Bromley, four miles from Farnborough, is a populous town, pleasantly situated, and containing among its inhabitants many very respectable families; which, together with the college, situated at the north end of the town, the bishop of Rochester's residence near it, and its well-frequented market, support it in a flourishing state.

The market is held on Thursdays, and was granted in the 25th of King Henry VI. to the bishop of Rochester, to be held weekly within his manor. At the same time were granted the two fairs mentioned in our list.

The Church appears to have been erected at different times; the eastern part being the most ancient. Among other monuments and memorials in this church, are those of John Yonge, bishop of Rochester, who died 1605; Zachary Pearce, bishop of the same diocese, who died 1774; Dr. Hawksworth, the well-known author of the Adventurer, and other moral and elegant works; and Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Samuel Johnson. The. epitaph of Mrs. Johnson is in Latin, and was written by her celebrated husband, a few months before his own death.

Bromley College, was founded by Dr. John Warner, bishop of Rochester, who, by his will bearing date 1666, directed the foundation of an hospital or college, for 20 widows of loyal and orthodox clergymen, and a chaplain. To accomplish this noble and generous design he directed his executors to raise, by means of his personal estate, a building proper for the purpose, and charged his manor of Swayton with the annual payment of 4501. for their maintenance; of which sum each widow was to receive 20l. yearly, and the remaining 50l. was for a stipend to the chaplain, who was always to be appointed from Magdalen College, Oxford.

The original endowments have been greatly augmented by the gifts of various persons, and twenty additional houses have been built in consequence of these liberal benefactions. The present edifice consists of two quadrangles, each of which is surrounded by a colonnade. The sum now received from the institution, by each of the widows, is 30l. 10s. per annum.

The College is situated at the entrance of the town from London, and is a handsome and appropriate structure. In the chapel is a fine whole-length portrait of the founder.

The Palace is most pleasantly situated, and is at present the only episcopal residence belonging to the see of Rochester. The present structure was erected on the site of the old palace, by bishop Thomas, about the year 1777.

Roger Forde, abbot of Glastonbury, a man of great learning and eloquence, was killed at this palace, in the time of Bishop Laurence de St. Martin, whilst on a journey which he undertook to defend the rights of his church, in the year 1261.

There is a well in the bishop's grounds, near the gardens, called St. Blaze's Welt, which being greatly resorted to anciently, on account of its medicinal virtues, had an oratory annexed to it, dedicated to that saint. It was particularly frequented at Whitsuntide, on account of a remission of forty days' enjoined penance to such as should visit the chapel, and offer up their orisons in it on the three holy days of Pentecost.

This oratory falling to ruin at the Reformation, the well too became disused, and the site of both, in process of time, was forgotten, and continued so till the well was discovered again in the year 1754, by means of a yellow ochrey sediment remaining in the tract of a small current leading from the spring to the corner of the moat, with the waters of which it used to mix. In digging round the well there were found the remains of the old steps leading down to it, made of oak plank, which appeared to have lain under ground many years. The water of this spring is chalybeate, and rises at the foot of a declivity, at a small distance eastward from the Bishop's palace. The soil through which it passes is gravel, and it issues immediately from a bed of pure white sand. "The course of the spring seems to be about north-northeast and south-southwest from its aperture; its opening is towards the latter, and as Shooter's Hill bears about north-northeast from its aperture, it probably comes from thence." The water being thus found to be a good chalybeate, was, by the bishop's orders, immediately secured from the intermixture of other waters, and enclosed. The medicinal properties of this spring, nearly resemble those of Tunbridge Wells.

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BROMLEY is a market and union town, head of a petty sessional division and parish with stations on the South Eastern and Chatham railway, 10 miles from London, 14 north-west from Sevenoaks and 6 south-by-east from Greenwich; it is on the Hastings line of road, through Sevenoaks and Tonbridge, near the east bank of the Ravensbourne, in the Western division of the county, hundred of Bromley and Beckenham, lathe of Sutton-at-Hone, rural deanery of West Dartford, archdeaconry of Maidstone, and diocese of Canterbury and within the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan police (who have a station here) and of the Central Criminal court.

Bromley was, from April, 1867, governed by a Local Board under the “Local Government Act of 1858,” but mow is controlled by a District Council of 16 members, under the “Local Government Act, 1894” (56 and 57 Vict. c. 73); the town is partially paved and lighted with gas by a company, and supplied with water from works at Shortlands, the property of the Kent Water Works Co. and drawn from wells in the chalk.

