Those who live in the borough of Bromley because it is within easy commuting distance of London are following in the traditions of our Roman ancestors, according to writer David Johnson. LUCYA SZACHNOWSKI talks to him about his new book, The London Borough of Bromley Past and Present ...

David Johnson, 71, has lived in the borough of Bromley all his life and has now had his second book on the area published.

Mr Johnson said: "My first book, A Century of Bromley, was very successful and I was asked to write the second book by Sutton Publishing, for WH Smith.

"I was delighted to be given the opportunity to cover the history of the area right back to ancient times and include its Celtic connections."

The Celts who lived here spoke a language akin to Welsh and have left us with some local names, like Penceat now Penge interpreted "edge of wood", and Craie the River Cray, meaning "fresh" or "clean".

The Roman's Latin has also left its mark on our place names. The name Wickham is thought to derive from the Roman word "vicus". The vicus was the smallest unit of self-government in the Roman provinces.

Nearly all places named Wickham in this country stand on Roman roads. West Wickham is on such a road, as is Beckenham.

Remains of Roman villas exist along the Cray valley, in Keston, Orpington and elsewhere around the borough.

Romans liked to live near large towns, which means the popularity of the Bromley area as a home convenient for travel to London is 2,000 years old.

Later, the Saxons may have used Roman roads to travel across Britain, colonise new areas and also to mark boundaries.

The Saxon equivalent to our local council meetings were the Hundred meetings.

The Bromley and Beckenham area came under the Ruxley Hundred. The Hundred unit of government existed formally until the Local Government Act of 1894 set up district councils.

From 1836 to 1930 Bromley's Poor Law area was under the Bromley Guardians of the Poor, who were responsible for almost the same area as that administered by the borough today.

The next major administrative change in the area followed the London Government Act of 1963, which established the London Borough of Bromley.

People who have enjoyed the area's closeness to London included the Bishops of Rochester, who held the Lordship of the Manor of Bromley for about 1,000 years. A number of the bishops said Rochester was too low-lying and preferred to live in Bromley, which was more convenient for journeys to London.

As well as explaining how the area developed, Mr Johnson's book offers fascinating pictorial evidence in the form of old photographs printed next to ones taken this year from the same viewpoint to illustrate how things have changed.

Mr Johnson said: "I tried to select images which cover the whole borough and also cover subjects which weren't included in my earlier book, such as railways. We even have one picture dating from 1845.

"I have to give credit to all the photographers and people in the Bromley History Society who helped me."

For more details on Bromley History Society, call the membership secretary on 020 8467 3842

November 22, 2001 16:25