Cockpit Spring 2016

Cockpit Drawing pictures of the new Old Chapel with Edgebury Primary School Managing the Old Chapel for the Community

Making a Difference in Chislehurst

Making sure Chislehurst gets a fair deal

Planning and enforcement

Education and Environment

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Managing the Old Chapel for the Community The Old Chapel was officially opened on Saturday 5th March.

Bob Neill, MP for Bromley and Chislehurst, cut the ribbon in front of invited guests, local councillors and Society committee members past and present.

Former owners, the Cathersides family were at the event, keen to see how the Old Chapel has been restored; Brenda’s father ran the Ebcol Glassware factory here in the late 1950’s and she was delighted to see the old place ready for use by the community.

‘My parents would have been absolutely delighted that the Chislehurst Society are now in residence. Residents of Chislehurst now and in the future will appreciate your foresight and hard work in bringing this all together.’

Barbara Cathersides

The Old Chapel A new home for the Society If you walk down Queens Passage between Cafe Nero and Go Travel you will see the stunningly restored Old Chapel. The building was formerly known as Webbs Works and some may remember the printing works and bathroom showroom that operated from there.

manufacturing research apparatus for hospitals.

The building actually dates from 1856 when it was a Chapel of Ease, in use before the Church of The Annunciation was built (1870). It became a church school and a Liberal Club; The Salvation Army used the hall for five short years from 1898.

Despite bomb damage in 1942 it had an interesting life as Ebcol Scientific Glassware factory from 1949 until 1988,

It took some years before a suitable building was found and then a considerable time to renovate it, but this wonderful legacy has enabled the society to put the building back into use for the benefit of the Chislehurst community, for which it was originally intended. The Old Chapel’s life has come full circle. ‘We are extremely grateful for Charles Dunn’s

Charles Dunn, a former Chislehurst Society committee member left the residue of his estate to the Society in 2009 with the explicit purpose of acquiring its own property.

generosity towards the village he loved so much’ says Tony Allen, Chairman of The Chislehurst Society.

The Old Chapel consists of a ground floor community hall which can seat 60 people; it has a kitchen, accessible toilets and nappy changing facilities as well as high spec audio visual equipment, including a hearing loop. The society offices are adjacent to the hall and there is a separate office space upstairs which is rented to a local business, Owen Dwelly Design.

The Community Hall on the ground floor of the Old Chapel is now available for hire. New enterprises running yoga and pilates classes have already taken up weekly sessions. All the Arts drama group is using the space as well as the May Queen Society.

Local partners in the community; The Trustees of the Commons; Friends of Scadbury; and the Chislehurst Business Group hold their meetings at the Old Chapel but there is still room for other groups to hire the space.

Want to look around? Our first Open Day will be on Wednesday 30th March from 10 – 4. Everyone is welcome, come along for a drink and biscuits and take it all in. A weekend event will also be announced in the near future.

The office will be open on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings and you can ring us at any time.

We are planning to hold coffee mornings every Wednesday from April 6th 9.45 – 11.30, there will be talks from time to time, information and history displays and always

good cake provided by April’s Kitchen. We hope visitors, young and old, will come together, share the space and make new friends. There are also embryonic plans to run a film club and put on some evening events which will be new ventures for the society.

Naturally enough this whole project has not been without problems. It might have been easier to knock the whole thing down and rebuild, it but as heritage, planning and the environment are all part of our objects, we are proud to have restored an old building whilst making an architectural statement at the same time.

We have a building that will be an asset to the community and create a focal point for the Chislehurst Society into the next generation. We are a charity, run by volunteers and

whilst we are enthusiastic we always need knowledgeable support.

The Old Chapel is run by a small committee and we welcome volunteers to join us.

Coffee & Cake

At The Old Chapel Every Weds 9:45am - 11:30am All Welcome!

Accessible Toilet and Nappy Change £2 per Adult, Children Free

Rent the Old Chapel

The Hall is available to local groups throughout the year, seven days a week, and between the hours of 9am and 10pm. There will normally be a minimum period of 2 hours per letting. t Parking - There is one disabled space on site and one further parking space for hirers. Parking facilities can also be found on the High Street, or in either of the 3 car parks situated just off of the High Street, charged at 50p per hour and free after 6pm. t Dimensions - The main hall is 9.8m x 5.3m (32ft x17ft). The kitchen is 3m x 3.35m (10ft x 11ft). t Capacity - The hall’s maximum capacity is 60.

Facilities include: t Toilets - 3 toilets, including disabled facilities and baby change. t Underfloor heating t Kitchen including cooker, microwave, fridge freezer. Mugs, plates, cutlery and glassware. t PA system and Audio Visual equipment (only if pre-booked) t 60 chairs and 6 tables.

Unfortunately we cannot offer any overnight storage space for hirers.

You can submit the online booking form which can be found on our website or you can make enquiries by phone or email.

New Chubb Photographs

been given a never before seen photograph of his greeting her Majesty at the school in 1925.

By Jenny Allen, Chislehurst History Group Have you ever used a Chubb lock, safe or burglar alarm, maybe even a fire extinguisher? Thousands of these items were produced and sold by the Chubb firm, founded in 1818, worldwide and the name is synonymous with a local resident of renown.

The Right Honourable Sir George Hayter Chubb, Baron Chislehurst,

was, for 80 years, Chairman and Managing Director of Chubb & Sons Lock and Safe Company.

He was married to Sarah Vanner, sister of the prominent Methodist brothers, James and William Vanner of Beechcroft (now Livingstone House, with a road named after the house off Willow Grove).

