This unusual but fascinating study of the old Borough of Bromley around 1950 was carefully produced by Albert William Ballard (born 4^th August 1926) with some help from his wife Beatrice.

After completing his education at Bromley Grammar school, he was enlisted into the Army. Subsequently, marrying Beatrice Street who was in the ATS in Manchester, they lived for a while in Leaves Green with his parents.

Bill and Bea, as they were known, then moved to Walden Road in Chislehurst where he decided to train as a teacher with Bea working in the City “to put him through college”.

The document linked below was part of the work he had to do to train as a teacher and, in the absence of a typewriter, must have been drafted and rewritten several times by hand. The main sections are: Geology, Climate, Land utilisation, Communications, Settlement and Bromley Today.

After leaving Bromley around 1954 for Dorset (via Hertfordshire), Bill continued to teach and was active in supporting the teaching profession,  as can be seen from his promotional election leaflet included with the thesis.

Sadly Bea died in December 2007, but Bill lived on into his 90s, dying in Dorset on January 23rd, 2020.

Our thanks to their daughters Nicola Fisher and Julia Ballard for both finding this document, and for having the thoughtfulness to pass it on to us for all to see.