Ravenscroft, Bromley

Ravenscroft, Masons Hill, Bromley

Brian Philp

The sad story of Ravenscroft, Bromley, has been touched upon in several of the issues of KAR. Although listed as a Grade II building and certainly one of the oldest and best preserved in the Borough, it was demolished early in 1965. Just before demolition began members of the West Kent Border Group were able to record and photograph various aspects (figure 2).

The house faced towards the north with its frontage parallel to Mason's Hill. It comprised a central block of three storeys with a fine curvilinear gable and dated by a plaque to 1660. The two wings were also gabled, but only of two storeys. Only the wing on the east side was original, that on the west being larger and added at some later date. At the back of the building were various Victorian extensions. The room on the west side contained light timber-framing, but this was clearly added to the original 17th century structure. It is not known if an earlier building existed on the site.

The house, showing strong Dutch influence, was one of the very few examples in the Greater London area. Its demolition, intended to form part of a hospital extension-scheme, is strongly to be deplored. The site, more than two years after the demolition, still remains unused.

View looking down Masons Hill, Ravencroft on the left, the famous railing on the right

Strongs 1858 Extract

MASONS HILL is a small hamlet in the parish of Bromley, situate on the Hill, leading out of the town towards Sevenoaks; an ancient looking building bearing the date 1660 stands on the right, commanding a very pleasant prospect from the south to north west, formerly occupied by the Rev. J . M. Nisbet, now in the possession of E. Soames, Esq. Several pleasant residences have lately been built on the left side of the road. A roadside Inn, named the Tiger’s Head stands on the hill on the right hand side; the old Inn was taken down a few years ago and the present house erected on the site.

1859 UK, Poll Books and Electoral Registers,

1859 • Masons Hill, Bromley

Eley Soames 1859 Bromley Bromley Kent

1861 Census

163 / Eley Soames / Head / 40 / 1821 / Male / Buntingford Hertfordshire / Tallow Dealer

163 / Charlotte Soames / Wife / 26 / 1835 / Female / Cheshunt Hertfordshire

163 / Henry Aldwin Soames / Son / 4 / 1857 / Male / Bromley Kent

163 / Alice C Soames / Daughter / 2 1859 / Female / Bromley Kent

163 / Charles E Soames / Son / 1 / 1860 / Male / Bromley Kent

163 / Charlotte Soames / 35 / 1826 / Female / Guist Norfolk / Servant

163 / Sarah Tatam / 32 / 1829 / Female / Norwich Norfolk / Servant

163 / Eliza Rawlinson / 25 / 1836 / Female / Seal Kent / Servant

163 / Emma E Bullen / 19 / 1842 / Female / Bromley Kent / Servant

1865 West Kent Poll Book

Name: Eley Soames

Residence Year: 1865

Residence Place: West Kent, Kent, England

Description: West Kent Poll Book

1871 Census Ravenscroft

171 Ely Soarnes Head 50 1821 Male Buntingford Hertfordshire

171 Caroline Soarnes Wife 36 1835 Female Cheshire

171 Henry Soarnes Son 13 1858 Male Bromley Kent

171 Alice Soarnes Daughter 12 1859 Female Bromley Kent

171 Charles Soarnes Son 11 1860 Male Bromley Kent

171 Edgar Soarnes Son 9 1862 Male Bromley Kent

171 Harriett Soarnes Daughter 8 1863 Female Bromley Kent

171 Alfred Soarnes Son 6 1865 Male Bromley Kent

171 Percival Soarnes Son 10 Months 1870 Male Bromley Kent

171 Mary Bradford 33 1838 Female Ayminstsbury Dorset

171 Emily Spriggs 23 1848 Female Weldon Northamptonshire

171 Enna Langford 32 1839 Female Lambeth Surrey

1881 Census Ravensborne, Kent, 87 Masons Hill

Esley Soames / Head / Married / 60 / 1821 / Male Retired Russian Broker / Buntingford Hertfordshire

Caroline Soames / Wife / Married / 46 / 1835 / Female / Cheshunt Hertfordshire

Charles E. Soames / Son / 21 / 1860 / Male / Arcticled To Architect / Bromley Kent E

Alfred Soames / Son / 16 / 1865 / Male / Scholar / Bromley Kent

Percival Soames / Son / 10 / 1871 / Male / Scholar / Bromley Kent

Susan Clifton / Servant / 28 / 1853 / Female / Cook (Dom) / Chanay Berkshire

Mary E. Lambert / Servant / 24 / 1857 / Female / Parlour Maid / Bradwell Buckinghamshire