On January 1st, 1878, a short line of railway was opened to this town from the Grove Park station on the London and) Tonbridga branch of the South Eastern railway, affording direct communication with London bridge, Cannon street and Charing Cross.

The church of SS. Peter and Paul is a structure of brick and flint, and has an ancient tower containing a clock and 8 bells, hung in 1777: about 1792, the structure seems to have been either rebuilt in red brick, or so remodelled in that material as to have retained but few features of the previously existing edifice; in 1830 the body of the church appears to have been again rebuilt, and in 1873 fresh alterations were made at a total cost of £2,451, but the tower, dating from the 15th century, has remained untouched; in 1884 the church was enlarged at a cost of nearly £4,000: there are several stained windows, some being memorials, various brasses, and a number of monuments of considerable interest to John Younge, bishop of Rochester, 1605, Zachary Pearce D.D. successively bishop of Bangor and Rochester, 1774, the Bagshawe, Smith Chase and Lacer families, to the Scotts, of Sundridge Park, to John Bawkesworth LL.D, the friend of Dr. Johnson, 1773, to Elizabeth wife of Dr. Samuel Johnson, d. 17 March, 1752, and many others: the church has 1,200 sittings, of which 250 are free. The register of baptisms dates from the year 1558; burials, 1578; marriages, 1575. The living is a vicarage, gross income £536, including house, in the gift of the Bishop of Worcester, and held since 1865 by the Rev. Arthur Gresley Hellicar M.A. of Wadham College, Oxford, and surrogate. A Parish room, in West street, in connection with this church, was opened in November, 1881.

St. John, the Evangelist’s is an ecclesiastical parish, formed December 17, 1880, out of the mother parish and embraces that portion lying between Plaistow and Widmore. The church, in Park road, erected in 1879—80, at a cost, including site, of £5,400, is of stone in the Perpendicular style, and has a turret, with spire, containing one bell: there are 700 sittings. The register dates from the year 1880. The living is a vicarage, net yearly value £365, with residence, in the gift of the vicar of Bromley, and held since 1881 by the Rev. Peter Barker M.A. of Brasenose College, Oxford. The Vicarage house was built in 1891, and there is a parish room in North road.

St. Mark’s, Westmorland road, erected in place of the iron church, at the foot of Mason’s hill, opened 30 Nov. 1884, is a chapel of ease to the parish church, and was built at a cost of upwards of £8,000, from designs by Mr. Evelyn Hellicar A.R.I.B.A, and consecrated 22 Oct. 1898: there are 300 sittings.

Christ Church, Bromley Park, erected at a cost of £2,600, and opened in 1887, is of brick in the Early English style: the church is licensed, and has 350 sittings. The living is a vicarage, yearly value £310, in the gift of S. Cawston esq. and held since 1902 by the Rev. William Doveton Keith-Steele.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Freelands, is a temporary iron building, opened March 1892, and will seat 250 persons.

Trinity Presbyterian Church of England, Freelands road, built in 1895, has 720 sittings.

There are also Congregational, Baptist, Primitive Methodist and Wesleyan chapels, meeting rooms for The Brethren, and a Wesleyan Mission room.

The Cemetery, consecrated September 19Th 1877, has an area of 5a. 1r. 6p. and contains two mortuary chapels: it is under the control of the Urban District Council.

The Town Hall, a structure of brick, principally in the Elizabethan style, was erected in 1865, on the site of the old Market House. The hall is 69 feet long by 32 feet wide and 40 feet high from the floor to the internal roof; under the central portion of the building a market is held on Thursday, a large portion of the market square being also used for the same purpose: the south end is occupied by the Metropolitan police station.

The London and County Bank, erected in 1887, is in the High street.

Bromley College, at the entrance of the town from the London road, was founded and endowed by John Warner D.D. bishop of Rochester, in 1666, for twenty poor widows of loyal and orthodox clergymen: by the benefactions of Bishop Pearce and his brother William Pearce, who gave £12,000; Mrs. Helen Betenson, a donor of £10,000; Dr. Walter King, bishop of Rochester, who in 1823 gave £300 in Three per Cents.; Mrs. Rose, who gave in 1824 £8,000, and others, the funds have been largely increased, so that now forty widows have each an allowance of £38 yearly and a separate residence; the buildings, constructed chiefly of red brick, in the style of the 17th century, from two quadrangles, containing 42 houses, and include a chapel of Gothic design, rebuilt in 1875, and seating 130 persons; surrounding the whole are well-kept flower gardens and shrubberies: the college is managed by a body of 12 trustees, seven of whom, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, are ex-officio: the chaplaincy, yearly value £170, in the gift of the president and fellows of Magdalen College, Oxford, has been held since 1891 by the Rev. Jamas White, incorporated M.A. of that college, from Trinity College, Dublin.

