEWISHAM LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY Friday, 25tli September 7.45pm W G Grace His Twilight Years

Illustrated talk by John King

Friday 27th Novenber 7.45pm The Picture Postcard

Illustrated talk by John Gent

These meetings will be held at the Methodist Church Hall. Albion WaySE13

A donation of 50p is requested at meetings

ODASOrpington & District Archaeological Society

7th October Rural Medieval Houses in KentSarah Pearson (ex-RCHME)

4tli November Discovering Roman KentBrian Philp (KARU)

Odas meetings arc held at 8pm in the Priory. Church Hill. Orpington.

KAS CONFERENCEentitled

Roman Kent and Beyond

will start at 10.30am Saturday 24lh October at Christchurch College. Canterbury.

Tickets £5 (members £4) or £5 at the door from Sheila Broomfield, 8 Woodview Crescent.

Hildenborough, Kent TN11 9HD.

GLIAS NEWSLETTER NO. 177 August 1998

Non- members arc welcome, space permitting. Coffee and biscuits are served at the end of the meeting for

which a donation is invited

ST MARY CRAY ACTION GROUP

27th October Friends of Priory GardensDr Colin Dawson

24th November St. Paul's CrayBill Morton

Meetings are held at the Vernon Hall. High Street, St Mary Cray at 8pm

The meetings are open to all and light refreshments are provided Contributions are invited towards the costs of

running the meetings

The Newsletter of GLIAS (the Greater London Industrial Archaclogical Society) is published 4 times a year. As well as a wide variety of articles of interest about Industrial Archaeology, it contains details of many lectures and events organised by themselves and other societies. A reference copy can be seen in the Local Studies library.

Two of the more local talks listed in the latest edition include those of the

CROYDON NATURAL HISTORY AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY which are held at

EAST CROYDON UNITED REFORMED CHURCH. Addiscombe Grove. Croydon.

On Wed. September 30th there will be a talk on the CROYDON CANAL by David Delaney

CBA South East are holding a conference entitled

Recent Discoveries - Industrial Archaeology in the South East.

The conference will be held in Medway Hall, Angel Leisure Centre, Tonbridge,

from 10.00am on Saturday 3rd October

Tickets £6 each (members), £7.50 (non-members) from Sheila Broomfield, 8 Woodview Crescent,

Hildenborough. Kent TNI 1 9HD.

On T uesday, October 20th. a talk by Paul So wan onTRANSPORT TUNNELS IN KENT

Both begin at 7.45pm

NEWSof Cold W ar Nuclear Bunker

The NewsShopper of August 12 reports that work lias started on converting the Cold War Nuclear Bunker in Kemnal Road, Chislehurst into a five bed-roomed mansion worth more than £1 million There is more information in the article.

16