insideKENT Magazine Issue 80 - November 2018 | Page 41

TOWNSPOTLIGHT
Down House © English Heritage
The Churchill Theatre
Spotlight on
BROMLEY
EVEN THOUGH BROMLEY IS PART OF GREATER LONDON, IT IS ALSO PART OF KENT,
WHICH MAKES IT A RATHER UNIQUE PLACE TO LIVE, WORK IN, OR VISIT. WITH A VIBRANT
AND FAST GROWING HIGH STREET AND SHOPPING AREA AS WELL AS LOTS TO SEE AND
DO, MINUTES FROM LONDON YET IN THE HEART OF KENT GREENERY, IT IS AN EXCITING,
POPULAR AND MUCH-LOVED PART OF OUR VARIED LANDSCAPE. IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN
TO BROMLEY YET, WHAT’S STOPPING YOU? IT HAS IT ALL.
HISTORY IN BRIEF THINGS TO DO
In 862, King Ethelbert of Kent gifted the land
then known as Bromleag (and now known as
Bromley) to the Bishops of Rochester and it
stayed with them until 1845 when it was
bought by Coles Child, an extremely wealthy
local landowner. He also bought Bromley
Palace (which is no longer with us, but which
stood on the site of today’s Bromley Civic
Centre) and declared himself lord of the
manor. As he built up the area, and thanks to
the railway that came soon afterwards, the
small village of Bromley soon became a busy,
bustling town. The Churchill Theatre
Ever since it was opened on 17th July 1977 by
HRH The Prince of Wales himself, the
Churchill Theatre has been a cultural and
social hub in the centre of Bromley town. With
shows ranging from big musical productions
and plays of all descriptions to more intimate
spotlight shows, you can be guaranteed to
find something here that will entertain and
amuse.
The Churchill Theatre is co-producing a
new production of Doctor Dolittle – The
Musical, which opens on Friday 9th November
until 24th November.
Down House
Former home of Charles Darwin, Down House
is a remarkable place to visit. Find out more
about the famous scientist, stand in the study
where he wrote the groundbreaking On The
Origins Of Species and enjoy the gardens that
he took such pride in. With a multimedia tour
hosted by Sir David Attenborough, science
and learning is combined with fun and
interactivity.
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