Chubb had two sons and three daughters and the couple celebrated both their gold and diamond wedding anniversaries.

Regular worshippers at the Methodist Church on Prince Imperial Road, they are remembered by a plaque on the wall near the pew they regularly occupied. There is a memorial window to Sir George’s father, John Chubb (1815- 1872) on the

north wall.

Sir George, Lord Hayter, was a great artist and craftsman, he taught himself wood carving and he carved the beautiful lectern still in use in the church today.

Although the firm was the centre of his concerns, his interests and involvements were vast. He was a great philanthropist, churchman and educationalist as well as a business man. He supported the Duchess of Albany’s Deptford Fund (after whom Albany Road is named), the Royal Navy Fund and many more charities.

Most significantly he was a Governor of the Leys Methodist School for boys in Cambridge and was prominent in

founding Farringtons School in Chislehurst, its counterpart for girls (though today it is a mixed school). He was responsible for the visits of Queen Mary to the school and we have recently

Knighted by Queen Victoria in 1885, made a baronet in 1900 he was created 1st Baron Hayter (his mother’s maiden name) of Chislehurst in 1927. He was Justice of the Peace for Kent and the oldest member of the House of Lords when he died.

Chubb locks were supplied to the GPO, HM Prisons, Museums and Hotels. The first pillar box in 1855 was fitted with a Chubb lock. In Tokyo in 1923 a Chubb strong room withstood

earthquake, fire, water and an attempted burglary. There are many examples of Chubb locks locally, a large safe at Coopers school proudly displays the badge and of course the Methodist Church has its own Chubb safe.

The church has a room named after the family which has on the wall an iconic Edwardian photograph of proud parents with their daughters, dressed either for a wedding or more likely a debutantes ball, it is frustrating that it is not dated.

The family lived at Newlands, next to the church. This was a large mansion identified as having 22 rooms and 7 servants in the 1911 census.

I havve been in correspondence with the current Lord Hayter who kindly shared many family portraits with me. Amongst the collection was a picture of what

was assumed to be Newlands but it wasn’t assuredly identified.

One of the history team’s current projects is cataloguing the drainage plans from 1900 (far more exciting than it sounds) of the Chislehurst Urban District Council and only last month the team was delighted to find the drawings which obviously match the photograph of the house, showing the additions made in 1902 by prominent local architect E J May. Proof positive that we have the right house.

Sadly, Newlands has not stood the test of time and on the site now stands a number of flats, Maxwell House. In the papers sent from Lord Hayter we found the name Maxwell as another Director of the Chubb Company.

Other photographs reveal more of the character of Sir George; he is seen fishing with his gilly

in Scotland and hosting a dinner for the Chancellor of the Exchequer at the Metropol Hotel demonstrating the first wireless radio technology in 1903.

Lord Hayter died at Newlands on 7th November 1946, two years before his 100th birthday.

He is buried, alongside his wife and daughter who predeceased him, in St Nicholas Churchyard; the family paid for the repair of the grave recently and regularly tend the plot. His legacy as a local benefactor remains strong (just like his safes) in the village and even the Farringtons School badge contains a key as one of its elements.

Making a difference in Chislehurst The Society is lucky enough to have a dedicated budget for grants so that it can support local, worthy causes which fulfill the Society’s objects. If you would like more information about applying for one of these grants please contact us or visit the grants section of our website: http://www.chislehurst-society.org.uk/Pages/Do/Appeals.html

Midfield Primary School Grant The Chislehurst Society has been very pleased to provide a grant in the sum of £2000 to create a wildlife pond in the School’s eco garden which borders Scadbury Park. The Society was particularly impressed by the quality of the application and the enthusiastic involvement of the children at the school. They drew a variety of designs for the wildlife pond which were used to support the application.

Other Grant News A New Pavillion for the Rec?

We are waiting for final approval from the Football Foundation but have agreed in principle to support Elmstead Football FC up to the sum of £20,000 to provide for the public community area and amenities of a new pavilion in The Recreation Ground.

This long awaited project to replace the old pavilion has now reached a critical stage and we wish Fabio Rossi and the club every success. What a change for the civic environment this will be.

Further Footpath Work

The Chislehurst Society is very grateful for a legacy of £1000. The Grants Committee has been able to put this towards the further repair and upkeep of footpaths in the Hawkwood Estate. While the family of the donor wish to remain anonymous the Committee felt that this use of the legacy was appropriate given the nature of the hard work and interests of the family.

The 5th Chislehurst Scout Group is to benefit from a grant from

The Chislehurst Society. They have covered the tiered decking at their HQ; The Old Stables in Hawkwood Lane, with a non-slip grill and await the start of electrical work to provide lighting outside. A new wooden gate will be fixed on their boundary with Hawkwood Lane and we look forward to seeing a small acknowledgement plaque being placed on it.

A tea party fit for a Queen Chislehurst is to host a giant outdoor tea party on Saturday 11th June in honour of the Queen’s 90th birthday. It will be sponsored by the Chislehurst Society, jdm Estate Agents and Visit Chislehurst.

Over 1,000 guests will come together to enjoy the vintagestyle event on the Commons, between 2-6pm. The tea party, organised by local volunteers, follows the success of the Jubilee celebration in 2012, one of the largest street parties of its kind.

Tables and chairs will be provided for ticket holders to

enjoy a traditional High Tea, followed by live entertainment, music and dancing. Tea and cake will also be on sale - or Pimms if you’re in the mood for something stronger. Revellers are encouraged to wear 50’s attire or patriotic colours (red, white and blue) in celebration of our monarch and all things British.

