45-510: The Churchill Theatre in Bromley , southeast London , was built by the London Borough of Bromley according to designs by the borough architect's department. The Churchill is an example of a repertory theatre built in the style of European opera houses, with a large stage and sub-stage workshops. Integrated into the central library complex overlooking Church House Gardens and Library Gardens, it
90-452: A market town , chartered in 1158. Its location on a coaching route and the opening of a railway station in 1858 were key to its development and the shift from an agrarian village to an urban town. As part of the growth of London's conurbation in the 20th century, Bromley Town significantly increased in population and was incorporated as a municipal borough in 1903 and became part of the London Borough of Bromley in 1965. Bromley today forms
135-564: A BBC Radio 3 interview he said that "if Kent is the Garden of England then Bromley is one of the compost heaps". He then moved to Lewisham. Local news is provided by the Bromley Times . The town has three Non-League football clubs, and one League Two club. Bromley F.C . play their home games at the Hayes Lane Stadium; as did Cray Wanderers F.C. from 1998 until 2024. The latter club
180-424: A classical house designed by Robert Mylne , FRS , for John Wells, shipbuilder, in 1780 (demolished 1963). His brother William, shipbuilder and a director of Greenwich Hospital , inherited the estate, and his son John commissioned additions by Robert Smirke in 1810. John Wells began selling part of his lands in 1841 following due to financial difficulties, and by the late 1850s a few large houses had been built in
225-419: A cost of £1.63m. Currently the theatre is operated under a contract held by Trafalgar Entertainment , previous to that HQ Theatres & Hospitality and previous to that Ambassador Theatre Group . In July 2024 Bromley Council advertised the freehold of the theatre as "land for sale", claiming that the venue was "rapidly approaching the end of its life". This article about a London building or structure
270-470: A former resident of nearby Downe Village. Bickley Bickley is a district and a local government electoral ward in South East London, within the London Borough of Bromley . It is located 10.4 miles (16.7 km) south east of Charing Cross , bordering Elmstead to the north, Chislehurst to the north-east and east, Petts Wood to the south-east, Southborough to the south, Bromley to
315-527: A major retail and commercial centre. It is identified in the London Plan as one of the 13 metropolitan centres of Greater London. Bromley is first recorded in an Anglo-Saxon charter of 862 as Bromleag and means 'woodland clearing where broom grows'. It shares this Old English etymology with Great Bromley in eastern Essex, but not with the Bromley in the East End of London. The history of Bromley
360-673: A professional, the Churchill Theatre , an amateur, the Bromley Little Theatre (close to Bromley North railway station) and an outdoor amphitheatre located in "Church House Gardens" behind the Churchill theatre. The Churchill Theatre was opened on 19 July 1977 by the Prince of Wales , and seats 781. It is run on a contract currently held by HQ Theatres Ltd acting as both a receiving and producing house , with productions transferring to
405-407: Is St Mark's , which stands on Westmoreland Road. The present church is the third. The first was built as a temporary iron church in 1884 to cope with Bromley's growing population, on land slightly to the east of the present church, donated by a local man called Eley Soames. The road name St Mark's Road preserves the rough location of the former site. The second church was built in brick and stone on
450-577: Is " Cfb ". (Marine West Coast Climate/ Oceanic climate ). Bromley is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the London Plan . Bromley had one of the highest gross disposable household incomes (GDHI) in the UK, at £27,169 in 2018. Bromley was ranked fourth in Greater London by Retail Footprint in 2005, behind the West End , Croydon and Kingston upon Thames . Bromley competes with both Croydon and
495-422: Is a civic society for the historic centre of Bromley. It is a founder member of Civic Voice . It seeks to educate the public about the community's history and to preserve historical sites. In the famous Monty Python "Spam" sketch Bromley was stated to be the location of the fictional Green Midget Café, where every item on the menu was composed of spam in varying degrees. In another Monty Python sketch, it
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#1732848301047540-580: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This article about a theatre building in the United Kingdom is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Bromley Bromley is a large town in Greater London , England, within the London Borough of Bromley . It is 9 + 1 ⁄ 2 miles (15 kilometres) southeast of Charing Cross , and had an estimated population of 88,000 as of 2023. Originally part of Kent , Bromley became
