BROMLEY.

Etymology.

This place is supposed to have derived its name from the Saxon words Brom-leag, signifying a field or heath where broom grows; the great quantity of that plant on all the waste places near the town, sufficiently corroborates this etymology.

Situation and boundaries.

Land-tax.

Bromley is a market town (fn. 1) , lying in the hundred of Bromley and Beckenham, and situated on the road to Tunbridge, at the distance of ten miles from London. The parish is bounded by Beckenham, West Wickham, Hayes, Keston, Farnborough, Orpington, Chislehurst, Lee, Eltham, and Lewisham. It contains about 3000 acres of land, of which 350 are wood (fn. 2) , 250 waste, the remainder arable and meadow, but principally the former. The soil is various; but chiefly clay and gravel. This parish pays the sum of 296l. to the land-tax, which is at the rate of 9d. in the pound.

Manor.

The manor of Bromley was given to the Bishop and Church of Rochester in the eighth century, by Ethelbert, King of Kent (fn. 3) . It is probable that it was taken away from them by some future monarch; for it appears that King Edgar, in 967, for a large sum of money, granted to Bishop Alfstan ten hides of land in Bromley, with extensive liberties and privileges (fn. 3) . His son Etheldred, not regarding his father's grant, seized this land, and in 987 gave it to his minister (fn. 4) ; but afterwards, repenting of what he had done, in the year 998, the convent of Rochester and some of the principal nobility being present, he restored to the Bishop six hides (fn. 5) , being the same, I suppose, which his predecessors had enjoyed under King Ethelbert's grant. After the Conquest, Odo, Bishop of Baieux, seized this manor; but it was recovered to the see of Rochester by the exertions of Archbishop Lanfranc, in a solemn assembly of the whole county, held by the King's command in 1076 (fn. 6) . In the mean time, it had been diminished in extent one-half (fn. 7) . It has since continued in the uninterrupted possession of the Bishops of Rochester, except during the Rebellion, and Cromwell's usurpation in the last century. This manor was sold, in 1649, to Augustine Skinner, for the sum of 5665l. 11s. 11d. and continued in the possession of his family till the Restoration (fn. 8) . In 1255, the manor of Bromley was valued at 23l.; in 1267, at 29l. 3s. 7½d.; in 1291, at 32l. 11s. 2d. (fn. 9) The Bishop of Rochester, as lord of the manor of Bromley, has the return of writs within the manor, the assize of bread and ale, view of frankpledge, &c.

Bromley palace.

The Bishops of Rochester had a mansion at this place at a very early period. In the time of Bishop Gualeranus, or Walleran, who died in 1184, it was become so ruinous, that his successor Gilbert de Glanville, Chief Justice of England, was obliged to expend a great sum of money on the repairs (fn. 10) . Bromley-palace has long been the only habitable house belonging to the see of Rochester. Having undergone frequent alterations and repairs (fn. 11) , the late Bishop, finding it much decayed, pulled it down soon after he came to the see, and erected in its stead a plain brick mansion, which was finished in 1777. It stands about a quarter of a mile from the town, and is pleasantly situated on the brow of a hill, looking towards Beckenham and Hayes. A view of the old palace, as it appeared in 1756, was engraved for Hasted's History of Kent.

Roger Ford, abbot of Glastonbury, was killed at Bromley-palace in the year 1261, being on a journey which he took to defend the rights of his church (fn. 12) . At this palace, in a flower-pot, was found the parchment forged by a conspiracy, of which Bishop Sprat printed an account (fn. 13) .

St. Blaze's Well.

There is a spring of mineral water in the Bishop's ground called St. Blaze's Well, near to which, before the Reformation, stood an oratory. It was much frequented, not only on account of the medicinal virtues of the water, but for the sake of certain indulgences (or remittances of penance) which Lucas, legate to Pope Sixtus IV. granted to all such as should offer up their orisons at this oratory of St. Blaze, in the three holy-days of Pentecost (fn. 14) . The oratory fell to ruins after the Reformation, the well was filled up, and its site forgotten. It was discovered in 1756, when an account of the discovery, and the use of the water, which is a chalybeate, was published by Thomas Reynolds, surgeon.