Tickets must be purchased in advance as numbers are strictly limited. They will be available from April in jdm estate agency, Higgs the Butcher or online via Visit Chislehurst. The price is £10 per adult, £5 per child (aged 2-17). All profits will go to the Trustees of Chislehurst Commons, the charity that maintains and preserves our precious green spaces.

Friends of Scadbury News green spaces, including Scadbury Park. Newly appointed site manager Andy Harby attended the AGM, together with Patrick Phillips formerly at LBB, and now with TLG.

The Friends of Scadbury held their AGM on 25 February at the Old Chapel.

Over the last year new committee members have worked to rejuvenate the Friends Group, increased the number of maintenance days, and attracted many more Friends.

They have developed a good relationship with The Landscape Group (TLG), who have taken on the management and maintenance of all Bromley’s

It was noted that there has been underinvestment at Scadbury over several years, and that remedial action is required in a number of areas, including protecting the meadows to the east of the park, many of which are reverting to scrub, and the footpaths. It is clear that the budget for such work is very tight and that any significant work will probably require third party funding. The Friends will be working with TLG to identify funding sources.

Concerns were expressed about the impact on the nature reserve of activities by other organisations,

including the Shaw Trust, and the farm. Responsibility for these matters still lies with LBB Estates Department.

The Friends are keen to ensure that there should be clarity about who is responsible for these and other matters and that there should be joined up thinking about the Park as a whole.

As well as helping to maintain the park, the Friends want to ensure that users of the park enjoy its unique attractions. A recent mini-mammals morning at the Park is to be followed by events throughout the year. Keep an eye on the website, and follow the Friends on Twitter and Facebook.

As reported elsewhere, QR plaques are now available throughout the Park to enable

users with smartphones to access information about the Acorn Trail while walking round it.

Membership of the Friends group is open to all. More volunteers are needed and anyone who wishes to help will be welcome. Please contact the Friends for more information: info@scadbury-park.org.uk

Mini Mammals at Scadbury

By Annie Shinn

Saturday 30th January dawned and it was actually a dry day but quite chilly.

The day before Dr. Judy John had set traps around the Park in the hope of catching a selection of different mammals. Traps, sounds as if the animals might get hurt but in actual fact these were nice cosy little units which contained seeds and straw,

The children had great fun running ahead looking for the coloured tags which signified where the traps were laid, but to much amusement only wood mice were to be found.

apple and fly pupae; they were probably better off inside these than in their external habitats!

Scadbury Old Perry Street car park was the meeting point, so bright and early a group of 20 adults and children met.

The children were excited and had great anticipation for what might be found so, off we set to the first trap.

Judy very carefully picked up the trap and inside was a little wood mouse, which was weighed and then put into a container so that everyone could see. Its feet were quite big which meant it was good at jumping as were its eyes. As a nocturnal mammal these big eyes allowed it to see in the

bramble scrub. Amazingly there are 75 million field voles in this country but they are extremely difficult to find, as we discovered.

dark, its large ears gave it acute hearing and long whiskers helped it feel its way around in the dark. It also had a yellow strip on its tummy. The mouse was put back into the area where it had been caught so that it could run back home.

We became experts on wood mice by the end of our walk as all the traps contained them but sadly no field voles in the grass area traps, or bank voles in the

All the mice were documented and weighed. We walked and slid through various parts of Scadbury, including the ancient woodland and the meadows and gradually made our way back to the car park. It was a great way to explore the park and see and talk about the wildlife around us; much better than vegetating indoors.

Watch out for the next walk…we might find mammals we weren’t expecting!

If you go down in the woods today, you’re sure of a big surprise!

If your phone has a QR (‘Quick Response’) app downloaded – usually free of charge - you simply scan the plaque to access the Scadbury website. If you don’t have the app, you can still access the trail by entering the website: http://bit.ly/1YiLz7w This is also displayed on the plaques

Do you have a smartphone?

Then you can now access Scadbury’s Acorn Trail while you are out walking in Scadbury.

The Friends of Scadbury will continue to update the content, and welcome comment and feedback from users.

The Friends of Scadbury have updated the content of the Acorn Trail on the Friends’ website. This gives information, with images and links, about this great nature reserve, its vegetation, geology and wildlife. All you need to do is find one of the QR plaques fixed to the posts or entrances around the Trail.

We have tested how it works, and are pleased to say that there was a reasonable 4g signal throughout the Nature Reserve.

Try it out now!

Adopt a Footpath The Society regularly receives enquiries or complaints about the state of Chislehurst’s footpaths. There are 23 registered footpaths in Chislehurst; you can find details on our website. These are important amenities and an important part of our heritage. Their maintenance is the responsibility of London Borough of Bromley but we are aware that as a result of LBB’s financial constraints, footpath maintenance is not a priority.

It is important therefore that if you have any concerns about the state of any footpath in Chislehurst, you should contact LBB. This is best done online via Fix My Street (see the article about Fix My Street in this edition). From time to time we have taken

up concerns about particular footpaths with Andrew King, Bromley’s Footpath Officer, most recently regarding the footpath between Belmont Lane and Kemnal Road.

The Society is now taking further action. We have agreed with The Bromley Ramblers Association that we will report to them on all footpaths in the Chislehurst area, providing information on the state of these footpaths, so that the Ramblers Association can include this in its report to LBB. If any member of the Society wishes to ‘adopt’ a footpath, and provide us with information about it on a regular basis, please contact us.

Making sure Chislehurst gets a fair deal What does the local plan mean for Chislehurst and its residents?

