Local sketches c1930 (Vincent New)

Vincent New Sketches

Born in Bromley in 1906 and educated at the Grammar School in Hayes Lane and later at the College of Art in Tweedy Road, Vincent New provided illustrations for the Bromley & Kentish Times. He died in 1994. The forward is by Harold Edward Hughes Nelson (22 May 1871 – 25 February 1948) a well known artist in his own right. Our thanks to Michael Rawcliffe for the loan of the folio.

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The front cover.
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Foreward by Harold Nelson.
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Back cover.
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Easily recognisable is the courtyard at Bromley College.

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Also obvious is Bromley High Street looking south with the Star and Garter on the left (but no cinema).

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Church Road from the Market Square with the former National Provincial Bank building on the right, now a pub.

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Although it may be a coincidence, the next two pictures - the cottages opposite the Parish Church and the view across the north side of the Market Square - take in almost exactly the same views as the Janet Simpson pictures you can see on this site. Given that these sketches were published only two years afterwards, it is very likely Mr. New was familiar with her work.
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The old town hall in the Market Square.
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The lower High Street with the Railway Signal public house on the right and the entrance to Simpson's Road on the left.
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The old cottage in College Slip.
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The start of Plaistow Lane at Widmore Green.
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The old cottages and well to be found in Chislehurst Road just up from the junction with Widmore Road and Bickley Road.
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Moving away from the centre of Bromley, more recognisable locations with St. George's Church in Bickley Pak Road...
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St. Mary the Virgin in Hayes, an area which has perhaps changed the most!
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A view along West Wickham High Street towards the Swan.
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Continuing his tour of the southern part of the Borough, the first view of Keston Commonside can be identified even if all the houses seem to have changed.
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The title "Farnborough Village" is a little vague but this appears to be Church Road, looking south.
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"Chelsfield Village" is equally vague but looks like another Church Road with what used to be Smallwoods Bakery on the right and the since demolished Ivy Cottages in the background.
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Moving to the most rural parts of the Borough, and beyond, we come to Cudham church of St.Peter & St.Paul. There is now a new gate but otherwise little has changed.
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In Downe the view past the Queens Head towards Keston is still easily identified.
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It is likely Mr. New was sitting in the Three Horseshoes when he sketched his view of Knockholt.

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This view of Orpington is one of the more difficult to locate but could be centred on 124 High Street.
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Still a very familiar view of Old St. Mary Cray looking towards the railway viaduct.
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Little has changed with Royal Parade at Chislehurst, with the War Memorial in the distance it is easy to match with today's view.
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