Kelly's Directory of Bromley, Bickley, Chislehurst & Orpington 1935

Format: Digital Download (PDF) or CD-ROM Year: 1935 Language: English

Step back into the bustling suburbs of mid-1930s Kent with this exquisite reproduction of Kelly’s Directory. This invaluable resource bridges the gap left by the missing 1931 Census and the absent 1941 Census due to WWII. For family historians and local researchers, this directory serves as a vital census substitute, providing a snapshot of life in Bromley, Bickley, Chislehurst, and Orpington just a few years before the outbreak of the Second World War.

About this Directory

This directory consists of high-quality scanned images of the original pages. While the text is not embedded (meaning it is not instantly searchable by pressing CTRL+F), the alphabetical nature of the listings makes navigation incredibly simple. Furthermore, most modern PDF readers (such as Adobe Acrobat) perform OCR (Optical Character Recognition) on the fly, allowing you to search the text once the file is open.

Bridging the Census Gaps

The 1931 Census was destroyed by fire during the Second World War, and no census was taken in 1941. This 1935 directory is therefore an essential tool for tracing ancestors during this "blind spot." It allows you to pinpoint exactly where your relatives were living, their professions, and who their neighbours were during the interwar years—a time when these areas were rapidly expanding from leafy villages into significant London suburbs.

What's Inside?

Kelly’s Directories are renowned for their comprehensive detail. This volume is packed with information, divided into distinct sections:

• Topographical & Historical Information: A detailed history of each parish, including geology, local government, and amenities.
• Street Directory: An alphabetical list of streets in the area, showing the head of household occupying each house or shop. This is perfect for mapping out family clusters.
• Commercial Directory: A classified list of trades and professions. Find out who the local bakers, builders, and dressmakers were.
• Private Residents Directory: An alphabetical list of private residents (excluding tradesmen unless they also have a trade entry). This is incredibly useful for finding middle and upper-class ancestors who did not run businesses.
• Official Information: Lists of local councils, magistrates, clergy, and public officials.

Local History & Famous Faces (1935 Context)

The mid-1930s was a golden era for the Borough of Bromley. It was the year of King George V’s Silver Jubilee, and this directory captures the civic pride of the era.

• Famous Residents:
  • H.G. Wells: The legendary science fiction author (The War of the Worlds) was born in Bromley and maintained strong ties to the area. While he spent much of his later life elsewhere, his family’s legacy remains deeply embedded in the town's history.
  • The "Bromley Contingent" Era (Early Days): While the punk rock movement associated with the name (including Siouxsie Sioux and Billy Idol) wouldn't emerge until the 1970s, the area was already known for producing artistic and free-thinking individuals.
  • Napoleon III: The former French Emperor died in exile in Chislehurst in 1873. By 1935, the "Napoleon Museum" at Camden Place was a significant local landmark, reminding residents of the area's aristocratic European connections.
• Interesting Facts & Industry:
  • The Orpington Chicken: By 1935, Orpington was still famous in agricultural circles as the home of the Orpington breed of poultry, developed by William Cook in the late 19th century. The area retained a semi-rural charm despite its suburban growth.
  • Sport & Leisure: Bromley Football Club (The Ravens) was a central part of community life. The area was also home to the Chislehurst Commons and Crystal Palace (just over the border), which was a hub for motor racing and high society until the tragic fire of 1936.
  • Music & Arts: The proximity to London meant these towns housed many musicians and theatre folk working in the West End, seeking the quiet of the Kent green belt.

Map Disclaimer

Please note that due to the age and binding of the original source book, some fold-out maps or street plans may have been damaged, torn, or missing entirely. However, we have included a scan of the map section if it was present and intact in the original copy used for this digitization. If the map section is included in your download, it serves as a wonderful bonus tool for visualizing the walkability of the area in 1935.