Last October the London Borough of Bromley issued a consultation paper as part of finalising its Local Plan.

Much of the document had little impact on Chislehurst, but there was one section of the document – regarding land for schools – which could have significance for residents here.

A number of sites had been identified as possible locations for school development. They are currently designated as part of the Green Belt, but were proposed for redesignation as Urban Open Space, a lower level of protection against

development.

The Society submitted its comments. A full copy of the submission is available on our website. In summary we said that: t We recognise that there is a need for more school places in Chislehurst, and that LBB has a legal responsibility to identify suitable sites to provide more school facilities. We therefore understand why LBB has identified sites that may proove suitable for school development. t However, there should be no general redesignation.

We believe that each of these sites must be considered on its own merits, and this should involve local consultation with residents near each site. t Before any particular site currently designated as Green Belt in Chislehurst is proposed for redesignation, there should be a formal review to consider whether that site continues to fulfil their designated Purpose, which was why it was established as Green Belt in the first place. t In addition no site should be proposed for

redesignation until there is a clear and acceptable proposal to build educational facilities on the land, and that the impact of the proposed development on local residents, in terms of noise, traffic and loss of open space is properly assessed, understood, and communicated.

We made additional and specific comments in relation to the each of the sites identified, namely Bushell Way, Edgebury, and Mead Road.

On 26th January, members of The Society and FOCRG

attended a meeting with our three Ward Councillors, with representatives from the Council’s Planning department and Strategic Property section, to discuss these issues and ensure that our members’ views were heard. Specific questions and requests for more information were left with officers for action at each site. We were pleased to hear in particular that LBB is undertaking more survey work of each of the sites to include liaison with Highways to consider traffic impact and to consider the objections and observations raised by local residents.

We will keep members informed as matters progress.

Next steps in relation to the Local Plan are as follows: t A report on the Draft Allocations Document and subsequent studies will be going to Development Control Committee on 22nd March – this document will be publicly accessible. t A Draft Local Plan will then be produced, with a public consultation period of 6 weeks. The Chislehurst Society will alert members to the consultation and review the draft Plan and feedback our comments to our members. t The Local Plan will then be submitted to the Secretary of State with any public comments.

New Local Green Space LBB is to introduce a new planning designation called Local Green Space. Local groups and communities must nominate sites for redesignation. LBB will then determine whether nominated sites meet their criteria.

Once designated, Local Green Spaces will benefit from greater protection from development.

Even though LBB believes most open space in Bromley

is already protected, it is consulting on the proposed new policy and criteria, and on the process for designation.

You can participate in the consultation process by logging onto the consultation portal on the LBB website.

The consultation will be open until 22 March 2016. The Society will be making its own representations on the document.

Remembering Reg Parry The Society is sorry to report the death, in January 2016, of the Society’s former chairman, Reg Parry, at the age of 77. A celebration of Reg’s life was held at Kemnal Park on 16 February.

We offer our sincere condolences to Hazel and Nick, Reg’s wife and son.

Born in Liverpool in 1938, Reg went to Cambridge University, and then into business as a chartered secretary, later being Director and Company Secretary at BET plc, a large

Society as a road steward, and as a member of the Society’s planning subcommittee.

He was its longest serving member. Despite increasing ill health over the last few years, he insisted on attending planning meetings, including his last in December 2015.

London-based international conglomorate. He retired from BET PLC in 1993.

He was Chairman of the Chislehurst Society from 1999 to 2008. After retiring as Chairman in 2008, Reg continued his work with the

Reg had a wonderful command of English, spoken and written. This even extended to his drafting of letters to Bromley’s planning department: he could transform technical letters into small works of literature.

Because of his interest in planning issues, Reg built good relationships with Councillors and Officers of the London Borough of Bromley. He also ensured

that the Society’s views were represented in Bromley Council’s Heritage Studies, which resulted in more Chislehurst features being locally listed. Under his tenure the Society participated regularly in London Open House events, to showcase local heritage properties such as Camden Place to the public.

As chairman, Reg worked hard to forge good relationships with other Chislehurst organisations, especially the Commons Trustees and the Hawkwood & Petts Wood Committee of the National Trust, and he personally supported the work of the Chislehurst Town Centre Management Team.

It seemed to those who knew Reg through the Society that he dedicated all his time to Society matters, but he

had a wide range of other interests. In particular he was an enthusiastic musician, and first-rate amateur pianist. He joined Bromley Music Makers in 1969 and was made an honorary life member in recognition of his enormous contribution over very many years as chairman.

He performed at concerts regularly as a solo pianist and accompanist.

Reg was a real gentleman.

He had great fortitude, good humour and common sense.

His calm and urbane manner, and relaxed sense of easy authority, made him well-liked and respected by all who knew him.

We shall miss him.

A David Bowie Connection?

Whilst the nation mourns the passing of David Bowie we have found two local connections to his legacy.

Tenuous claims to fame but notable none the less. Bowie played that well known music venue, the Chislehurst Caves That was in 1964 as part of the band, Davie Jones and The Manish Boys. Do we have members who were there?

The other intriguing link is to the picture some may recall seeing of a young Bowie outside his digs in Haddon Hall, Beckenham which featured in recent local press reports.

This building and all its memories was demolished

in 1972 but not before an enterprising Chislehurst architect sourced, from the demolition contractor, doors, ironmongery and fireplaces.

These were used in renovations at the building known as St Michael’s in School Lane and the current

owner is currently repainting several of them whilst revealing the original chapel within the historic building.

Spurious yes, but we love a good link to musical heritage!

