Meetings of the BBLHS

Unless otherwise stated, we meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 7.45 pm in the Church Hall, St. George's Church in Bickley Park Road, BR1 2BE. There is a small car park accessed via St. George's Road and free street parking in the area . Buses 162 and 269 pass the door and the SL3 stop and Bickley station are a few minutes walk.


Access is on the flat and disabled toilets are available. Tea and coffee are normally provided free of charge at meetings.


For a map and more information, go to Where We Meet.


Non-members of all ages are very welcome to join us. You are invited to make a contribution of £2 towards the cost of the meeting (£1 for Members).

Tuesday 4th November - 7.45 in Church Hall, St. George's Church, Bickley Park Road


From Village to "rising town."


A talk on the development of Orpington before 1914 with particular reference to the community at Broom Hill.


Peter Robson

Tuesday 2nd December - 7.45 in Church Hall, St. George's Church, Bickley Park Road


A Transport of Delight


The development of bus services in Bromley.


Cllr. Nicholas Bennett

Tuesday 6th January  - 7.45 in Church Hall, St. George's Church, Bickley Park Road


The Dence Family of Shortlands 1887 - 1918


How a chance conversation led to a fascinating exploration of a Victorian family's history.


Tim Sowter

Tuesday 3rd February - 7.45 in Church Hall, St. George's Church, Bickley Park Road


The Rookery, Bromley Common and Carshalton Park, two related garden landscapes of the 1720s


The story of the connection between a long-forgotton garden created for a South Sea Company official at what became the Rookery, and the landscape 10 miles away in Carshalton Park



 Andrew Skelton 

Tuesday 3rd March - 7.45 in Church Hall, St. George's Church, Bickley Park Road


Bromley Workhouse's Female Guardians


To mark International Women's Day (on the 8th) we hear about the hard work put in by female Guardians of the workhouse near Farnborough, both in running it and being accepted on to the Board in the first place.


Kate Hollis

Tuesday 7th April - 7.30 in Church Hall, St. George's Church, Bickley Park Road


Part 1 - Annual General Meeting led by our President, the Worshipful Mayor


Part 2 - Exploring the history of The Priory, Orpington - once Bromley Museum and now in private hands, the building has a long and complex history.


Janet Clayton

Tuesday 5th May - 7.45 in Church Hall, St. George's Church, Bickley Park Road


Sir Godfrey Hounsfield and the CT Scanner


The story of Farnborough Hospital's Computed Tomography Scanner appeal after the device was created in the 1970s andi its Nobel Prize winning inventor.


Dr. Adrian Thomas 

Tuesday 2nd June - 7.45 in Church Hall, St. George's Church, Bickley Park Road


The History of Elmstead Woods Station and its Garden


Opened in July 1904 (as Elmstead), the station retains much of its rural charm enhanced by the hard work of its "gardeners".


Ros Goodall