XV.—SOME SMALLER HOUSES AND BUILDINGS OF
INTEREST, EITHER AT PRESENT STANDING IN
BROMLEY, OR DEMOLISHED DURING THE COMPILATION
OF THIS REGISTER.
HOUSES IN HIGH STREET.
The house on the west side of the Vicarage (No. 95) is probably of middle
18th century date. The plan is square, and the front has red brick window facings
and strings. In the centre, on the ground floor was the principal entrance, over the
door was a canopy with fine carved scroll brackets; this was removed some six
years ago, when the house was bought by Messrs. Edie, founders, whose works
adjoin, and a window made in its place. The interior is spoiled, the panelled room,
capacious cupboards and fine staircase having suffered greatly from the alteration.
In the Committee's MS. collection are—
A view of the house from High-street.
ASHMORE TERRACE, Nos. 101 to 105.
The Ashmore-terrace houses are of the later 18th century. The doorways are
of wood, with pilasters at sides and cornice over the top. The wrought iron entrance
gates and railings, though of no great note, are the only examples remaining now in
Bromley. The fronts of these houses facing High-street are of brick, but the backs
are weather-boarded.
In the Committee's MS. collection are—
(1.) General view of the houses from the street.
(2.) Details of the porches.
(3.) Drawings of the iron gates and railings.
No. 45, HIGH STREET.
On the north side, at the corner of Baker's-alley, was an interesting building
of middle 17th century date. It had a long low elevation, 40 feet wide, and two
stories (with attics) in height. The walls were of dull red bricks, with lighter
colour for the window jambs, arches, &c. At the eaves was a large moulded wood
cornice.
The entrance door in the centre of the front had a flat canopy, with carved
oak acanthus scroll brackets. The windows had sliding sash lights, with a mullion
in the centre: they evidently were of much different form originally, and extended
nearly the whole width of the front. The sashes of the attic windows still preserved
the original leaded lights.
Internally, nearly all the fittings that were movable (e.g., stair balusters, rails,
&c.) had disappeared, most probably for firewood. Only one feature of interest still
remained: one of the circular cupboards, in a room on the ground floor.
The house disappeared at the beginning of 1896 to make room for a block of
cottages.
In the Committee's MS. collection are—
(1.) A block plan of the house and ground.
(2.) A drawing of the front facing High-street.
Nos. 2 to 18, HIGH STREET.
These houses stand at the west end of the High-street, between Devons-road
and Bow-road, and are of 17th and 18th century date.
No 2 has a long low elevation, with weather-boarded upper storey. No. 4
has a gabled and weather-boarded front, and is illustrated in plate 34. The remaining
houses are all small, with brick fronts, mullioned and sash windows, and some have
interesting bits of detail in canopies and doors. The grouping of the whole block is
very picturesque.
In the Committee's MS. collection are—
* (1.) View looking north-west.
* (2.) View from north-east.
* (3.) East front, No. 4.
These are all reproduced here.