Another Resident of Renown

By Joanna Friel, Chislehurst History Group The Chislehurst Society has begun to place heritage plaques on the homes of our prominent residents. We feel it is time a woman was represented in the pack and 2016 will see a dedication to Miss Richmal Crompton on her last home, Beechworth, on Orpington Road.

By the time Miss Crompton came to live in Chislehurst she had published 28 William books.

The first was published in 1922 when Richmal was 31 years old. The last of her 38 William books, William the Lawless, was published in 1970, the year after her death.

Richmal Crompton Lamburn was born in Bury, Lancashire, on 15 November 1890. After school

in Warrington and Matlock, Derbyshire, she won a scholarship to the Royal Holloway College in London, where she graduated in 1914 with a degree in Classics.

lose the use of her right leg. She tried to carry on teaching, but was advised to give up by her doctor.

She was already writing short stories while teaching under the

name Richmal Crompton.

Initially published in Happy Mag, a number of short stories were published in a book, called Just William, which was published in 1922.

After giving up her teaching career she concentrated on writing. In addition to her

After four years teaching in Lancashire, she moved to Bromley, where she taught classics for five years at Bromley High School, a Girl’s Public Day School Trust establishment, which at that time was located in Elmfield Road, off Bromley High Street. She was by all accounts a talented and much loved teacher.

Her teaching career was cut short at the end of 1923 after she contracted poliomyelitis (now known simply as polio, but at that time generally called infantile paralysis), which caused her to

© Roehampton University

William books, she published four other children’s books, and 50 novels, or collections of short stories, intended for adults, though none of these had the success of her William books.

While teaching Richmal had lived in Cherry Orchard Road. Her mother had come to live with her when she moved to Bromley, her father having died in 1915 and her mother nursed Richmal through her illness in 1923.

After the huge success of the William books, Richmal was able to purchase an acre of land in nearby Oakley Road, where she had a larger house built, The Glebe, which now sports an LBB blue plaque in her honour.

Her mother lived with Richmal there until her death in 1939, after which Richmal’s sister, Gwen, moved in to live with her.

While living in Bromley, Richmal’s fame as a writer

enabled her to travel widely, despite her disability, but she maintained an interest in local matters, and joined the Auxiliary Fire Service during WWII. In the early 1950s, she looked for a smaller house, and in 1954 she moved to live at Beechworth, Chislehurst on Orpington Road, near Leesons Hill. Richmal continued her writing here, the current owners of the house proudly showed me the study where she wrote and her signature on their deeds.

She became involved in the local community, as a church goer and supporter of the Conservative party. She also became interested in reincarnation, mysticism and the occult.

Richmal Crompton died on 11 January 1969 aged 78 in the Princess Royal Hospital. Her funeral was held at St Nicholas Church followed by cremation

and interment of ashes at Eltham Crematorium. Her archives have been deposited by the family at The University of Roehampton and history team members recently paid a visit.

There in the archives was the very desk that would have been at Beechworth. Also her spectacles were in a glass case clearly showing the label, ‘Lamburn Beechworth Chislehurst’.

On the bookshelves housing Richmal’s own personal collection was a book, ‘Behold the Spirit’ by another Chislehurst writer, Alan Watts. We found letters discussing Richmal’s dreams exchanged with Susan Wood resident Mrs Elizabeth Gaythorpe at Berlay Mount.

We are now in touch with Richmal Crompton’s great nephew and look forward to announcing a date for the plaque unveiling.

© Roehampton University

Planning and Enforcement “I don’t know what the world is coming to. Wherever you go, you don’t” That was a quip from the late Terry Wogan commenting on London traffic, but it certainly applies in Chislehurst of late.

Traffic congestion has got noticeably worse in the last few months. This is probably the result of a buoyant economy and the continuing and rapid growth in the population of London and the South-East. Road works and a burst water main near the War Memorial junction recently have not helped.

We are aware that proposals to ease congestion in and around the village are being developed by

LBB, however we do not know any detail of proposals at this stage. Whilst the Society is aware that traffic congestion is an issue, it will be keen to understand how these proposals will impact this very sensitive area.

opposite Chislehurst Station has recently opened. This may relieve the parking pressure on adjacent residential roads temporarily, but some commuters are still unwilling to pay parking charges and park in side streets.

Neighbours have raised their concerns directly with the council.

incorporated in the London Overground network. It probably won’t happen until 2018 and then don’t expect any rapid changes as TfL’s budget is also under pressure. That hasn’t stopped Boris Johnson proposing two very long tunnels under London to relieve east-west congestion as his parting shot.

We have received comments and complaints about the state of Station Approach, a significant through road in the ownership of Network Rail. Bob Neill has written to the Chief Executive and we are following the correspondence with interest in readiness of adding to the campaign ourselves.

South-Eastern Rail is being acquired by Transport for London (TfL) and will be

The tunnel proposals are more like castles in the air than realistic projects in the writer’s opinion.

Roger Lawson

Residents who live near Cooper’s School have also raised concerns about traffic congestion in the school rush hour. Bromley Council seems reluctant to even spend money on introducing some simple parking restrictions that might alleviate the problem.

Residents should note that a new car park on Gosshill Road

Another accident on the mini roundabout on the Common, exacerbating congestion further still.

Fix My Street LBB has adopted Fix My Street to enable residents to report physical problems, such as road or pavement defects, graffiti and other environmental issues.

Anyone with a smartphone can also download a free Fix my Street app, which makes it easy to send a notification, with an image, and an exact location.

This facility is well used.