Manor of Sundridge.

The manor of Sundridge was, in the reign of Henry III. the property of Peter le Blund, Constable of the Tower of London; and, about the middle of the fourteenth century, came by intermarriage with an heir of the Blunds to the family of Willoughby (fn. 15) . In 1393, it was the property of Sir Richard Stury. William Booth, Esq. died seised of it in 1486; from him it descended to Sith Booth, Esq. one of whose coheirs married Thomas Bettenham, Esq.: Stephen Bettenham, Esq. (great grandson of Thomas) gave this estate in marriage with his daughter Anne to Robert Pynsent, Esq. who died at Sundridge, in 1679, without issue. He was succeeded in the possession of this manor by Thomas Washer, Esq. who died in 1720. Mary, daughter and sole heir of John Washer, his son, married William Willson, Esq. whose grandson William Wilson, Esq. sold it, in 1792, to Edward George Lind, Esq. the present proprietor. This manor is held under the Bishop of Rochester.

Manor of Simpsons.

The manor of Simpsons was, in 1302, the property of John de Banquel (fn. 16) . Thomas Banquel died seised of it in 1361 (fn. 17) ; and it appears that, upon a division of his estates, his younger son William had this manor. The next owner upon record was William Clarke, who had a licence from Henry V. to fortify and embattle his mansion-house, which was surrounded by a moat (fn. 18) . About the year 1450, it came by purchase to John Simpson, from whose family it derived its present name (fn. 19) . Nicholas Simpson, his descendant, (who was barber to Henry VIII.) aliened it to Alexander Basset, by whom it was conveyed to Sir Humphrey Style. It has since passed through the same hands as Langley-park in Beckenham, and is now the property of the Right Hon. Lord Gwedir. Mr. Samuel Rickards, the tenant, occupies it as a farm.

William de Latimer, in 1329, obtained a charter of free-warren on lands at Bromley, which he had inherited from his father, who died in 1327 (fn. 20) .

Freelands.

Freelands, a house with lands in this parish, was, in 1701, the property of John Whalley, merchant. Some years ago a lease of it was granted to Robert Nettleton, Esq. Governor of the Russia Company. The lease has since passed through the hands of Mr. Welles, and Robert Adair, Esq. the late Surgeon-general: it is now vested in Thomas Raikes, Esq. Deputy Governor of the Bank, who resides at Freelands. The fee belongs to Mrs. Assheton.

Bickley, &c.

Between Bromley and Chislehurst is Bickley, the seat of William Welles, Esq.; at Plaistow, that of Peter Thellusson, Esq.

Parish church.

The parish church, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, is a spacious structure of flint and stone; consisting of a chancel, nave, and two aisles. At the west end is a square embattled tower, with a cupola.

Monuments.

Bishop Pearce.

On the north wall of the chancel is a single stone stall of Gothic architecture; the upper part is mutilated. On the same wall is the monument of Bishop Pearce (fn. 21) . On the south side of the chancel are the monuments of Harington Bagshaw (fn. 22) , curate of Bromley, rector of Woolwich, and 40 years chaplain of Warner's College, 1739; Abigail, his wife, daughter of Sir John Busby, Knt. 1713; Thomas Bagshaw, A. M. curate of Bromley, rector of Southflete, and 54 years chaplain of Warner's College, 1787; and a wooden tablet in memory of James Young (fn. 23) , merchant, 1687. On the floor, are the tombs of Anthony Calthorpe (fn. 24) , Esq. 1594; Richard Thornhill (fn. 25) , Esq. 1600; John Yonge, Bishop of Rochester (fn. 26) , 1605; John Travell, Esq. of London, 1652; Catalina, relict of Thomas Neesham, late rector of Stoke Dabourn, 1676; Robert Pynsent, Gent. 1679; Mariabella, wife of John Whalley, of Freeland-house, merchant, 1701; and William Willson, Esq. 1776.

Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Johnson.

