Getting to know Orpington

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Orpington

Lost Houses – Bark Hart House

This month we commence our journey back in time to take a look at some of the great houses that once graced this area. Sadly, none of these now exist but small reminders often remain – e.g. perhaps in a location or road name.

Bark Hart House is one example. Located next to All Saints Church, it was demolished in 1955 to make way for a significant extension to the parish church. Today it is remembered by the road name – Bark Hart Road.

Sir Percival Hart of Lullingstone, acquired the manor of Orpington from Henry VIII in the early 16th century. Sir Percival built a manor house close to the church, possibly on the foundations of older buildings. The new manor house came to be known as Bark Hart House.

The house was made famous when in 1573 Queen Elizabeth I visited while en route to Canterbury.

There are two legends telling how the house got its name. The first involves a pageant Sir Percival presented for the Queen's entertainment of a sea conflict with a ship or barque, and the Queen was so pleased with this that she gave the house the name of Barque Hart which over time became Bark Hart. [‘Barque’ meaning a sailing ship with 3 or more masks]. The second is that the Queen was kept awake all night by the barking of local dogs. We will probably never know the truth.

At some point in its history the building was used as a boy’s school (see image 3). The final occupiers of the house were the Orpington Urban District Council (OUDC) who used it as offices.

At that time it was determined that there was a need to increase the capacity of the parish church in order to meet the requirements of the rapidly expanding town. Therefore, when the OUDC departed, the house was demolished in 1955 making way for the extension of All Saints parish church. The extension would provide an additional 400 seats and was larger than the whole of the earlier church! (see image 4)

Bark Hart House c1910

Aerial view of All Saints church showing Bark Hart House adjacent to it, with Court Lodge Farm on the left c1930

Bark Hart House Academy c 1780

Did you know?

When the building of the church extension commenced a tunnel containing human bones was found.