585-742: Is claimed to be the oldest football club in what is today Greater London. The other teams, Holmesdale F.C. and Greenwich Borough F.C. , play at Oakley Road. Bromley F.C. are the only professional team in Bromley and play in League Two after being promoted from the National League in 2024. Five rugby clubs in Bromley are, Old Elthamians RFC (a National League 2 side), Park House FC (established in 1883), Bromley RFC (founded in 1886), Beckenham RFC (established in 1894), and Beccehamians RFC (founded in 1933) which plays competitive rugby at Sparrows Den at
630-606: Is closely connected with the See of Rochester. In AD 862 Ethelbert , the King of Kent, granted land to form the Manor of Bromley. In 1185 Bromley Palace was built by Gilbert Glanvill , Bishop of Rochester . Pilgrims came to the town to visit St. Blaise's Well . The Palace was held by the Bishops until 1845, when Coles Child, a wealthy local merchant and philanthropist , purchased Bromley Palace (now
675-516: Is formed of six wards for the 2021 census : The 2021 U.K. census reported the entire borough of Bromley overall had a population 329,991. The life expectancy in Bromley Town ward (which covers the town centre) was 79.3 years for males and 83.7 years for females, during 2009–2013. The highest in the town were in Shortlands: 86.1 years for males and 88.1 years for females. The lowest for both genders
720-564: Is linked to National Trust countryside at Petts Wood and beyond that to Scadbury Park Nature Reserve. A large play area on Southlands Road with a children's playground. A small local park with a children's playground which has entrances in Pembroke Road, Lewes Road and Tylney Road. Schools in Bickley Bickley station serves the area with services to London Victoria , Kentish Town , Orpington and Sevenoaks via Swanley . Bickley
765-677: Is served by two main rail stations. Bromley South provides National Rail services to London Victoria (non stop, semi fast via Denmark Hill and stopping services via Herne Hill ), London Blackfriars via Catford , Orpington , Sevenoaks via Swanley , Ramsgate via Chatham , Dover Priory via Chatham & Canterbury East and to Ashford International via Maidstone East . Bromley North provides shuttle services to Grove Park , where onward connections can be made for services to London Charing Cross & London Cannon Street via Lewisham . Finally, Shortlands railway station serves primarily residential areas immediately southwest of
810-478: Is set in Bromley and surroundings in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Based on a real-life memoir by Dave Roberts about following Bromley F.C. , it includes many scenes filmed locally, although Crockenhill F.C. was used as a substitute for the Hayes Lane stadium. Guitarist Billy Jenkins, born in Bromley, released an album titled "Sounds like Bromley" in 1982 and another in 1997 titled "Still Sounds Like Bromley". In
855-541: The Bluewater centre in Dartford as a shopping destination. The town has a large retail area, including a pedestrianised High Street and The Glades centre, the main shopping mall, which has a catchment of 1.3 million people. The shopping area includes retailers such as Gap, Oasis, Foot Locker and Waterstone's, whilst the restaurants includes a branch of the small chain of Belgian-themed Belgo restaurants. Development at
900-593: The Bromley and Beckenham hundred and the Sutton-at-Hone lathe of Kent. In 1840 it became part of the expanded Metropolitan Police District . The parish adopted the Local Government Act 1858 and a local board was formed in 1867. The board was reconstituted as Bromley Urban District Council in 1894 and the parish became Bromley Urban District . It formed part of the London Traffic Area from 1924 and
945-640: The Bromley and Biggin Hill Parliament constituency. The current MP is Peter Fortune . Thomas Turrell is the London Assembly member for the Bexley and Bromley constituency, in which the town is located. This post was previously held by Fortune. Bromley's most prominent MP was the former Conservative prime minister, Harold Macmillan . Climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate
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#1732848301047990-532: The Duchess of Kent laid the foundation stone of the present church, which was designed by T W G Grant and built by David Nye . Besides the tower, other parts of the fabric of the original church were used in the rebuilding. Inside there are some interesting monuments: to Samuel Ajayi Crowther , John Cole Patteson and Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah , who were all bishops in the Commonwealth. The East Street drill hall
1035-504: The London Passenger Transport Area from 1933. In 1934, as part of a county review order , the borough was expanded by taking in 1,894 acres (766 hectares) from the disbanded Bromley Rural District ; an area including parts of the parishes of Farnborough , Hayes , Keston and West Wickham . Bromley became part of the newly created Greater London in 1965, in the new London Borough of Bromley . Bromley forms part of
