Companies House registration No Registered address: 124 Court Road, Orpington, Kent BR6 0PZ Tel:

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1 Companies House registration No Registered address: 124 Court Road, Orpington, Kent BR6 0PZ Tel: Website:

The core of the house dates back to the 13th century when it was owned by the Church.

In 1865, the site was sold to Dr Herbert Broom who was very enthusiastic about the history of The Priory.

In 1919 The Priory became the home of Cecil Hughes and his wife, who counted amongst their friends Gertrude Jekyll, Geoffrey Jellicoe and Jock

2 The core of the house dates back to the 13th century when it was owned by the Church. At the Dissolution of the Monasteries it became the property of the Crown, and was leased to private tenants for many years. In 1865, the site was sold to Dr Herbert Broom who was very enthusiastic about the history of The Priory. It is thought that he was responsible for laying out the garden in the antique style. In 1919 The Priory became the home of Cecil Hughes and his wife, who counted amongst their friends Gertrude Jekyll, Geoffrey Jellicoe and Jock Shepherd. Orpington District Council purchased the building in 1947 and the grounds in In 1959 the south wing of The Priory was demolished and a new public library constructed on the site. After an extensive programme of improvements the grounds were opened as a public park in Orpington Museum opened in The Priory in 1965.

Sally Pennington Chairperson I have been a Finance Manager, ran my own catering company but eventually decided to re-train and became a primary school teacher.

As someone who was born locally and lived almost all my life in this area, I grew up with the Priory and have always loved the building and the gardens.

The house has a fascinating and long history and its preservation will be of interest to future generations.

Bromley and Orpington area. I live in the Orpington area and trained as an architect.

3 Sally Pennington Chairperson I have been a Finance Manager, ran my own catering company but eventually decided to re-train and became a primary school teacher. I have also had experience of organizing many fundraising events, large and small, over the years. As someone who was born locally and lived almost all my life in this area, I grew up with the Priory and have always loved the building and the gardens. It is a very important building with a lot of history and I want to see it remain accessible to the people of Orpington and beyond. The house has a fascinating and long history and its preservation will be of interest to future generations. David McBride Nicola Blake Nicola Deputy Secretary Burtow Goff Chairperson Treasurer I am Assistant Headteacher at a primary school so I am able to advise on the education elements of the Priory plans. As a former Bromley councillor I have a good knowledge of how the Council I am currently a Trustee at Bromley Citizens Advice and a local magistrate, so have strong community links to the Bromley and Orpington area. I live in the Orpington area and trained as an architect. I have specific training in the use of traditional materials in the restoration and maintenance of old structures gained during my time working with British Waterways Without realising it we all [the community] benefit from our cultural heritage in our everyday lives. We should not have to travel miles to touch our cultural heritage. I live in Orpington with my family and have work at the Abbey Centre in Westminster for almost 10 years and am now the charity s CEO. Community spaces such as The Priory offer services which can support community cohesion with an artistic & historical edge. In time the Hub will generate enough income to maintain the historical building and keep this beautiful place open to the public; a great community space valued by all.

Eric Johnstone Rebecca Birs Luke Beattie As a Director within a financial institution I had to motivate and support a sales team as well as generate new business opportunities by negotiating with

There is an opportunity to provide all age visitors with a diverse range of options and to encourage them back in the future.

I feel I can offer considerable skills and experience as I have Worked in the charitable and not-for-profit sectors for over nine years as an employee, managing director and trustee, gaining skills,

I live in Orpington and believe that the Priory could have a much-enhanced position among the area's performing arts venues.

4 Eric Johnstone Rebecca Birs Luke Beattie As a Director within a financial institution I had to motivate and support a sales team as well as generate new business opportunities by negotiating with other companies at board level. I developed very good negotiating skills. I have very strong opinions regarding the future The Priory. The local community deserves to have access as in the past. There is an opportunity to provide all age visitors with a diverse range of options and to encourage them back in the future. I have lived the greater part of my life in the local area and think the Priory is a beautiful and historic part of Orpington that must be preserved. I feel I can offer considerable skills and experience as I have Worked in the charitable and not-for-profit sectors for over nine years as an employee, managing director and trustee, gaining skills, knowledge and understanding off the challenges involved in projects such as this. I live in Orpington and believe that the Priory could have a much-enhanced position among the area's performing arts venues. I would like to see The Priory host a variety of performance forms providing community strengthening within the local population I hold a PhD in various theatrical areas. I will help develop educational and entertaining performances relevant to the Priory's history and also introduce dramatic arts classes. Lee Regan Sharon Baldwin I have worked within the museums and galleries sector for over ten years developing knowledge of what is required to operate a successful arts centre. As Project Manager I have designed and produced exhibitions and dealt with the challenges and opportunities of different spaces. I have lived in the area for a little over a year and appreciate the Priory s huge potential which needs to be capitalised upon making it a valuable community resource. I have worked in Town Centre Management and business development for the past twelve years. Most recently I have worked with the Association of Town Centre Managers as a special advisor to the recently developed Town Teams. Currently, I am Executive Director for Orpington 1 st which is responsible for the regeneration of the town centre. This includes The Priory.

5 BUILDINGS & INFRASTRUCTURE Nicola Blake John Flowers BUSINESS & FINANCE Nicky Burstow Goff Sharon Baldwin COMMUNICATIONS & IT Graham Guy Richard Gibbons PUBLIC RELATIONS Eric Johnstone EVENTS STRATEGY Luke Beattie, Lee Regan David McBride HOSPITALITY Rebecca Birs Sally Pennington LEGAL & COMPLIANCE Sally Pennington David Morrison These groups are working towards the delivery of a strong business plan to the Bromley Borough Council which will encourage them to grant OPCH a favourable lease enabling a new and exciting hub to be developed for the benefit of Orpington and its surrounding areas.

