Spotlight on Orpington

Above: All Saints church

Above: The High Street

Above: The view along Church Hill,Orpington

Orpington boasts a world-famous breed of chicken, has the largest naturist centre in Britain, was where Charles Darwin formulated his origin of the species theory, and the environs of the town’s Priory Gardens are thought too have been the source of the River Cray.

It was one of early ‘commuter’ settlements, and is now a thriving, fascinating town, conveniently close to London, yet rural enough to retain its original charisma.

The name is thought to mean Orped’s Farm and by the end of the 14th century, its population was a grand 290, and Orpington men were among those who supported Jack Cade’s successful rebellion against Henry V1's government.

A mainline railway station arrived in 1868, which was rebuilt in 1904, allowing a much- improved train service that presaged the construction of new homes for commuters. After the First World War, the High Street emerged as a suburban shopping centre which was extended in the 1970s to include the Walnuts Centre, a college of Further Education, offices and a new police station.

Most of the housing development took place after 1870, the first sizeable expansion being the Knoll Estate, a borough guide of 1908 advertising “picturesque detached houses adjoining the newly laid golf links”. Home construction was in its heyday during the 1920s.

All the buildings clustered around the museum in the northern part of town are within a designated Conservation Area, and the Priory, its outbuildings and walls are Listed Buildings. The Priory Park Gardens are Grade II listed on English Heritage’s register of parks and gardens. In 1270, Hugh de Mortimer, first rector of Orpington, lived at the Priory when it was a medieval Hall House. Now this building, extended in the 17th century, is the home of Bromley museum.

What to see and do

The most scenic part of town is at the northern end of the High Street, comprising the Priory Gardens, Bromley Museum (the Priory) and the adjoining library, and access is free to all these. The Crofton Roman Villa house (020 8460 1442), beside the station, was occupied from AD 140 to 400 and was the centre of a farming estate of 500 acres. This site was fully excavated by Kent Archeological Rescue Unit and now the remains of 10 rooms can be seen, covered by a protective modern building.

You can see evidence of tiled floors and under-floor central heating and there’s a guided talk, a ‘touch table’ with a selection of Roman finds you can handle, plus activities for children, such as Roman games to play and mosaic-making. At the southern end of the High Street you’ll find Orpington War Memorial, an impressive triangular column, spectacularly illuminated at night.

At the southern end of the High Street you’ll find Orpington War Memorial, an impressive triangular column, spectacularly illuminated at night.

At nearby Downe village is Down House (01689 859119), the home of Charles Darwin for 40 years, and where he produced his theories On the Origin of the Species by Means of natural Selection in 1859; the house is packed with fascinating Darwinian exhibits. Chislehurst Caves (0208 467 3264), with lamp-lit guided tours, are nearby.

And if naturism interests you, why not visit The Naturist Foundation at Brocken Hurst (01689 871200), set in 50 acres of woodland? It has the largest and best-equipped facilities for this activity in Britain, with a swimming pool, games courts, children's play area, cafeteria and bar. Newcomers to naturism are welcome to book an afternoon’s introductory visit to find out what’s on offer. “Naturism is a family recreational activity,” explains Marsha Majors, general secretary. “It’s a form of social relaxation without clothes in an environment that does not cause offence.”

Walnuts Leisure Centre, to the rear of the High Street, is open to non-members. It has two swimming pools, gym, health suite, sports hall, squash courts, crèche, children party room, beauty centre and a café.

High Elms Country Park, together with High Elms Estate, was originally the country home of Sir John Lubbock and is now is the centre for BEECHE, Bromley’s Environmental Education Centre (01689 862815) building, made of ecologically friendly materials, such as timber and straw. Walks, talks and events are organised from here, including the Breakfast with birds day of walks on Sunday 4 May.

Shopping and dining

The very long High Street has more than 250 shops in addition to those in the Walnuts covered shopping centre, which has an open-air market on Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. There are multi-storey car parks with electronic displays of available space, plus plenty of convenient meter parking in the High Street itself. Major retail names are represented, including Boots, W H Smith, Sainsbury and Bon Marché.

There is a huge variety of restaurants in the High Street, from Chinese, Indian and Thai to Italian and traditional English. Notable Chinese restaurants are the King Palace (01689 830023) and Xian (01689 871881), the latter being TV chef Gary Rhodes’ favourite.

The Priory Tavern (01689 870850) offers traditional English food and live entertainment. Just outside the town are The Gurkha Kitchen, in Petts Wood (01689 834713) and The Bombay Brasserie in Green Street Green (01689 862906). In the Walnuts Shopping centre you’ll find The Scott Pie and Mash restaurant (01689 876744).

Did you know

• The Priory was never a monastic priory, but a rectory for a long period until sold to private buyers
• Bromley museum caters for the entire borough, stretching as far as Crystal Palace
• The Orpington Car was a two-seater sports vehicle made in the town in 1920 by Frank Smith and Jack Milroy and it was in mass production for the following five years
• The black Orpington Chicken was bred by William Cook in 1880, and in 1887 an Orpington Club of breeders was established. White Orpingtons followed in 1892, followed by The Spangled Orpington in 1900. The various Orpington poultry breeders clubs were amalgamated in 1975 and reverted to the original name
• Charles Darwin lived at Downe House in nearby Down Village, where he formulated his ground-breaking theory of evolution
• The Walnuts shopping and leisure centres were built on the land of Court Lodge Farm, and were so named because of the walnut trees that grew in abundance there
• Home sellers in 1908 advertised that Orpington ‘is immune to the invasion of electric trams, so detrimental to property’
• Sir John Lubbock, friend of Darwin and benefactor to Bromley Museum, lived at High Elms, now a country park
• The Priory Gardens run into parkland and lakes that are reputed to be the source of the River Cray

Looking to the future

The area around Downe village, where Darwin lived and experimented, has been nominated for inclusion as a World Heritage Site. As for future changes, a document is being prepared that will form the basis for future changes in the town centre. It comprises two key projects: a masterplan for developing the Walnuts Shopping Centre, and a strategy for improving the High Street as a whole. Currently the plans are being prepared and are due for public consultation, so no details can yet be forthcoming.

“We want to improve the appearance and the viability of the town centre as a whole,” explains Peter Martin, project manager of the consultative document. “We’re looking for improvement along the whole length of the High Street – ideas such as removing clutter, replacing street furniture and planting trees, also possibly introducing the idea of ‘shared space’ where the High Street is given the look of a pedestrian area while still allowing cars, buses and car parking, so that pedestrians and cars share the same space.

He adds: “Secondly we’re developing ideas for the Walnuts Shopping Centre – thinking of changes around the two squares and possibly new opportunities within the centre, an expansion of retail activity. Tesco’s arrival will undoubtedly bring more people into the town. Our task is to encourage them go down the High Street and discover all the other stores, too. ”

Clubs, associations and sports centres

• Orpington Folk Club (01959 532 754). Weekly meetings on a Thursday at The Change of Horses, Farnborough village
• Darrick Wood Sports Centre (01689 860522)
• Darrick Wood Swimming Pool (01689 857021)
• High Elms Golf Course (01689 858175)
• Priory Sports Centre (01689 897793)
• Walnuts Leisure Centre (01689 870533)
• Orpington Symphony Orchestra (01689 839188). Welcomes enquiries from instrumentalists
• Orpington and District Archaeological society (01904 671417). Activities include talks, taking part in local digs, etc.
• Orpington Field Club (01689 855913). Organises walks and field trips, meeting most Saturdays.