In the nave are the tombs of John King, of London, draper (fn. 27) , 1603; Jane, daughter of John Brewton, Gent. wife of Henry Bodenham, Esq. of Folston, Wilts, 1625; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Samuel Johnson (fn. 28) , 1753; Owen Gethin, Gent. 1754; Edward Wyat, Esq. 1758; and William Everest, Gent. 1777.

At the east end of the south aisle is a wooden tablet, with the arms and quarterings of Style (fn. 29) , and an inscription denoting that the pews beneath were appropriated to the sole use of the Styles, ancient owners of Simpsons', and were then (1727) the property of Lady Elwill. On the same wall is the monument of John Maunsell, Esq. (fn. 30) , of Chichely, Bucks, 1625; on the floor are the tombs of Edward Brewster, apothecary, 1674; James Gosling, Esq. 1765; the Rev. John Derby (fn. 31) , rector of South-flete, 1778; Henry Savage, Esq. 1785; Mary, wife of Charles Gore, Esq. 1785; and Mrs. Mary Dimes, 1788.

Dr. Hawksworth.

On the west wall, under the gallery, are the monuments of Peregrina, wife of Lieut. Bussy Maunsell, 1721; and Jane, relict of Charles Scot, Esq. (fn. 32) , of Gorrembury in North-Britain, (of the noble family of Buccleugh,) 1767. Above are the monuments of Thomas Chase, Esq. (fn. 33) , 1754; and Mary, wife of William Lyndon (fn. 34) , Esq. (daughter of Richard Ashe, Esq.), 1780. On the south wall is that of Mary, wife of the Rev. Thomas Winterbottom, rector of Ashurst, and vicar of Birling in Kent, 1720. At the east end are monuments in memory of John Hawksworth, LL. D. (fn. 35) , 1773; Mr. Benjamin Brown, (brother of Mrs. Hawksworth,) 1777; and Thomas Chase, Esq. (fn. 36) , 1788. The north aisle was rebuilt in 1792; towards the expence of which, Bishop Thomas contributed the sum of 500l.

The font is square; of Norman architecture; the sides are ornamented with rows of plain circular arches.

Walter de Henche, Bishop of Rochester, who died in 1360, was buried in this church, in the south aisle (fn. 37) .

Against the south wall of the church, on the outside, is the monument of Elizabeth, wife of the Rev. George Richards, vicar of Hadlow, Kent, 1767.

Tombs in the churchyard.

In the churchyard are the tombs of Elizabeth, wife of Daniel Giles, daughter of Joseph Herlackehden, 1668; Richard Gratwicke, merchant, 1674; Ann, his wife, daughter of Samuel Leaver, merchant, 1712; Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Leaver, wife of Richard Hampden, 1738; Capt. John Tanner, 1709; Barbara, widow of the Rev. William Davidson, rector of Berwick upon Tweed, 1713; Samuel King, citizen and clothworker, 172–; Charles Hickman, Esq. of the Middle Temple, 1729; Thomas West, Esq. (fn. 38) , 1731; John Lawson, 1734; Edward Ironside, banker, 1737; Jane Belchier, his daughter, 1738; Mary Hunter, his daughter, 1752; William Emmett, Esq. (eldest son of Maurice Emmett, Esq.) 1736; Eleanor, his wife, daughter of John Thornhill, Esq. 1739; Avis, relict of the Rev. Mark Hildesley, M.A. vicar of Sittingbourn, and rector of Witton, (who died in 1726,) 1743 (fn. 39) ; Samuel Hyde, Esq. (fn. 40) , 1748; Elizabeth Monk (fn. 41) , 1753; John Innocent, Gent. 1755; Mary, widow of the Rev. Philip Stubbs, Archdeacon of St. Alban's, aged 95, 1759; Thomas Reynolds, Esq. 1759; Mrs. Hannah Nettleton, 1764; Mrs. Mary Nettleton, 1768; Sarah, relict of the Rev. William Perfect, vicar of East Malling, 1769; Ann, wife of Gilfred Lawson Reed, merchant, (grandaughter of Samuel King,) 1769; Mr. Solomon Demeza, 1771; John Hyde, Esq. 1771; Mary, widow of Edward Palmer, rector of Chalvington, Kent, 1773; Thomas Jukes, Esq. 1775; William Jukes, Esq. 1790; Mr. John Buchanan, 1779; Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Shrimpton, Esq. of MarkLane, 1779; Henry Blake, Esq. 1780; Mr. Robert Stephens, son of John Stephens, rector of Colwall, Herefordshire, 1781; Mary, relict of James Barham, vicar of Bethersden, 1783; Rev. Richard King, 1783; Lydia, relict of Samuel Kellett, Esq. 1786; Frances, relict of William Huddleston, rector of Newenden, 1786; Richard Welles, Esq. 1787; Mr. John Thomas, son of John Thomas, vicar of St. Mary Hill, Glamorganshire, 1788; Edward Russell, Esq. 1789; Sarah, widow of Osborne Atterbury, (son of Bishop Atterbury,) rector of Oxhill, Warwickshire, 1789; Joseph Sparkes, Esq. 1790, John Christian, Esq. 1791; Mary, widow of the Rev. Samuel Watson of Amersham, 1792; John Dewar, Esq. 1795; and Thomas Grendon, Esq. (the date illegible).