According to LBB, there are over 300 notifications a week, with 1,250 during January 2016.

The feedback from those who have used it is that there is very quick acknowledgement of the notification, with reasonably good feedback on how the issue will be dealt with. You can also monitor how the Council are dealing with the issue.

We urge all members to take advantage of this facility. If you find that your concern is not being dealt with appropriately, please let us know.

You can report a problem by going to the fix my street page on LBB’s website. The page address is https://fix.bromley.gov.uk

Planning and Queen Mary House As many of our members are aware, each month the Society receives details of all planning applications submitted to LBB and the planning team, headed up by Barry Redding, work tirelessly to review this information.

The team have a great deal of knowledge and experience in planning legislation and policy. The team also take into account comments or objections made by members of the Society, and where appropriate will have informal discussions with planning officers. This thorough

investigation is vital when submitting comments to LBB on behalf of the Society.

Most recently, the planning team have received numerous enquiries about the development of Queen Mary House on Manor Park Road.

Barry and his team met with neighbours to discuss their concerns and raised the

‘the proposed scheme has some significant environmental impacts on the locality’

Society’s considered objection with the council.

Whilst the team had no objection in principle to the redevelopment of the site, their comments addressed: t the significant environmental impact the scheme would have on the locality; t that greater consideration should be given to the impact on local traffic; t the need for stringent requirements to protect those trees contributing to the amenities of the wider locality; t the prospect of overlooking that may harm the amenity of neighbours in Walnut Tree Close and St Paul’s Cray Road by loss of privacy; t the general bulkiness of the proposed redevelopment.

Generally the team considered that the application required greater compliance with current planning policy.

At the time of writing the decision is still pending with LBB and the planning team will be closely monitoring the application.

‘The adverse impact of this will be experienced particularly by existing residents occupying neighbouring dwellings’

Monkey Business at Camden Holt

By Mike Lofty, Chislehurst History Group There are three unusual gravestones (pictured) at Camden Holt in Camden Park Road.

The earliest, was erected in 1927 in memory of ‘Toto – Our fierce Little Friend’.

The second, dated 1929, commemorates NUP’SHETOOK’, a white cat and the third, dated 1939, marks the resting place of TIBBIZ, a Woolley Humbolt Monkey.

Camden Holt was designed by well-known Chislehurst architect, Amos Faulkener and was built in 1896.

The first owner was Francis Arthur Robinson, who lived in the house until 1911, when it

was sold to Evan Ernest Spicer, who took up residence in 1912.

Spicer remained there until his death in 1956, after which his heirs sold the property which, subsequently, was converted into six apartments in the early 1960’s.

Spicer, who also once owned the Chislehurst Water Tower, was an accountant. He founded the London firm of Accountants, Spicer and Pegley.

He became a well-known and prominent member of Chislehurst society, being one-time Treasurer of the West Kent Cricket Club and, in the tradition of many Victorians, acquired and manifested a eccentric side to his nature by building what became known

as ‘The Menagerie’ on the east side of the house, which accommodated, over the years, various exotic animals including Tibbiz and Peter, a chimpanzee.

We do not know what species of animal was Toto but, as Spicer had a few tame foxes, which he used to take for walks, on a leash, up Camden Park Road, Toto may have been a fox.

Nup’shetook was a white cat whose name was inadvertently coined by one of Spicer’s children who enjoyed nursery rhymes. The name comes from Little Bo Peep who, at one stage ‘…and up she took…’

In October 2015 we were

graced with a visit by Christopher Spicer, grandson of Ernest Spicer. Christopher toured the house and grounds

and added much to our knowledge of the family and some of their activities.

He very kindly presented the Chislehurst Society History Group with a DVD showing the family in 1939 at Wimbledon, at Camden Holt and at Christopher’s birthplace

in Bickley. Sections of this have been uploaded onto The Chislehurst Society website for all to see.

In the DVD we see Peter the chimp and a young fox, on a leash, in the road outside the house. The fox looks perfectly at home, the foxes which appear from time to time in the garden may well be descendants of Spicer’s foxes!

Peter the chimpanzee also appears to be well-loved and cared for and, for his part, relaxed and happy. Spicer was seen often with Peter, either walking up and down Camden Park Road (a publication of the Chislehurst Golf Club makes mention of this activity, although it wrongly, it is thought, describes the animal as an Orang Utan).

Spicer was seen, regularly, in the High Street with Peter

and apparently would visit a local café for a cup of coffee, taking Peter with him. Visits to the Imperial Arms have also been reported to us by older residents.

Also in the garden was a fish pond. It is no longer there but it thrived, apparently, thanks in part to none other than Mr Winston Churchill from whom Spicer acquired four fish from his ponds at Chartwell in April 1938. Spicer was very pleased with them and seemingly wrote to Churchill who responded graciously and suggested that the fish were likely to grow much larger and survive for 20 – 25 years. They were not identified but may have been carp.

Christopher told a few stories about his grandfather. At Christmas time the family would gather in the front

room for games. It seems that these were often rather raucous, culminating, at times, with the removal of certain items of clothing (there is no information as to the nature or extent of the clothing or its removal!).

Spicer enjoyed episodes of silence and tranquillity – especially when he visited his local barber. Apparently, when asked how he would like his hair cut, he would respond ‘In total silence’!

The contact with the Spicer family all came about through the donation of an original version of Webb’s History of Chislehurst; it is wonderful what links can be forged through history.

Education and Environment

Local Geographers

‘I was so happy because I learnt a lot of new things’ The Chislehurst Society works with local schools to help our pupils learn more about their environment and its history.