6 Pledges of Capital Investment Pledges of Hire Associates Funding & Fundraising Grants for Phased Major work Repairs & Maintenance Decorating Furnishing The Orpington Priory will work in partnership with JTL Construction and the Bromley College we will provide work experience for their students, giving OPCH free labour. There will also be the opportunities for students to work on developing and implementing small projects. A partnership is also planned with Chelsfield Players.

7 Performance/Theatre Carol Concerts Theatre & shows Comedy Nights Pantomimes Youth & schools Educational shows Education Priory History tour Heritage Trail Schools' Visits Children Holiday fun Santa's Grotto Storytelling Themed parties Magic Shows Punch & Judy Seniors & Adults Heritage Trail Arts and crafts Reminiscing Afternoon club Sharing skills and knowledge Outside Heritage Trail Conservation Tour Food & Entertainment Christmas Banquets Tea Dances Wedding Receptions Medieval Banquets Murder Mystery Suppers Priory Pantry Tea Rooms Valentine's Night Mother's Day Father's Day Easter Bonfire Night Halloween Lunch club Priory shop & Information Centre locally produced items Souvenirs & fancy goods Local Books Places to visit Maps & Trails Exhibitions & Displays Art exhibitions and sales Local places & history Keston Tombs History of the Priory Photographic exhibitions Roman Bath house ODAS exhibitions and talks Crofton Roman Villa Crystal Palace Scadbury Park Local Industry Brewing Paper Mills Farming (William Cook) Buff Orpington chickens Morphy Richards

8 Famous people with local links Comedians Josie Long Kevin Bishop Jeremy Beadle Sports personalities Steve Bennett Barry Knight Ben Greenhalgh Albert Hillman Jimmy Cable Annabel Croft W.G. Grace Cray Valley Wanderers Writers Enid Blyton Richmal Crompton Hanif Kureishi Charles Langbridge Morgan Edith Nesbit David Nobbs H. G. Wells Ted Willis Actors Florence Farr Ruthie Henshall Langley Kirkwood Kim Medcalf Deena Payne Motoring Orpington car Malcolm Campbell Science, Innovation & Invention William Willett (promoted BST) Charles Darwin William Hyde Wollaston (chemist) Sir John Lubbock Thomas Crapper Links to Down House, Charles Darwin & friend John Lubbock. Musicians David Bowie Pamela Harrison (composer) Billy Idol Emma Johnson (clarinettist) Nic Jones (folk singer) Pixie Lott Ralph McTell Fatboy Slim Artists March Family of artists, sculptors and statue makers, lived at 'Goddendene' in Locksbottom Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins sculptor of Crystal Palace dinosaurs Peggie Foy (potter) Heather Firbank Politicians Sir John Lubbock Eric Lubbock, Lord Avebury William Pitt the Elder William Pitt the Younger World Wars l & ll Ivy Millichamp Canadian Corner All Saints Cemetery Canadian Hospital Biggin Hill Chapel, Chislehurst Caves Links to Biggin Hill Air Show Crystal Palace Joseph Paxton The station Queen Victoria's visit/ Other famous visitors/ The fire Crystal Palace Garden Parties Crystal Palace transmitter. Crystal Palace Museum

9 Community Hire Adult classes Hobby/Interest group meetings Book club Writing groups Poetry readings Residents Associations Wedding receptions Baby naming ceremonies Family parties Special celebrations Hands-on family workshops Men in sheds/restorers & Recyclers The Garden Shed Music Shack Business Hire Location for TV, Film, photography Office Rental Corporate meetings Client presentations Corporate away-days Team-building Training Interviews Awards ceremonies and presentations Commercial Sales Craft Fairs Wedding Fairs Christmas Fairs Antiques Fairs Farmers Market

10 13.Delft Room Office 10.Business/Art s Area First Floor Landing 14.Hughes Room 15.Staff room 12. Spencer Room 11. Business/ Arts Orpington Gallery 9. Board Room 1.Avebury Hall Ground Floor Crypt 3.Orpington Hall 2. Hart Hall 7.Harlow Room 5.Great Hall 6.Mortimer Room 4.Priory Pantry Basements Tank Boiler 16.Community Area

11 Could be used as a tea & ice cream kiosk in summer

12 Permanent exhibition Permanent exhibition A large space for schools visits Along with other areas on the Orpington Gallery, this space may be cleared and used for offices and/or studios to let

The Orpington Hall will house a reception desk and a licensed bar.

Priory or the space rented to outside organisations for their own sales & exhibitions.

With a flexible partition separating the Hart Hall from the Orpington Hall, this space could become a

The Avebury Hall is the largest space in the Orpington Priory buildings over 300 square metres.

13 The Orpington Hall will house a reception desk and a licensed bar. Together, these two areas will afford space to house temporary exhibitions staged by the Orpington Priory or the space rented to outside organisations for their own sales & exhibitions. Imagine an evening reception/exhibition with musicians playing in the gallery. With a flexible partition separating the Hart Hall from the Orpington Hall, this space could become a dance studio. The Avebury Hall is the largest space in the Orpington Priory buildings over 300 square metres. It will be ideal as [among other ideas] a performance and practice space, a hall for business conferences, a banqueting hall. a wedding reception venue Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

A New Year has begun. I trust you and your families have had a great festive break and are looking forward to 2015 as much as we all are.

A New Year has begun. I trust you and your families have had a great festive break and are looking forward to 2015 as much as we all are. Newsletter January 2015 Introduction Hello All, You are receiving this newsletter because you have shown an interest or exchanged correspondence with the Orpington History Organisation in the past. If