Rectory.

The church of Bromley is within the diocese of Rochester, and in the deanery of Dartford. The rectory, to which a manor belongs, was in the reign of Henry VIII. appropriated to the Bishops of Rochester (fn. 42) . In 1287, it was rated at 30 marks; in 1534, at 39l. 12 s. The rectorial manor, parsonage-house, glebe lands, and tithes were valued all together, in the year 1650, at 182l. 8s. 9d. per annum. They had been all leased by Bishop Warner for 21 years, commencing in 1639, at the reserved rent of 60l. per ann. and 40 quarters of oats (fn. 43) . John Younge was lessee in 1646. In 1706, the lease was in the possession of William Emmett, Esq. whose grandaughter brought it to Mr. John Innocent. The present lessee is George Norman, Esq. of Bromley-common, whose father married Mr. Innocent's daughter.

Curacy.

The benesice was formerly a rectory in the patronage of the Bishops of Rochester. Since the appropriation above mentioned, it has been only a curacy. The curate, who is appointed by the bishop, receives 20l. per annum out of the great tithes (fn. 44) . It is not in charge in the King's books.

Henry Maundrel, curate.

Henry Maundrel, B. D. appointed curate of Bromley in 1680, was Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford, and chaplain to the factory at Aleppo. He published a book of Travels from Aleppo to Jerusalem, which is in considerable reputation, and has gone through several editions. A volume of his letters from the Levant, in MS. is now in the possession of Mr. Montague of Alderton in Wiltshire. Mr. Montague is great-nephew of Sir Charles Hedges, (Queen Anne's Secretary,) who was related to Maundrel.

The present curate is Henry Smith, D. D. appointed, on the death of Thomas Bagshaw, in 1787.

Meetinghouses.

There are two meeting-houses in this parish, belonging to the Methodists.

Parish register.

The register of baptisms in this parish begins in 1558, that of burials in 1578, that of marriages in 1575.

Comparative state of population.

The present number of houses is 357 (fn. 46) .

Burials in the plague years.

In 1603, there were 26 burials; in 1625, 110; of which, 67 were between the months of July and December. In 1665, there were only 27; seven persons are said to have died of the plague.

Extracts from the Parish Register.

Bishop Yonge.

"The 14 of Maye the reverend father, John, Byshop of Rochester, had his funeral solemnized, his sonne, Mr. John Younge, being cheese mourner, 1605." Bishop Yonge published an Exposition of the 131st Psalm.

"April 11, 1608—a still-born child of my L^d of Rochester's buried."

"Anne, daughter of S^r Thomas Monson, buried Oct. 29, 1609."

"Christian, wife of S^r Timothy Lowe, buried Aug. 4, 1615; S^r Timothy Lowe, Sep. 9, 1617."

Family of Thornhill.