Sheppard’s College, founded and endowed by Mrs. Sheppard, widow of the Rev. Thomas Sheppard D.D. fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford, for the benefit of five unmarried daughters of widows, who have resided with their mothers at Bromley College, is situated in the north-east corner of the college grounds; each pensioner receives £44 yearly and a house rent free, together with medical attendance.

The A Squadron of the West Kent (Queen’s Own) Imperial Yeomanry is stationed in the town.

The Drill Hall and Gymnasium, in East street, are the head quarters of the E and F companies, 2nd Volunteer Battalion, Queen’s Own (West Kent Regiment): the buildings, opened in May, 1872, include three halls, the largest of which, erected in 1889—90, will hold 1,000 persons, and is let for musical and dramatic entertainments.

The School of Science and Art, in Tweedy road, was opened in 1878, but since 1892 has been carried on under the control of the Urban District Council, and under the provisions of the “Public Libraries Act, 1855” (18 and 19 Vict. c. 70) a building of red brick with Bath stone dressings was erected in 1894, containing reading and lending library, and a large room has also been added to the Science and Art School.

The Literary Institute occupies premises in Widmore road, and has a library of 6,500 volumes. There is a local school of music and a musical society, and also chrysanthemum and naturalists’ societies. The Bromley Association for the Extension of University Teaching provides courses of lectures by qualified teachers during the autumn and winter.

The Bromley Conservative Club, established March 4Th 1881, in the Market square, was afterwards removed to the mansion known as “Bromley Lodge,” in the High street, and contains a large reading room, smoking and recreation rooms, with a library of about 200 volumes, and is well supplied with papers and periodicals: lectures or addresses are delivered and smoking concerts held on every third Tuesday evening during the winter season. The Bromley and County Club, a purely social and non-political institution, occupies premises in High street, and includes reading and dining rooms, and billiard and card rooms; there are now (1902) 220 members.

There are also local Conservative and Liberal Associations, and cricket, lawn tennis, cycling, bowling and hockey clubs. The Ancient Order of Anglo-Saxons, Alexandra Lodge, No. 3, holds its meetings at the Co-operative Hall, East street.

The Cottage Hospital, in South hill, established in 1869, rebuilt in 1875, enlarged in 1886, and again in 1900, is supported by voluntary contributions, and managed by a committee of 15 persons; it now contains 24 beds, and 8 cots for children; the average yearly number of patients attending the hospital is about 350.

The Phillips Memorial Homoeopathic Hospital and Dispensary, Lownds avenue, was established in 1889, and has 11 beds. The number of in-patients in 1901 was 128, and of out-patients 1,724.

The Fever Hospital is at Skym corner, Bromley Common, and the Nursing Institution in Elmfield road. A. branch of the St. John. Ambulance Brigade has headquarters at the St. Luke’s Institute, Raglan road, Bromley Common. John Lascoe, in 1850, bequeathed a sum of £2,880 Consols, the dividends arising from which are for decayed tradesmen: this legacy was in August, 1855, secured to the Bromley Philanthropic Society, founded January 6Th 1841: Elizabeth Lascoe, in 1853, bequeathed £194 Consols, the interest to be applied to the benefit of tradesmen’s widows.

A Charitable Society, formed here in 1855 for the relief of the distressed poor, is now managed by a committee of laymen and clergymen; the average receipts and expenditure amount to £500 and upwards.

The Bromley Philanthropic Society was established in 1841, and, is managed by trustees, and there is a Temperance Society.

The Bromley Recreation Ground, on Martin's Hill, consists of 11a. 5p. and was purchased by the Local Board in 1879, at a cost of £2,500, from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners: in 1887 11 acres of adjoining land, called the “Queen’s Mead,” was purchased at a cost of £4,300, and is used for cricket and other games. At the entrance is a neat lodge, near which is, a drinking fountain erected in 1887; the whole is under the control of a committee.

Queen’s Garden, situated just off the Market square, and formerly known as the “White Hart Cricket field,” was presented to the town in 1900 by Coles Child esq, lord of the manor, and laid out for public recreation by the Urban District Council to commemorate the illustrious reign of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria.