Chris Wells took up the challenge of leading a walk for Year 4 from Farringtons School up Bull Lane, onto Royal Parade and beyond.

Unfortunately the selected day turned out to be one of persistent rain and the children only got as far as sheltering beneath a horse chestnut

tree on Shepherds Green.

However they still lapped up all the facts that were discussed. The quote above is from one of their thank you letters and it seems they really appreciated the outing.

They learned about the great Bronze doors on their chapel which were made in the Chubb works (yes, Chubb Lock and Security, the company owned by the School’s founder, Lord Hayter Chubb) in Waterloo Road, Sydney, Australia and shipped all the way to Chislehurst where they fitted perfectly as planned.

Please cross your fingers for sunshine.

Class 2 pupils at Edgebury Primary School enjoyed looking at the history of the land where their school is built; they drew some wonderful images of Adolphus Slade, after whom Slades Drive is named and incidentally they loved the story of the man who drove too fast down Summer The children are looking Hill; Sir Malcolm Campbell, forward to undertaking the holder of land and water speed walk again in better conditions records in 1935, who, at a and Chris is also leading a tender age, was reprimanded similar walk for a group based by local police for scaring in Blackheath in the summer. genteel ladies by the velocity of

his bicycle!

In January we were invited back to chat with Class 2 about Chislehurst High Street and how the shops have changed over the years. The children were preparing their entries for the Environmental Awards and we are looking forward to seeing their models of the Old Chapel amongst other buildings of architectural merit. We’ve really enjoyed seeing their letters of appreciation.

The Society was pleased to sponsor a prize in the LBB Schools Geography Quiz in association with The Geography Society and Chislehurst School for Girls.

Second place winners from Ravensbourne Year 10 each received beautifully designed maps of Chislehurst, a copy of Discover Chislehurst, a book which guides readers with route maps on short architectural walks around Chislehurst, Mottingham and Bickley and a year’s free membership of the Society. Well done to all the participants!

THE CHISLEHURST SOCIETY

THE OLD

CHAPEL

2016 ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS

ARCHITECTURE in

CHISLEHURST Take a walk around Chislehurst and discover the amazing variety of architectural styles and structural materials that make up our local built environment.

Here are just a few ideas to lay the foundations for this year’s competition...

The Chislehurst Society has a new office at The Old Chapel in Queens Passage, photograph or sketch it and design a poster advertising the Society.

Find examples of houses by famous architects: EJ May, Ernest Newton, or Amos Faulkner?

You could write and illustrate some fact-sheets about them.

Make a jigsaw puzzle from photographs of buildings through the eras, or spell out ‘CHISLEHURST’ using different architectural details on your letters.

Visit the website for details and more ideas.

Entries will be received by the Chislehurst Society at Farringtons school, Perry Street, Chislehurst, BR7 6LR on Friday April 22nd between 4.00pm and 6.00pm.

Presentation ofAwards evening will be held on Tuesday May 10th 2016 at Farringtons School, 6.30pm - 8.30pm.

CASH PRIZES TO BE WON FOR YOU AND YOUR SCHOOL! Entry forms are available from :

DEADLINE FRIDAY DEADL APRIL

22

www.chislehurst-society.org.uk or the Chislehurst Library Each entry must be accompanied by an entry form.

Joanna’s Jottings...

A memory shared

What a pleasure and a privilege it is to meet local people who want to share their memories of Chislehurst. At one of our library coffee mornings recently Connie Bradley told me about her childhood in Mill Place.

She remembers being allowed to play at The Old Court House on Old Hill. There were two dwellings in the house; Detective Bill Terry lived to the right and Constable Fraser to the left.

Connie played in the attics and on the magistrates’ benches in the courtyard at the rear. She used to dance up and down on the benches like Fred and Ginger, she recalled with a bright smile.

Connie also recalled the organ works in Mill Place and the

beautiful music played by Mr Whiteley; She always knew when an organ was complete as he would play a final piece. On a recent holiday to Devon, Connie and her sister visited Buckfast Abbey where they noted one of the organs was a Whiteley organ from Chislehurst!

Webb to the Rescue!

The Society was contacted last month by a researcher from Manchester looking for the grave of wealthy Victorian wool merchant and art collector of Manley Hall, Sam Mendel. Webbs History revealed that Sam had resided at The Manor House in Manor Park Road but only for four short years. However his obituary reports that a large number of villagers, with wreaths of flowers in their hands, were waiting at the entrance of the churchyard, wishful thus to bear testimony to the esteem in which they held the deceased’.

He died in 1884 and is buried beneath an unmarked cross in St Nicholas Churchyard.

The grave is almost swamped by the Yew hedge but I’m pleased to report that the joint endeavours of history

but still part of Chislehurst then).

The site was purchased by the War Office late in 1915 following the death of The Hon. Robert Marsham-Townshend in 1914.

The hospital that was set up, dealing with the devastating injuries inflicted on the soldiers in the First World War, acquired considerable historical importance, particularly in the field of plastic surgery. team member, Lesley Reed and Churchwarden and society Road Steward, Peter Appleby enabled it to be discovered.

We receive several enquiries from people researching family history and we are always happy to help.

New Old Photographs!

Having recently been given access to old heritage files at

Chislehurst Library readers may enjoy seeing this old photograph –driving into Park Road from the High Street, something that is dangerous, totally ILLEGAL and most unwelcome today!

Under the direction of Sir Harold Gillies 11,752 major operations were carried out between 1917 and 1921, over 8000 patients suffering from severe facial injuries.