Sarah Woodgate / Servant /23 / 1858 / Female / Housemaid / Blackheath Kent

1891 Kelleys County Directory

Name: Eley Soames

Publication Year: 1891

Address: 87 Mason's hill

Residence Place: Kent, England

1891 Ravenscroft Census

Eley Soames / Head / Male / 70 / 1821 / Buttinford Hertfordshire

Caroline Soames / Wife / Female / 56 / 1835 / Cheshunt Hertfordshire

Alice C Soames / Daughter / Female / 32 / 1859 / Bromley Kent

Charles E Soames / Son / Male / 31 / 1860 / Bromley Kent

Edgar Soames / Son / Male / 29 / 1862 / Bromley Kent

Percival Soames / Son / Male / 20 / 1871 / Bromley Kent

Harriet Furr / Servant / Female / 51 / 1840 / Pattiswick Essex

Alice Griffiths / Servant / Female / 24 / 1867 / Martley Worcestershire

Mercy C Cripps / Servant / Female / 21 / 1870 / Bromley Kent

Mary Lawrence / Servant / Female / 20 / 1871 / Bromley Kent

1887 London,, Overseer Returns, 1863-1894

Liberty of The Old Artillery Ground, Kent

1901 Census

11 Ely Samos Head 80 1821 Male Buntingford, Hertfordshire, Russia Broker (retired)

11 Caroline Samos Wife Female Cheshunt, Hertfordshire

11 Agnes Marshall Servant 34 1867 Female Chelsea, London

11 Annie Marmond Servant 27 1874 Female Knockholt, Kent

11 Annie E Evink Servant 23 1878 Female London, Middlesex

11 Edith S Gaylor Servant 16 1885 Female Deptford, London

1905 Probate of Caroline Soames

1907 London Electoral Register, Camden, St Pancras South

8262 Soames, Eley / Ravenscroft, Bromley, Kent / Freehold House / 78 and 79 Tottenham Court Road [ Qualifying Property ]

Ravenscroft, 1901 Census

Ely Samos / Head / 80 / 1821 / Male / Buntingford, Hertfordshire

Caroline Samos / Wife / Female / Cheshunt, Hertfordshire

Agnes Marshall / Servant / 34 / 1867 / Female / Chelsea, London, England

Annie Marmond / Servant / 27 / 1874 / Female / Knockholt, Kent

Annie E Evink / Servant / 23 / 1878 / Female / London, Middlesex

Edith S Gaylor / Servant / 16 / 1885 / Female / Deptford, London

1911 Census Ravenscroft 12 Masons Hill Bromley

Duncan McArthur / Head / 1860 / 51 / Male / Married / Doctor Of Medicine / Ceylon

Gertrude McArthur / Wife / 1857 / 54 / Female / Married / 20 Norwich, Norfolk,

Amelia Gazeley / Servant / 1872 / 39 / Female / Single / Cook / Westoning, Bedfordshire,

Olive Maud / Cook / Servant / 1888 / 23 / Female / Single / Parlourmaid / Brickhill, Buckinghamshire,

Mabel Fisher / Servant / 1890 / 21 / Female / Single / Housemaid Domestic / Burnham Deanery, Norfolk

1939 Register

38 / Dorothy M Hervey / Female / 31 Dec 1892 / Married / Cook

39 / This record is officially closed.

40 / This record is officially closed.

41 / Charles S Lucas / Male / 27 Feb 1909 / Single / Gardener

42 / David B M Jones / Male / 15 Sep 1908 / Married / Solicitor

43 / Joyce M Kirby / Female / 24 Jun 1917 / Single / Waitress

44 / Alfred Draper / Male / 1 Mar 1900 / Single / Travelling Salesman

1 / Henry Kennedy / Male / 29 Oct 1871 / Single / Retired Accountant (Builders) 1

2 / Annie W Newnham / Female / 19 Feb 1867 / Single / L C C Certificated Teacher (Retired)

3 / Harold B Haisman / Male / 13 Aug 1905 / Single / Bank Clerk

4 / Selina M Home / Female / 26 Nov 1894 / Married / Unpaid Domestic Duties

5 / William M Tennant / Male / 21 Nov 1864 / Widow / Insurance Accountant (Retired)

6 / Montague H Home / Male / 21 Dec 1901 / Married / Bank Clerk

7 / Richard L F Ramsey / Male / 22 Aug 1908 / Single / Bank Clerk

8 / Falconer E Randall / Male / 1 May 1910 / Single / Bank Clerk

9 / Ernest S Thorley / Male / 28 Feb 1906 / Single / Bank Accountant

10 / Lily F Briars / Female / 17 Feb 1888 / Married / Unpaid Domestic Duties

11 / Hilda S Reading / Female / 12 Jan 1879 / Married / Unpaid Domestic Duties

12 / Perry G Reading / Male / 2 Jun 1871 / Married / Bank Manager (Retired)

13 / Elsie D Hoad / Female / 17 Apr 1888 / Married / Unpaid Domestic Duties

14 / Frederick C Hoad / Male / 8 Feb 1888 / Married / Hotelier

15 / Joyce E S Hoad / Female / 2 Nov 1923 / Single / Student (Commercial)

1940 Kelleys Directory

12 Ravenscroft Hotel (residential) (Fredk. C. Hoad, propr )

1962 Kelleys Direcory

12 Ravenscroft Hotel (residential) ( Mrs. Ruby A Hoad Proprss )

1964 Electoral Register

Name: Ruby A Hoad [ Widow of Frederick Hoad ]

32 Jackson Road

Year: 1964

with a Mr Harold E and Mrs Rita Pike

County or Borough: Bromley

Ward or Division/Constituency: Bromley Common

1965 Electoral Register

12 is missing

Top