This is the oldest section of the High Street, and has buildings that survive from the 1700s. The town is very fortunate that there we have a fine collection of Victorian and Arts and Craft era buildings in this part of our High Street.
173-177 High Street, The Royal Bell – Heritage Building Profile
The Royal Bell is a beautiful Queen Anne style Arts and Crafts style building just north of market square. The architect was the renowned Ernest Newton and it is Grade II listed. This range of buildings was rebuilt in 1898 on the site of an earlier hostelry of 1666; as part of the front required propping up…
194 High Street, the Partridge – Heritage Building Profile
The Partridge Public House stands at the junction of Church Road and was originally built for the National Provincial Bank in 1927 by architects Gunton & Gunton. It became a Public House in 1995. This building is a superb example of the ‘Neo Georgian’ wing of the Arts and Crafts movement. Architects of this style…
198 High Street formally Pamphilons – Heritage Building Profile
Nos. 196-198 High Street was a dwelling house which became used as a wine merchant towards the end of the 18th century. George Pamphilon became the owner in 1865 and in 1876 he rebuilt the premises. The timber shopfront reflects the design as it was in the 19th century. Note the lettering on the arch…
College Slip, K2 Telephone Box & College Green Pocket Park – Heritage
College Slip is the passageway which follows the old college wall. In the latter part of the 19th century it was still a country lane leading to open fields.High Street – Bromley Zoo Mural – Heritage Buildings
Bromley Zoo Mural by artist Bruce Williams, in 2001, was to lead shoppers from the Hill Car … unfortunately most of it has been lost
High Street 189-191 Former Cottages
The Funeral Directors , News Agents and dry cleaners shop occupy two 18th century cottages, part of a terrace originally of five. They are typical Kentish vernacular style with the characteristic double pitched roofs clad with Kentish clay peg tiles. Typical Kentish vernacular style 1700s cottagesHigh Street No. 179-183 William Hill formerly Martins Bank – Heritage Building
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…High Street No. 181 Hunters Jewellers – Victorian Shop front
Hunters the Practical Jewellers has the finest surviving Victorian Shopfront in Bromley.
High Street No. 206 Diners Inn formerly George Weeks ironmongery
The Diner Inn occupies George Weeks’ 1890s extension to his original shop next door. Its grand Arts & Crafts, Dutch influenced architecture, displays both his personal success and civic pride.
High Street No. 208-214 former Tunnel Shoes – Heritage Buildings
The former Tunnel Shoes occupy the original 1902 premises of Boots the Chemists. The Art Nouveau wrought iron work in front of the first floor windows is typical of boots in this period and similar work can also be seen in Boots old shop in the Pantiles in Tunbridge Wells. Behind the modern false ceiling…
High Street No. 217, 1700s house and former bookshop – Heritage Buildings
The tattooist (No. 217), and the next door shop, occupy an 18th century house, worthy of mention as it was the premises of two Bromley notable historians and printers, each producing from this shop an invaluable histories of Bromley – Thomas Wilson in 1797 and John Dunkin in 1815. The row of 5 windows is…
High Street No. 227: The Star And Garter – Heritage building profile
One of the best Arts and Crafts buildings around, with extravagant turret, balcony and decoration. The Star & Garter Inn was constructed in 1898 and replaced an ancient inn of the same name. It was designed by Berney and Sons for Nalder and Collyer, a local Croydon brewer. It an example of ‘Old English’ style,…High Street No. 232 – Heritage Building
This shop was the site of Morley’s Academy, which was on the upper floors, where the author HG Wells went to school, after he had graduated from the Dame school on south street. It was demolished in 1902 and replaced with the current building. The building which replaced Morley’s Academy that the author HG Wells…
High Street No. 232, former Grete House lodge
This is one of a pair of early 18th century lodges at the entrance to the driveway to the Grete House, a Tudor mansion and its lands.High Street No. 242, Picture House Cinema – Heritage Buildings
Opened on the 21st December 1936, it is one of Odeon’s original “Oscar Deutsch Odeon” cinemas, in Art Deco style, by George Coles. TODO replace with one from camera. By Simon Steele. It seated 1,492 in the main auditorium; with 1,018 in the stalls and 474 in the circle. In 2006 the Empire chain bought…High Street No. 260-262, The Swan and Mitre – Heritage Building Profile
The Swan & Mitre is an old coaching inn, of uncertain date but at least early 18th century, which was popular with carters carrying farm produce and fish, resting on their journey to the London markets. It dates mainly from the early 19th century. In older accounts it’s sometimes referred to, as just The Swan.…Walters Yard – Heritage
Until the end of the 18th century the east side of the High Street from The Bell Inn northwards, including part of the side of the college, comprised land called Grete House. This was a large private estate now covered by Walters Yard. During the Napoleonic Wars part of the area became known as ‘Prison…
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