Bromley features some particularly fine examples of buidlings from the Arts and Crafts movement.
Fine Paregetting on the bay window of the Royal Bell
“The Arts & Crafts, emerging as the artistic and cultural arm of a new social and political awakening toward the end of the 19th century…
This arm held out, through the teachings of Morris, Webb, Lethaby, Crane and others, the promise of freedom from the tyranny of historical styles, and a new English, or Scottish, vernacular, based on functional requirements, naturalism and honest craftsmanship. Where other periods or architectural groupings are described in terms of style the Arts & Crafts is invariably dubbed a movement. ” from the Voysey society page
Built in 1908 this building housed the offices of Bromley Electric Light Company. Behind was the coal-fired ‘power station’ whose tall chimney dominates old photos of the town centre. It was there for over 30 years. The architectural style is ‘Queen Anne’ – ‘Streaky Bacon’.
These lovely black and white buildings are from the 1933 re-layout of Market square. They exemplify the culmination of the Old English style of the Arts and Crafts movement.
Designed by the Arts and Crafts architect Ernest Newton (see our page here). The Martins Bank website provides some more pictures of the interior of the building, with an interesting note on the occasion: “For our Bromley Branch features, we look at the retirements of two members of the staff reported as usual by Martins…
Marks and Spencers in the 1930s “Wright Brothers’ attractive bow-windowed shop was taken over by a High Street chain store, who a few years ago took great trouble to reproduce in every detail this lovely frontage, when they needed twice the space. Few shoppers can tell where the original part and the new section join.”…
Browse our old photos, in 
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