In the historic venue of Bromley Court Hotel – once the home, as Bromley Hill House, of Lord and Lady Farnborough – over 50 members of BBLHS celebrated our 50th anniversary in style on what turned out to be the first really sunny day of the summer. 

The Italianate core of the house remains although there have been extensions over the years, including where we had our tea.

Of course, an anniversary can’t pass without some reminiscing and our chairman David Hanrahan took the opportunity to recall some of past members who had played important roles in getting the society off the ground in the first place in June 1974. Most are no longer with us but their memory lives on via our publications and website and their research archived at the Central Library. He said: “Those early years brought forth some excellent local historians from all over the Borough, bringing their specific area of expertise for later generations.”

Fortunately, we had founder members present including John Barnes, who for many years ran our publications and book stall, and David paid tribute to him and to Michael Rawcliffe, our former vice chairman, who was not well enough to attend, “we owe both of them a great deal of gratitude for the work they put in over the years.” 

This was followed by an informative and entertaining talk from vice-chairman Tudor Davies on the history of the venue. In particular, on the life of Charles Long, Lord Farnborough, one-time Postmaster-General and a political intimate of William Pitt, and his wife Amelia, who was an artist and garden designer. Her work included some of the paintings on the walls in the reception area and the design of the gardens which at one time stretched from the bottom of Bromley Hill to Beckenham Lane. A fuller history of Bromley Hill House can be found in the June 2022 edition of Bromleag magazine.

And then it was time for our cream tea, lots of chat and a chance to walk round the formal garden visible from our room. 

A very pleasant afternoon.