The manor belonged from time immemorial to the Bishops of Rochester, and was purchased by Bishop Alfstan in 967 from King Edgar, but disposed of in recent times by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners; the former palace of the Bishops of Rochester, situated between the Widmore road and the railway, is a plain mansion of red brick with stone dressings, rebuilt in 1775 by Bishop Thomas, and situated on a slope in a small park containing some fine elms and an avenue of limes leading to the house; the interior comprises a large entrance hall and staircase of dark oak; to the left of the entrance is the old chapel, a low chamber with small windows, consecrated in 1701; the porch has an excommunication scene in stained glass: here it was that Bishop Atterbury, (1713—23) resided when he was visited by Pope and Swift and here he formed the plots which eventually led to his exile; his daughter-in-law was afterwards a pensioner at the college: the palace is now the residence, of Coles Child esq. J.P.: in the grounds, which are well laid out and kept, is a chalybeate springs called St. Blaize’s Well, connected with which was once a little oratory, which fell into ruins after the Reformation; over the well is now attached roof supported on six pillars.

Bromley Hill, about half a mile north and formerly the residence of the Right Boa. Sir Charles Long, after wards Lord Farnborough, has been purchased by Samuel Cawston esq, the park consists of about 150 acres, of which about 40 acres are laid out for building purposes. Yewhurst is the residence of the Hon. Sir Gainsford Bruce D.C.L, justice of the King’s Bench Division.

Coles Child esq. is lord of the manor. The principal landowners are Sir S. E. Scott bart. M.P. Coles Child esq. the trustees of the late Mrs. Le Grix Whiter of Leaming-on-Ulleswater, Penrith the, Ecclesiastical Commissioners the trustees of the late Archibald Norman esq. and of George Wythes esq.

The area is 4,695 acres of land and 8 of water; rateable value, £214,315; the population in 1871; was 10,764, in 1881, 15,154, in 1891, 21,684, and in 1901, 27,354, viz.; Bickley ward, 5,447; Bromley. Common ward, 4,232; Plaistow ward, 5,496; Sundridge ward, 4,885; Town ward, 7,294.

The population of the ecclesiastical parishes in 1901 wast SS. Peter and Paul (parish church), 10,531; Holy Trinity, 1,166; St. John the Evangelist, 3,020; St. Luke, Bromley Common, 6,099.

Bromley New Town is half a mile east and is becoming; a thickly populated district.

Elm stead is a hamlet two miles north-east, consisting: of a few villa residences, in Chislehurst postal delivery. Sundridge Park House is a beautiful mansion in the Italian style, situated at the foot of a declivity, in a well-wooded park of about 1,000 acres, of which about 100 acres have been laid out for building purposes.

At Sundridge Park remarkable fossils, of the oldest tertiary beds, are found.

Southborough is another hamlet, two miles south-east from Bromley and half a mile south from Bickley station.

Petty sessions are held at the Court house every monday at 10.30 a.m. The places included in the Bromley Petty Sessional Division are the same as in the union & county court district.

BROMLEY UNION

Board day, alternate thursdays, at the Workhouse, Lock’s Bottom, Farnborough, at 2 p.m.

The Union comprises seventeen parishes, namely, Bromley, Beckenham, Chelsfield, Chislehurst, Cudham, Downe, Farnborough, Foots Cray, Hayes, Keston, Knockholt, Mottingham, North Cray, Orpington, St. Mary Cray, St. Paul’s Cray & West Wickham. The population of the Union in 1901 was 85,739; area, 40,978 acres; rateable value in March, 1902, £712,116.

The Workhouse, Lock’s Bottom, Farnborough, is a structure of brick, erected in 1837, and will hold 324 inmates.

PLACES OF WORSHIP, with times of Services

SS. Peter & Paul’s Church, Rev. Arthur Gresley Hellicar M.A. vicar; Rev. Frederick Haslam M.A. & Rev. Lewis James Elwin B.A. curates; 8.30 & 11 a.m. & 3.30 & 7 p.m.; wed. 12 noon; fri. 11 a.m.

Holy Trinity Church, Bromley Common, Rev. Frederick William Haines M.A. vicar; 11 a.m.. & 6.30 p.m.

St. George’s Church, Bickley, Rev. William Alexander Carroll M.A. vicar; Rev. James Craufurd Boyd M.A. curate; 8 & 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; daily, 9.30 a.m. & 5.30 p.m.; H. C. wed. 8.30 a.m. & 2nd thurs. 11.30 a.m.

Christ Church, Bromley Park, Rev. W. D. Keith-Steele, vicar; 11 a.m. & 3.15 & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7 30 p.m.