Other photographs that came to light are these poignant images of recuperating soldiers in Scadbury Park taken in 1918.

These were patients from what was then known as Queen’s Hospital at Frognal (now Sidcup

Gillies was known for his positive attitude approach to recovery and this picnic scene is possibly part of that rehabilitation process.

Joanna Friel

Road Steward News be ehurst Rocks will This year’s Chisl Rec, n de al W in , 18th June ay rd tu Sa e on fre ld a he to 9pm. This is Chislehurst 11 am mily fun day put on d fa music festival an islehurst Rec (FOCRG) Ch

by The Friends of The Chislehurst Society, by and sponsored to bring local businesses r he ot JDM and ve an ha together and the community t. enjoyable day ou lent so owcase young ta The idea is to sh /school groups that gers any budding sin cal public performance lo a aged to will be ready for ople are encour pe 00 to up to 40 crg.org.uk contact www.fo

M

m LBB o r f e essag

The Chislehu rst Society His tory Group is proud to b e working wit h Lamorby and Sidcup Histo rical Society in sponsoring a talk on 18th June by Dr A ndrew Bamji keeper of the , Gillies Archiv e s, o n The History of Qu een’s Hospita l and the Birthplace of Plastic Surge ry at Frognal. talk will take The place at St. La wrence’s Chu rch Hall Sidcup a t 11.30am.

Please contact localhistory@ chislehurstsociety.org.u k to enquire a b out the availability o f our 10 free ti ckets.

Route 162 Tfl has annou nced that fro 19th March ro m ute 162 will b e increased to run daytim es M- F every 15 minutes (previously eve ry 20 minutes) and evening and Sund ay shopping h ours will run every 20 min utes (previou sly 30 minutes)

now History group has A new afternoon ther on monthly get toge been set up for a . The ns 2pm til 4.30pm Thursday afternoo Old take place at The next meeting will ay 14th April.

Chapel on Thursd welcome!

New members are

We’re delighted to report that after bringing some pressure to bear, one of our members, Barry Wood has managed to get Alan Godfrey Maps to print the mu ch awaited 1895 Chislehurst (South) & Bic kley sheet K8.14. This complements she et K810 Chislehurst North which has been ava ilable for some time.

We eagerly anticipate the pro duction of sheet K809 next which covers Elmstead and Walden Road Copies are available to purcha se from the Society priced £1.50

Three Road Stewards have resigned since our last update and we thank them all for their help and support. We welcome seven new Road Stewards and thank one other who has agreed to expand his “round”.

ROAD STEWARD RESIGNATIONS/RETIREMENTS Mrs Ann Brown - Melbury Close Mrs Myrna Henson - Mainridge Road (part)/Walkden Road/Lydstep Road Mrs Pauline Clift - Hillview Road NEW ROAD STEWARDS Mr Steve Jones - Hawkwood Lane/Watts Lane Mr Neil Stevenson - Oakhurst Close Mr Peter Griffiths - Adds Barham Road/Barham Close/Belmont Road to existing roads Mrs Lesley Harding - Melbury Close Ms Ruth Norton - Elmstead Avenue Mr Richard Woollett - Acorn Close Mr Geoff Kimber - Faulkner House Ms Val Heal - Hillview Road It is with great sadness that we also have to report the untimely passing of Mrs Brenda Whiting, Road Steward for Acorn Close. Brenda carried out her duties for many years with great enthusiasm and a ready smile. Her support for the Society will be greatly missed and our thoughts at this time go out to her family and friends

DATE EVERY WEDNESDAY 9.45-11.30am 30th March 10am -4 pm

Dates for the Diary ACTIVITY

VENUE

Chislehurst Society Coffee Morning - all welcome! £2 entry

The Old Chapel

Old Chapel Open Day

The Old Chapel

12th April 11am

My Career as a Boy Scout by John Hemming-Clarke

Chislehurst Library

23rd April 3pm

TALK Chislehurst’s Shakespeare Connection, by Joanna Friel (part of Trustees’ commemoration of Shakespeare’s 400th anniversary)

St Nicholas’ Church

26th April 7.30pm

Chislehurst Society AGM

Chislehurst Methodist Church

5th May 2,30pm

The Origins of First Aid - Norman Abbott of the London Ambulance Service

Chislehurst Methodist Church

10th May 11am

Eye Health and Nutrition by Linklater Warren

Chislehurst Library

The Chislehurst Environmental Awards

Farringtons School

Chislehurst Clean up morning - litter pickers, hi vis jackets etc provided

Red Cross Car Park

10th May 4pm - 8pm 29th May 10am 11th June 10am-4pm

Chislehurst Rotary Summer Fair

11th June 2pm - 6pm

Tea Party for the Queen

18th June 11am - 9pm

Chislehurst Rocks

18th June 11.30am

The History of Queen’s Hospital and the Birthplace of Plastic Surgery at Frognal.

Ticket Only

7th July 2.30pm

The Prince Imperial and his death in Zululand - Dr Vanessa Jenkins, Medical Historian and well known lecturer.

31st July 10am

Chislehurst Clean up morning - litter pickers, hi vis jackets etc provided

Chislehurst Common (High Street End) Chislehurst Common (Royal Parade End) Chislehurst Recreation Ground St. Lawrence’s Church Hall, Sidcup Chislehurst Methodist Church Red Cross Car Park

The Chislehurst Society The Old Chapel, 3 Queens Passage Chislehurst, Kent BR7 5AP admin@chislehurst-society.org.uk 020 8467 0900 www.chislehurst-society.org.uk

Registered charity (Reg. no. 298413)