The history of Bromley from Roman times and earlier to the 20th century was revealed to fellow historians from across Kent at the Kent History Federation annual conference organised in 2011 by BBLHS. A warm welcome by the Mayor, Councillor George Taylor (right), and KHF President, Dr. John Whyman, started the proceedings punctually.

Over 160 delegate from as far away as Hythe, Headcorn and  Wateringbury, as well as many from our neighbouring local history societies in NW Kent travelled to the London Borough of Bromley, to discover that we have a wealth of local history second to none. As our first speaker and vice chairman Michael Rawcliffe pointed out: “The borough is both urban and rural with two major rivers and Green Belt that has preserved many villages and we still think of ourselves as part of Kent, not of South London.”  Michael’s talk Bromley & its Environs - 200 years of Development traced the developments that led to the suburbanisation of much of the borough.

Then we went back in time to look at a much earlier era when Bromley was a Des Res for the Romans. Brian Philp from the Council for Kentish Archaeology (pictured left with the mayor) who had been instrumental in bringing the KHF conference to the borough, gave a talk on Archaeological Discoveries in the Bromley Area, including the identification, by Brian, of the lost Roman town of Noviomagus in West Wickham.

As the conference took place at Crofton Halls in Orpington, adjacent to the remains of the Crofton Roman Villa at the head of the River Cray along which there was considerable Roman settlement, many delegates, particularly those from the Council for Kentish Archaeology, took the opportunity in the afternoon to visit the villa with Brian (and a local Roman who had earlier invaded the conference) as their guide.

Our final speaker, BBLHS Chairman Tony Allnutt, revealed Bromley Residents – A Famous Five: not the usual suspects such as Charles Darwin and H.G. Wells, but some less well known but fascinating characters including intrepid explorer Eric Teichmann [see Bromleag March 2008]; the dashing Prince Imperial who, with his family, had settled after their exile in Chislehurst and died, aged 26, fighting in the Zulu wars;  and ‘Smokey Joe’ a tramp who in the early to mid 20th century cycled around on a bicycle with no tyres or pedals but a small fire in the basket on the front.  Needless to say, he had to keep moving on when his habitat was destroyed by fire and so became well known across the borough.

During the morning, there was an opportunity for delegates to get a flavour of the varied and different histories of the urban and village areas of Bromley in a picture exhibition in the hall and to buy our publications and those of Orpington and District Archaeological Society.   

The afternoon gave delegates the opportunity to explore the Borough. Members of the Society led trips and walks to Chislehurst Caves, The Priory and museum in Orpington and our Grade I listed Bromley and Sheppard’s Collages (seen on the right). Other tour options were to the less well known Arts and Crafts house of Camden Place in Chislehurst and a walk around Beckenham, both showing how even in suburban areas a great deal of fascinating buildings have been retained. A large group led by Brian Philp went to see the Roman cemetery in Keston.

This was the first time that Society has hosted a Kent wide conference and, although many people helped it to be a success, much was down to the careful planning by the sub-committee of Tony Allnutt, Elaine Baker, Max Batten and Valerie Stealey. Our thanks go to them and to the members who came along to help on the day.