Hundred of Bromley and Beckenham facts for kids
| Bromley and Beckenham | |
Map published in 1797 showing the hundred of Bromley and Beckenham |
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| Geography | |
| Status | obsolete |
| History | |
| Created | in antiquity |
| Abolished | 1884 - 1965 |
Quick facts for kids Politics |
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|---|---|
| Governance | hundred |
| Subdivisions | |
| Type | Parishes |
| Units | Bromley, Beckenham |
Imagine a long, long time ago, before big cities like London grew so much. In England, there were special areas called 'hundreds.' One of these was called Bromley and Beckenham. It was located in the northwest part of a county called Kent.
This 'hundred' was made up of two older areas, or 'parishes,' named Bromley and Beckenham. Today, the land where Bromley and Beckenham once was is now part of the huge city of London. It mostly covers the northern part of what we now call the London Borough of Bromley.
Contents
What Was a Hundred?
What exactly was a 'hundred'? Hundreds were old ways of dividing up land in England. They were used for many hundreds of years, going all the way back to Anglo-Saxon times! Think of them like very early local government areas.
Each hundred had its own court where local people could solve problems and deal with minor disagreements. They were also used for collecting taxes and organizing groups of people for things like military service. The name 'hundred' might have come from the idea of a hundred families, or perhaps a hundred hides of land (a 'hide' was an old way to measure land).
The History of Bromley and Beckenham
The Bromley and Beckenham hundred existed for a very long time. It started in ancient times, meaning we don't know the exact year it began, but it was certainly in place many centuries ago. For a long time, it was an important way to organize the land and people in this part of Kent.
Changes Over Time
As England grew and changed, so did its system of local government. The old 'hundreds' slowly became less important. New ways of organizing towns and cities were created.
The Bromley and Beckenham hundred officially ended between 1884 and 1965. This was a period when many changes happened in how local areas were managed. Eventually, the land that made up this hundred became completely absorbed by the growing city of London.
Bromley and Beckenham Today
Today, you won't find a place officially called the 'Hundred of Bromley and Beckenham.' Instead, the area is a busy and important part of the London Borough of Bromley. This modern borough is a much larger area, but it includes the historic lands of Bromley and Beckenham.
So, while the name 'hundred' might be gone, the places themselves, Bromley and Beckenham, are still very much alive and are home to many people in London!
