Broom Hill, London facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Broom Hill
Cottages, Broom Hill
Broom Hill
London borough	Bromley
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	ORPINGTON
Postcode district	BR6
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
London Assembly	Bexley and Bromley
List of places UK England London 51°22′51″N 0°05′53″E / 51.380878°N 0.098109°E / 51.380878; 0.098109

Broom Hill, also spelled Broomhill, is a neighborhood in Orpington. It is located in southeast London, England. This area is part of the London Borough of Bromley in Greater London.

Before 1965, Broom Hill was part of the historic county of Kent. It is situated near other areas like Poverest and Petts Wood. You can find it west of Orpington High Street.

History of Broom Hill

Broom Hill gets its name from a special plant. This plant, called broom, was used to make brooms. People also used to make bonnets here. So, it was known for these two small industries.

For a long time, Broom Hill was a quiet, rural place. In 1819, a chapel called Zion Chapel was built on Devonshire Road. Later, this building became cottages. These cottages were then taken down in 1935.

In the early 1900s, new homes started to appear. These houses were built in the southern part of Broom Hill. A golf course was also created. This was for people who traveled to work by train from Orpington railway station.

More and more houses were built over time. The golf course eventually disappeared under new buildings. Broom Hill then lost its quiet, country feel. It became part of Orpington and the neighborhoods around it.

Today, Broom Hill is a western part of Orpington. It centers around Broom Hill Common. This common is a protected green space. It is safe under a law from 1965. The area has one pub called The Cricketers. There are also a few shops on Fordwich Close. More shops can be found along Chislehurst Road.

Famous People from Broom Hill

Malcolm Campbell: Speed King

• Malcolm Campbell (1885-1948) was a British racing driver. He was famous for setting world speed records. He broke records on both land and water. This happened in the 1920s and 1930s. In the 1910s, he practiced flying in Broom Hill.

Gallery

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  Broom Hill Common

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  Shops on Fordwich Close

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  The Cricketers pub

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  Broom Hill Common from Broomhill Road

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  Shops on Chislehurst Road

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  Typical suburban housing of the area