insideKENT Magazine Issue 51 - June 2016 | Page 113

TOWNSPOTLIGHT

SPOTLIGHT
ON

Bromley
Bromley is Kentish; there’s no doubt about it. But it is also part of
Greater London – which gives it a big city feeling in a relatively small
space. Bromley is an exciting place to be – a vibrant, growing, lively
town with plenty to see and do, dozens of excellent restaurants, and
new ideas coming to life all the time. Minutes from the centre of
London yet close to the lush green countryside that defines Kent,
Bromley has the best of both worlds and is everything to all people
(which is probably why it’s just so popular). BY LISAMARIE LAMB

HISTORY IN BRIEF
Most of the land in and around Bromley (or
Bromleag, as it was known in 862, which means
‘woodland clearing where broom grows’) was
owned by the Bishops of Rochester (from 862
when Ethelbert, the king of Kent at that time,
gave it to them, until 1845). At that time, it was
bought by one of the wealthiest landowners in
the area, one Coles Child. He bought Bromley
Palace – now where the Bromley Civic Centre
can be found – and became lord of the manor,
taking the land that went with the title. To begin
with, Bromley was a small, quiet village, but the
railway and the village’s proximity to London
meant that it soon grew into a town, and a thriving,
bustling one at that.

or have an ice cream in summer? Of course,
nearer Christmas there is nowhere better to buy
your tree from than right here!
The Churchill Theatre

THINGS TO DO
Christmas Tree Farm
Despite its rather festive name, Christmas Tree
Farm is open all year round, and offers a lovely
day out for the family. At just £4 for adults and
£2 for children up to 16, it’s rather a bargain too!
Come to the farm and have a go at feeding the
animals (sheep, cows, alpacas, pigs and more)
with special food purchased from the farm shop.
In the colder weather why not sip a steaming
mug of creamy hot chocolate from the kitchen,

High Elms Country Park

Ever since it opened on 17th July 1977 by HRH
The Prince of Wales himself, the Churchill Theatre
has been a cultural and social hub in the centre
of Bromley town. With shows ranging from big
musical productions and plays of all descriptions
to more intimate spotlight shows, you can be
guaranteed to find something here that will
entertain and amuse.

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At High Elms Country Park there are 250 acres
of countryside to enjoy and explore – as well as
a fantastic 150-acre golf course. This was once
the home of the Lubbock family, part of the High
Elms Estate, but now it is open to everyone.
There is a bit of everything here – woodland,
nature centre, ice well, formal gardens, wildflower
meadows, BEECHE (Bromley Environmental
Education Centre at High Elms), plus a lovely
café too! High Elms Country Park is a Site of
Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Church House Gardens
It was back in 1832 that Church House Gardens
– this beautiful ornamental area in Bromley – was
constructed by Abel Moysey. It was his job to
create fishponds, lawns and shrubberies, and he