The Bromley area is now regarded as one of the four most important colonies of work by the radical architects of the Arts and Crafts movement. It features some particularly fine examples from the Queen Anne style that was espoused by the movement: “The Arts & Crafts, emerging as the artistic and cultural arm of a new social and political awakening toward the end of the 19th century…”
The movement reinvented the traditional buildings of Kent & Sussex. It was exuberant with many variations, such as ‘Old English’ with tile hung walls and half timbering; ‘Queen Anne’ itself, adopting forms from 17th Century with it’s Dutch influences, tall chimneys, clay tiled roofs, red brick and small paned windows.
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…
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…
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…
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.”…
This fine building is from the 1890s and built in the Arts & Crafts style with its characteristic Dutch influence. The blue plaque identifies it as the birthplace of the famous author HG Wells.
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…
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.
The Railway Tavern Public House was built in 1879, by Berney & Sons who also designed the Star & Garter public house in the High Street. On the side facing the station, there’s a panel with the initials N & C for the brewers Nalder and Collyer. There are visual references to shells (from the…
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,…
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’.
Photos of some of the fine examples of Arts and Crafts movement in Bromley town centre:
Browse our old photos, in 
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