BROMLEY, a market-town and parish in the hundred
of BROMLEY and BECKENHAM., lathe of SUTTON at
HONE, county of KENT, 10 miles (S.E.) from London,
on the road toTonbridge, containing 3147 inhabitants.
This. place, supposed to have derived its name from
the quantity of broom with which the neighbourhood
abounds, was, in the eighth century, given by Ethelbert,
King of Kent, to the bishops of Rochester, in whose possession
it has remained, with very little interruption,
till the present time. The episcopal palace had become
so ruinous in 1184, that Gilbert de Glanville was obliged
to expend a considerable sum in repairing it. In this
palace was found the plot of a conspiracy, of which
Spratt, Bishop of Rochester, published an account in
1692. Bishop Thomas, on being appointed to the see,
finding the old building much decayed, pulled it down,
and erected the present palace, which was completed in
1777: it is a plain edifice of brick, pleasantly situated
on the brow of an eminence about a quarter of a mile
from the town. In the gardens was anciently an oratory,
much resorted to on account of certain indulgences
granted by Lucas, legate of Pope Sixtus IV., to all who
should offer up their devotions there during Pentecost;
and near it was a well of mineral water, similar in its
properties to the water at Tonbridge, but more strongly
impregnated. This well, which was in honour of the
saint to whom the oratory was dedicated, called St.
Blaze's well, was for a considerable time in great repute
but the oratory becoming dilapidated after the
Reformation, the well was choked up and the efficacy of
its water forgotten, till, being re-opened in 1756, it re-
gained its former celebrity, and is still much esteemed
for its medicinal quality. The town is pleasantly situ-
ated on the north side of the river Ravensbourne, and
consists principally of one street extending for a con-
siderable distance along the turnpike road: the houses
are in-general neat and well -built, especially those
in the market-place, in the centre of which is an ancient
market-house, supported on wooden pillars: the streets
are partially paved and
amply supplied with water. The market, granted to the
bishop of Rochester in 1447, is on Thursday; and a
great mart for cattle has been recently established on
the third Thursday in every month. Fairs are held on
February 14th and August 5th, for live stock. The county
magistrates hold a meeting for the division alternately
here and at1 Farnborough, every other week. A court of
requests, for the recovery of debts under £5, is held
every alternate Thursday, at the market-house, the
jurisdiction of which extends over the hundreds of
Blackheath, Bromley, Beckenham, Roxley, Little, and
Lessness. Headbbroughs and constables are appointed
at the court leet of the lord of the manor.
The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Rochester, and in the patronage of the
Bishop of Rochester. The church, dedicated to St. Peter
and St. Paul, is a spacious structure, with a square
embattled tower, partly rebuilt in 1792; it contains an
ancient Norman font, and various interesting monuments,
among which are those of several of the bishops
of Rochester -} of Dr. Hawkesworth, author of the
Adventurer, who was a native of this place;. and of
Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Johnson., There are places of
worship for Independents and Methodists. A Nationalschool
for children of both sexes has been erected, and
is supported by subscription j fifteen of the boys and as
many of the girls are clothed by means of the dividends
on £1400 stock, purchased with the amount of various
donations, the chief of which were by the Rev. George
Wilson, in 1718, and Launcelot Tolson, in 1726. In
1631, Bishop Buckeridge gave £20 to the poor, with
which a house has been purchased and is assigned rentfree
to aged persons. Bromley college, at the northeastern
extremity of the town, was founded in 1666,
by John Warner, Bishop of Rochester, who endowed
it with £450 per annum, for the residence and support
of twenty widows of loyal and orthodox clergymen, to
each of whom he assigned £20 per annum, and to a
chaplain £50. This endowment has heen augmented by
many subsequent benefactions: in 1767, the Rev.,William
Hetherington bequeathed £2000 Old South Sea
annuities, to purchase coal and candles for the use of
the establishment; in 1774, Dr, Zachary Pearce, Bishop
who receive £38 per annum each with an allowance
of coal and candles; and the chaplain's salary has been
advanced to £150 per annum: the college is a handsome
appropriate pile of building, surrounding two quadrangular
areas, in which there is a chapel also. This insti
tution is under the direction of fourteen trustees, among
whom are the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop
in of London, the Bishop, Archdeacon, and Chancellor of
Rochester, the Dean of St. Paul's, and the Dean of the
Arches, besides others who are elected.