1080-547: The British Tamil Cricket League. They also have an established junior training section that play competitive cricket in the North Kent Junior League. Bromley has numerous schools, and is home to Bromley College of Further & Higher Education . There are two specialist Media Arts Schools, Hayes School and The Ravensbourne School . Bishop Justus School is a specialist Music College. It also has
1125-565: The Commonwealth title against Proud Kilimanjaro , which he won over 10 rounds. He lost his British title at the first defence to Horace Notice in April 1986, Notice winning by a 6th-round TKO. Currie won four of his next 5 fights, including a 2nd-round knockout of Glenn McCrory , leading to another shot at the then vacant British title against Gary Mason ; Mason won by a fourth-round knockout. Currie then fought Derek Williams in December 1989 for both
1170-580: The Commonwealth title and the vacant EBU European title; Williams won by a first-round TKO. That proved to be Currie's final fight and he retired from boxing. Noted author H. G. Wells was born in Bromley on 21 September 1866, to Sarah and Joseph Wells; his father was the founder of the Bromley Cricket Club and the proprietor of a shop that sold cricket equipment. Wells spent the first 13 years of his life in Bromley. From 1874 to 1879 he attended Tomas Morley's Bromley Academy, at 74 High Street. There
1215-547: The Ravens Wood and Darrick Wood Schools . There are many independent schools within the London Borough of Bromley, including Eltham College (in the nearby area of Mottingham – within the borough of Bromley and near the London Borough of Lewisham) and Bromley High (situated in the nearby area of Bickley - also within the borough of Bromley). Bromley town as a whole, including the surrounding area, its neighbourhoods and villages,
1260-560: The United States where he won both his fights, and in September 1985 he fought Banjo once again, this time for the British heavyweight title after David Pearce was forced to vacate; Pearce had KO'd Currie in a British amateur bout and Currie stated he was relieved not to face Pearce. Currie won a 12-round points decision against Banjo to become British champion. His next fight was an eliminator for
1305-578: The West End or touring nationally. An example being recent tours of Club Tropicana The Musical . Bromley also has a central library in the same building as the Churchill Theatre with a large book stock, Internet and wifi access, reference library and local studies department. It functions as the central library of the broader Bromley Borough Libraries Service . Bromley Picturehouse was opened in June 2019 in
1350-449: The area, aided by the opening of Bickley railway station (formerly named Southborough Road) in 1858 and Chislehurst station in 1865. Much of the area was purchased and developed by George Wythes, who commissioned numerous large houses for the wealthy classes, most of them designed by Richard Norman Shaw and Ernest Newton . St George's Church was built in 1865, and a cricket ground in 1868. Smaller-scale development continued throughout
1395-539: The average cost of a house was £519,619. The parish church of St Peter and St Paul stands on Church Road. It was largely destroyed by German bombing on 16 April 1941 and rebuilt in the 1950s incorporating the medieval tower and reusing much of the flint and fragments of the original stone building. The most noteworthy historic building is Bromley College , London Road. The central public open spaces are; Queen's Gardens, Martin's Hill, Church House Gardens, Library Gardens and College Green. Another parish church in Bromley
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1440-465: The bottom of Corkscrew Hill in nearby West Wickham. Bromley Cricket Club was founded in 1820, but evidence of cricket being played in Bromley dates to 1735. Bromley CC has a significant success record, with 9 Kent Cricket League championship titles to their name. Bromley field four senior teams. Three compete in the Kent Cricket League (a designated ECB Premier League ) and one plays in
1485-522: The early 20th century and several of the older, larger properties were demolished or sub-divided. The area today remains a wealthy one, characterised by large detached housing. With entrances in Thornet Wood Road and Blackbrook lane, there are 62 acres (25 hectares) of wildflower meadows, hedgerows and semi-natural ancient woodland. There is a cycle route through this park to Petts Wood. The London LOOP footpath also goes through Jubilee Park and it
1530-816: The hub of the Bromley Civic Centre) and became lord of the manor. The town was an important coaching stop on the way to Hastings from London, and the now defunct Royal Bell Hotel (just off Market Square) is referred to in Jane Austen 's Pride and Prejudice . It was a quiet rural village until the arrival of the railway in 1858 in Shortlands , which led to rapid growth, and outlying suburban districts such as Bickley (which later overflowed into Bromley Common ) were developed to accommodate those wishing to live so conveniently close to London . Bromley, also known as Bromley St Peter and St Paul , formed an ancient parish in
