Romans in Orpington: Crofton Roman Villa Written by Pam Preedy. Just next to Orpington Railway Station is a hidden gem, Crofton Roman Villa. We know that Britain was conquered by the Romans. Julius Caesar came twice; in 55BC when he stayed for three weeks and again a year later when he stayed for 12 weeks. The Romans did not return for nearly 100 years, but Britain was a prize beckoning them; they anticipated rich rewards. According to Julius Caesar, “The Britons have a huge number of cattle, they use gold…
Tag: history
From Mammoths Teeth to the Tudor: A History of Orpington
From Mammoth’s Teeth to the Tudor: A Romp Through the History of Orpington Written by Pam Preedy. On 15th December, 1922, the Bromley and District Times announced that a Mammoth’s tooth, about five feet long, had been discovered in a gravel pit at Green-Street-Green. It seems quite amazing that mammoths were roaming over our local landscape until the end of the Ice Age over 12,000 years ago. Perhaps early people living in Orpington would go out to hunt one of these huge mammals, or an early species of rhinoceros and…
A Romp through the History of Bromley
A romp through the history of Bromley Written by Pam Preedy. On 15th December, 1922, the Bromley and District Times announced that a Mammoth’s tooth, about five feet long, had been discovered in a gravel pit at Green-Street-Green. It seems quite amazing that mammoths were roaming over our local landscape until the end of the Ice Age over 12,000 years ago. Perhaps early people living in Bromley would go out to hunt one of these huge mammals, or an early species of rhinoceros and hippopotamus. Throughout human history people must…
History made on ruins of Bromley Parish Church – 1941
Bromley Parish Church has played a significant role in the life of Bromley for over 800 years. The church was destroyed by a bomb on the night of 16 April 1941. Doubly unique Institution and Induction Ceremony on ruins of Parish Church. Impressive procession of Clergy and Laity. Task ahead: Rebuilding the Church. For the first time in the history of the Church of England a Vicar has been instituted in a Methodist building and inducted on the ruins of his Parish Church. Source: Bromley & District Times, 14th November…
Rowntree’s Cocoa: Advert from 1943
Rowntree’s is a British confectionery business founded at Castlegate, York by Henry Isaac Rowntree, when he purchased the already established Tukes’ cocoa and chocolate business. As a teetotal Quaker, he was able to add to the social side of the business: chocolate drinks were promoted as an alternative to alcohol for the working man. In 1869 he was joined in business by his brother Joseph, who developed Rowntree’s Elect Cocoa in 1887. Marketed as ‘more than a drink, a food’, it proved extremely popular, resulting in the firm having to move to larger premises. Throughout much…