Bromley Palace Park

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Successful Volunteer Event in Historic Park

We had a wonderful work day in Bromley Palace Park on Saturday 15th February. With a good number of volunteers there, we were able to achieve a lot. Installed; ornamental grasses, ferns, and a couple of small trees in the Fernery. Also re-sited another bench here, which combination has transformed this small peaceful area. Elsewhere further bramble, ivy etc was cleared back along the Carriage Drive, in preparation for much shrubs to be planted. We have some 80 such shrubs to be planted, so a lot still to plant!

Volunteers also installed some spare paving stones. This, along with improved signage, has improved the path to the Rafford Way entrance. Preparations for the later installation of interpretive boards was also undertaken.

So thanks to all the volunteers that turned up. This included; Kerry, Phil, Jan, Jeff, Moira, Kristen, James, and all the rest…….. Much remains to be done.! Our next work party takes place on Saturday 8th March, anytime 10 am – 4 pm. Part of our ‘Love Bromley Palace Park’ project. So please come along and make a difference.

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Celebrating St.Blaise & Bromley Palace Park

Last Sunday there was a ceremony marking the connection between Saint Blaise, a 4th century christian bishop & martyr from Lower Armenia in modern Turkey, with this town centre park. He is celebrated as the patron saint of animals, healing of throats, infants, wool workers, etc, etc.

The above spring-fed chalybeate (iron traces) well was established a long time ago in the grounds of the Bishop of Rochester’s former palace – now Bromley Palace Park. To celebrate this an event to bless the current well by the Deacon at St.Joseph’s RC School, Bromley, along with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bromley in attendance, plus approximately 40 members of the public.

In opening the event the Mayor mentioned how Saint Blaise was connected to the healing properties of water and speculated how Bromley might have become a spa town, perhaps rivalling Royal Tunbridge Wells! However he would not recommend anyone drinking the spring waters today. He also pointed out the many wonders of this park which, while so quiet and rural feeling, was only some 400 metres from the busy High Street.

The Deacon of St. Joseph’s then conducted a brief service and official Blessing of the well and its associated spring, with the attendees taking part. After the ceremony people were encouraged to tour the park which, despite the sell-off of the northern parts of the site, was still fully open to the public. To find out more about this park and how you can help the ongoing efforts to restore the park please HERE.

Volunteers are carrying out further work to further improve this historic park. Next work session is on Saturday 15th February, any time between 10am and 4pm.

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Project Funding Approved

We have just heard that our application, for nearly £20k funding for our ‘Love Bromley Palace Park‘ project has been successful. We had applied to Bromley council for this from the borough-wide Platinum Jubilee Fund. It is the intention to make this park, with its historic features and wonderful setting, better used and appreciated by the public. With the council selling the rest of the site this is even more important, as is preserving good public access at all times, including during any construction phase. All Bromley council staff will have moved from here to the new Civic Centre later by end of 2024.

Below is the view across the Lake towards historic Bromley Palace, taken in 2015. This view is now obscured by tree saplings. We aim to restore views such as these as part of our project .

Items to be installed include-

  • Park sign on Rochester Avenue
  • Waymarker posts around parks
  • Lectern style information boards
  • A new Persimon tree – replacing one that will be lost
  • Leafy and flowering plants
  • Picnic table and benches – transferred from other parts of site.

In parallel with this we will be organising monthly volunteer work parties, in which we will improve the biodiversity of the park, and enhance the setting of various Grade 2 listed features*. You can find details of these work parties on our Events page.

*The repair of these listed features are not part of this project.

To find out more about our project please go to Campaigns/Bromley Palace Park

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Look what I have found – Ha Ha!

Ha Ha! revealed

In Bromley Palace Park (aka Civic Centre Grounds) you can find a number of Grade 2 listed features; Ice House, Cascade & Fernery, mock Medieval Folly plus a Ha-Ha! The latter originally consisted of a wall & ditch to keep livestock in the adjacent fields, out of the parkland around the Bishop’s Palace. 

The fields and associated animals have long since gone, and have now become the many houses and gardens on the ‘Palace Estate’. However the wall of the Ha Ha! still remains. Recently the undergrowth has been cleared away and the brickwork exposed again as seen below.

This and the other listed features are on the Heritage England list of at risk buildings etc. They are working with Bromley Council, the site owners, in order to restore and protect them for future generations.

You can find out more about this site at Bromley Palace Park (aka Civic Centre).

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Y Buildings application resubmitted

The developer resubmitted their planning application (Ref: DC/21/03120/RESPA) on 12th July for the change of use of these buildings, in the grounds of Bromley Civic Centre, to enable them to form 73 very small residential units. This application was previously rejected by Bromley council planning committee as they considered it part of the curtilage of the Bromley Palace. Despite this the developer has re-submitted their application in which they argue against this. To see this application CLICK HERE. If you have any comments on this you should submit them by the end of July.

We continue to object to this application, as it will impact the adjacent on the following grounds –

  • It is an over-development of these buildings, each residential unit being far too small for housing needs.
  • It will seriously impact the public access to the park via the Rafford Way access.

To find out more about Bromley Palace Park and our associated campaigns please CLICK HERE