"Thomas, son of S^r Timothy Thornhill, baptized Sep. 24, 1615; Frances, his daughter, buried Aug. 17, 1621; Elizabeth, baptized Nov. 8, 1621; Mary, daughter of S^r John Thornhill, baptized July 4, 1634; Jane, July 7, 1635; Charles, Oct. 18, 1636; Frances, baptized, Dec. 18, 1640; buried Jan^y 1, 1640–1; S^r John Thornhill, buried Aug. 7, 1646; Samuel, his son, June 28, 1647."

"William, son of Walter Curle, L^d Bishop of Bath and Wells (fn. 47) , baptized Dec. 27, 1629."

"Aug. 12, 1630—the Lady Cutts died in this parish, and was buried at Fairland."

Family of Prescott.

"Margaret, daughter of S^r John Prescott, Kn^t, bapt^d Dec. 21, 1630; buried, Ap^l 14, 1633; Weston, his son, baptized May 28, 1634; Elizabeth, his daughter, buried Oct. 30, 1634; Susan, bapt. Dec. 30, 1635; buried Ap^l 28, 1637; Henry, buried Feb. 17, 1637–8; Jane, bapt. July 17, 1638; another Elizabeth, Oct. 21, 1639."

Bishop Buckeridge.

"May 31, 1631—the R^t Rev^d Father in God, John Buckeridge, the L^d Bishop of Ely, sometime Bishop of Rochester, buried." Bishop Buckeridge, who had been President of St. John's College in Oxford, was translated from the see of Rochester to that of Ely, in 1628. He published a book against Cardinal Bellarmine, concerning the Pope's authority in temporal affairs, and a few sermons (fn. 48) .

"Stephen, son of S^r Stephen Scott, baptized Jan. 31, 1622–3."

"Samuel, son of S^r Edward Peyton, Kn^t and Bar^t, baptized May 25, 1647; buried Aug. 18, 1648."

"George, son of S^r George Jeffreys, Kn^t, Recorder of London (fn. 49) , buried Aug. 26, 1679."

Three children at a birth.

"Joseph, Benjamin, and Rachel, children of John Dudney, baptized Oct. 17, buried Oct. 20, 1724."

Instances of longevity.

"Elizabeth Monk, widow, aged 101 last April, buried Sep. 3, 1753; Anne Passenger, Gent. aged 94 years, buried Feb. 26, 1767; Elizabeth Woodham, widow, aged 94, buried Oct. 20, 1771; Mary Screven, aged 90, buried Feb. 21, 1773."

Dr. Hawksworth.

"John Hawksworth, LL. D. buried Nov. 22, 1773." This well-known writer was editor and principal author of the Adventurer; he wrote also an Eastern tale called Almoran and Hamet, and some dramatic pieces, among which was Edgar and Emmeline, a fairy tale acted with much success. The Narrative of the first Voyage to the South Seas was drawn up by him, for which work he received a very large sum of money. He published also a Translation of Telemachus, and was for some years editor of the Gentleman's Magazine. His widow is still living, and resides at Bromley. See his epitaph, p. 314.

Bishop Pearce.

"Zachary Pearce, D. D. L^d Bishop of this diocese, aged 84, buried July 8, 1774." This learned prelate was born at Ealing in Middlesex (fn. 50) . His principal works are, Commentaries on the Evangelists, to which his portrait is prefixed; an edition of Cicero "de Oratore," and "de Officiis;" an edition of Longinus; some controversial Tracts against Middleton and Woolston. He published also several sermons, and contributed to the Spectator and Guardian.

Bromley College.

Benefactions to it since the founder's death.