1575-564: The nearby St. Mark's Square has seen further restaurants and a cinema established. Bromley High Street is also the location for the Bromley Charter Market, which runs on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. King John granted a charter for the Market to be held every Tuesday in 1205, with Henry VI revising this charter to every Thursday in 1447. The Market sells food and confectionery items, clothing and other goods like jewellery. Bromley
1620-546: The present site, and designed by Evelyn Hellicar , son of the then vicar of St Peter and St Paul's. It was completed in 1898 in the Perpendicular Gothic style and consecrated by William Walsh , Bishop of Dover, on 22 October that year. The tower, though, was not completed until 1904. Like St Peter and St Paul's, St Mark's was heavily damaged in the London Blitz of 1941. Only the tower survived intact. On 3 June 1952,
1665-491: The previous Empire theatre. Vue Cinemas own a nine-screen cinema, which is part of the Bromley South Central scheme at St Mark's Square, opened on 28 November 2018. Bromley has its own team of Morris dancers , The Ravensbourne Morris Men , founded in 1947 as a post-war revival team following an inaugural meeting at the then Jean's Café , which was located opposite Bromley South Station. Bromley Civic Society
1710-485: The south-west and west and Widmore to the north-west. Until 1965, it was in the historic county of Kent . The area's name is first recorded in 1279, the 'ley' or 'lea' referring to a forest clearing, and 'Bicca' either meaning a pointed ridge, or else a personal name. The area remained rural, save for a small hunting lodge belonging to the Wells family dating to 1759. The Lodge was gradually enlarged to become Bickley Hall,
1755-824: The town centre. Being one stop west of Bromley South , Southeastern and Thameslink services connect the station to London Victoria and London Blackfriars . Bromley is served by London Buses routes 61, 119, 126, 138, 146, 162, 208, 227, 246, 261, 269, 314, 320, 336, 352, 354, 358, 367, 638, N3, N199, SL3 and SL5. These connect it with areas including Beckenham , Bexley , Bexleyheath , Biggin Hill , Catford , Chislehurst , Croydon , Crystal Palace , Downham , Elmers End , Eltham , Grove Park , Hayes , Lee Green , Lewisham , Locksbottom , Mottingham , New Addington , Orpington , Penge , Petts Wood , Sidcup , West Wickham & Westerham . Since May 1929, Bromley has had an annual festival of "dance, drama and comedy" in and around
1800-402: The town's venues. The South London Film Festival has been hosted annually in Bromley since 2022. The large open spaces have lent themselves to outdoor concerts, festivals and outdoor screenings, as well in the venues such as Norman Park, Hayes Farm, Beckenham Place Park and Croydon Road recreation ground. Bromley has a number of theatres in the borough, in the town centre there are three,
1845-697: Was a 'H. G. Wells Centre' in Masons Hill near the southern end of the High Street which housed the Bromley Labour Club (the building was demolished in 2017). In August 2005, the wall honouring Wells in Market Square was repainted; the current wall painting features a rich green background with the same Wells reference and the evolutionary sequence of Homo sapiens featured in Origin of Species by Charles Darwin ,
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1890-404: Was built on the side of a hill, disguising the number and size of the lower levels and giving the impression of being smaller by setting the auditorium below ground level which is entered by descending staircases from the foyer. Named after former Prime Minister Winston Churchill , the theatre was inaugurated on 19 July 1977 by the Prince of Wales , and seats 781. It took seven years to build at
1935-582: Was completed in 1872. Hughroy Currie Based in London, Currie had his first professional fight in February 1981, a win over Mick Chmilowskyi. After an undistinguished start to his professional career in which he won only three of his first eight fights, a run of five straight wins led to a challenge for the Southern Area title against Funso Banjo ; Banjo won on points over ten rounds. Currie then travelled to
1980-710: Was in Plaistow and Sundridge: 77.5 and 82.1 years respectively. In Bromley Town, 18.5% of the population was of minority ethnicity. The highest in the town was 19.3% in Plaistow and Sundridge, and the lowest was 8.3% in Hayes and Coney Hall. The median house price in Bromley Town ward was £327,000 in 2014, compared to £295,444 in Plaistow and Sundridge, and £480,000 in Bickley. 37% of houses in Bickley were detached, more than other wards. In all wards, over 60% of houses were owned by households, peaking at 88.2% in Hayes and Coney Hall. In 2020,
2025-564: Was stated that all seven continents are visible from the top of the Kentish Times building in Bromley. The Bromley Contingent was the name given to the entourage that followed the Sex Pistols and helped popularise the punk movement. It was so called because many of its members were from Bromley, some of whom later became famous as musicians in their own right, like Siouxsie Sioux and Billy Idol . The 2018 humorous film, The Bromley Boys
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