House Clearance in Bromley

The history of Bromley goes back to before William the Conqueror, in fact first mention of Bromleag has been traced to AD 862 and had become Bronlie by 1086 (Domesday Book). A brief summary ofk Kentish history can be found HERE. Incidentally, the name Bromley is derived from the broom plant (which grows very easily around here) and should not be confused with Bromley by Bow which name is derived from brambles (apparently)! An historical feature located in the heart of town is St. Blaise’s Well.

At Keston Ponds, on the way to Biggin Hill, is Caesar’s Well, the source of the River Ravensbourne which flows south to north through the Borough, eventually discharging into the Thames via Deptford Creek. Whether Caesar (Julius?) ever saw the spring is doubtful, but there are Roman remains in the area and only a few miles to the east is Lullingstone Villa which was constructed around 200 AD. Possibly even older are the unusual Chislehurst Caves although I still don’t understand why they built them so close to the railway station (the old one’s are the best!). Also at Keston is Holwood House, once the property of William Pitt the Younger and where he and William Wilberforce agreed to abolish slavery in the British Empire whilst sitting the shade of a large oak tree, seen here in 1982 a few years before it finally disintegrated. The fact that the original photo had members of my family gracefully draped all over it had nothing to do with its collapse!