Bromley College was founded by the munificence of John Warner, Bishop of Rochester, (from 1637 to 1666,) for the residence and maintenance of 20 widows of loyal and orthodox clergymen. This worthy prelate, by his will, bearing date 1666, empowered his executors, Sir Orlando Bridgman and Sir Philip Warwick, to raise a sum of money adequate to the purposes of such a building out of his personal estate, and charged his manor of Sway ton with the annual payment of 450l. viz. 50l. per ann. for the chaplain, and 20l. each for the widows. The founder had expressed a desire, that this building should be erected as near to Rochester as conveniently might be, but as no healthy or convenient spot could be obtained near that town, power was given by an act of Parliament, passed in 1670, (for the purpose of explaining and settling some parts of the Bishop's donation,) to build it any where within the diocese, according to the discretion of the executors, who fixed on the present site at the north end of the town of Bromley. The founder not having made any provision for repairs, his executors, with the consent of the heir at law, charged the said manor of Swayton with the farther sum of 5l. per ann. but this being thought insufficient, the executors generously gave 100l. each, with which a fee-farm rent of 10l. was purchased; but still this income was found much too small to keep the buildings in a state of decent repair, and the trustees have been at times under the necessity of soliciting voluntary contributions for that purpose. The fund has since received farther augmentations. Dr. Plume, Archdeacon of the diocese, left 100l. to it in 1704; Archbishop Tenison, who died in 1715, left 100 guineas, one-half to the widows, and the other half for repairs; Joseph Wilcocks, Esq. (son of Bishop Wilcocks) completed the inclosure of the College-grove, by building a wall on the eastern side, at the expence of 120l.; and Mrs. Wolfe, mother of the General, by her will, bearing date 1765, left the sum of 500l. to put the buildings in a state of thorough repair.

Figure 9: John Warner, Bishop of Rochester & founder of Bromley College

Jeffrey Hetherington, Esq. of North Cray, for many years before his death, (which happened in 1767,) applied the interest of 2000l. Old South Sea annuities, to the purpose of purchasing coals and candles for the widows in Bishop Warner's College. This sum, after his decease, was generously settled as a perpetuity, for the same purpose, by his surviving brother and heir the late Rev. William Hetherington. Bishop Pearce bequeathed the sum of 5000l. Old South Sea annuities, for the purpose of augmenting the widow's pensions to 30l. per ann. and the chaplain's salary to 60l.; Mrs. Helen Betenson, of Brabourne in Kent, by her will, bearing date 1786, left the sum of 10,000l for the purpose of building ten additional houses at Bromley College (fn. 49) , and endowing them with 20l. per ann. each, for widows of clergymen. William Pearce, Esq. (brother of Bishop Pearce), who died in 1782, left the sum of 12,000l. on failure of issue from his great nephew William Pearce, Esq. and his great niece, who was afterwards wife of the late John Farr Abbot, Esq. (both now deceased without issue), for the purpose of building ten houses (fn. 50) for widows of clergymen, in addition to Bishop Warner's College, and endowing them with 20l. per ann. each. He directed also, that 20l. per annum, should be applied towards the augmentation of the chaplain's salary, which has experienced a farther increase of 6l. per ann. by the interest of 200l. 3 per cent. left by the late chaplain, Mr. Bagshaw. The present chaplain is Andrew Price, M.A.

This excellent institution is under the management of 14 trustees, seven of whom are, the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Rochester, the Archdeacon, and the Chancellor of that diocese, the Dean of St. Paul's, and the Dean of the Arches, for the time being. The others are elective: the present trustees being, the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Sydney; the Right Hon. Lord Amherst; Sir William Ashhurst, Justice of the King's Bench; Sir Beaumont Hotham, Baron of the Exchequer; Henry Lee Warner, Esq. (representative of the founder); Multon Lambard, Esq.; and George Norman, Esq. who is Treasurer.

Charity school.

Bromley College was exempted from the payment of taxes, by an act of Parliament, passed anno 30 Geo. II.

There is a charity-school at this place, in which 13 boys, and the same number of girls, are clothed and educated. It was established before the year 1718. It is supported by the interest of 1000l. (fn. 51) 3 per cent., an annual subscription, and the collections at a charity sermon (fn. 52) .

Benefactions to the poor.

Bishop Buckeridge, anno 1631, gave 20l. to the poor of this parish, with which, and a small addition, a house was purchased, let formerly at 40s. per ann. but now inhabited by paupers, rentfree. Bishop Warner, anno 1666, gave the interest of 20l. to the poor. Mrs. Eleanor Emmett, anno 1739, gave a rent-charge of 40s. per ann.

Footnotes