St. Luke’s, Bromley Common, Rev. Edward Lotherington Colebrooke M.A. vicar; Rev. Arthur Augustus Carre M.A. curate; 8 & 11 a.m. & 7 p.m.; daily 8 a.m. & 5 p.m.; wed. & fri. 12 noon.

St. Mary’s Church, Plaistow, Rev. John Bond M.A. vicar; Rev. Harry Francis Maltby M.A. curate; 8 & 11 a.m. & 3.15 & 7 p.m.; week days, 8 a.m. & 5 p.m. & thurs. & holy days 7.30 p.m.

St. John’s, Park road, Rev. Peter Barker M.A. vicar; 8 & 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Mission Church, Nightingale lane, 7.30 & 10.45 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

St. Mark’s, Chapel of Ease (iron), Mason’s hill, Rev. Arth Gresley Hellicar M.A.; 8.30 & 11 a.m.. & 7 p.m.

St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Freelands, Rev. Thomas Ford; 7, 8.30 & 11 a.m. & 3 & 6.30 p.m.; daily 7.30; thurs. 6.

Trinity Presbyterian Church, Freelands road; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist, Park road, Rev. Robert Silvey A.T.S.; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist Union, Shermans road; mon. & wed. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist, Bromley Common, Rev. F. W. Gusterson; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

Baptist (Strict), College slip; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

Brethren, East street, it a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 8 p.m.

Brethren, Freelands grove, 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.

Brethren, Sherman’s road, 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.45 p.m.

Congregational, Widmore road, Rev. Thomas Nicholson; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

Primitive Methodist, Bloomfield road, Shooting Common (Penge &Bromley circuit), Rev. Thomas H. Bickerton; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.30 p.m.

Wesleyan, Farwig lane; 11 a.m. & 3.0 & 6.30 p.m.; tuesday 7.30 p.m.

Wesleyan, High street; 11 a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; wed. 7.15 p.m.

Wesleyan, Tylneyrd Brmly.; 11a.m. & 6.30 p.m.; tues. & fri. 7.30 p.m.

Mission Church, Southboro’, Salisbury road (in connection with the Bromley Common Baptist Church), 6.30 p.m.

Baptist Mission Chapel (iron), Crown lane Mission Room (St. Luke’s), Elliott road, 7 p.m.

Mission Room, Farwig lane, Plaistow, 7 p.m.; wed. 8 p.m.

Mission Room (iron), Gt. Elms road, various; 6.30 p.m.

SCHOOLS

A School Board of 9 members was formed 5 May, 1888, George Wall, clerk to the board, Council offices, Bromley; James Rogers, attendance officer.

The School Attendance Committee of the Urban District Council consists of 12 members; No. 1 district, W. D. Jones, 66 Tweedy road, Bromley; No. 2 district, C. E. Manger, Bromley rd. Beckenham; No. 3 district, W. H. Banner, St. Mary Cray; No. 4 district, H. L. Hodsdon, Sidcup, attendance & enquiry officers.

Board, Raglan road, erected in 1891, & enlarged in 1898, for 310 boys, 310 girls, 545 infants & 360 junior mixed; average attendance, boys, 212; girls, 166; infants, 300; junior mixed, 240.

Board (mixed), Aylesbury road, built in 1890 for 250; average attendance, 184.

Board, Beckenham lane, built in 1891 for 650 children; average attendance, 195 boys, 180 girls & 150 infants.

Board, Wharton road, built in 189 & for 360 boys, 310 girls & 396 infants.

School of Science & Art, Tweedy road, E. T. Godward, hon. sec.; H. C. Bond M.A. science master.

National (Central), College road, first established in 1716 & remodelled in 1814; the present school was built in 1855, at a cost of about £2,700 & since enlarged for 712 children; average attendance, 600.

National (girls’), Mason’s hill, erected in 1872 & since enlarged for 343 children; average attendance, 300.

National (mixed), Bromley Common, erected in 1840, for 186 children; average attendance, 160.

National (Bickley & Widmore), Tylney road, erected in 1873, for 330 & enlarged in 1881 for 550 children; average attendance, 520.

National (mixed), College road, Bromley, erected in 1874, for 400 children; average attendance, 300.

Infants’, Lady Farquhar’s, Sundridge park, erected in 1880, for 66 children; average attendance, 50.

National (infants’), Addison road, Bromley common, built in 1883, for 240 children; average attendance, 130.

Kent County Council Domestic Economy School, Springs hill, College road; Miss Isobel Duncan, superintendent.