High Broom Wood
High Broom Wood is one of Bromley’s undiscovered treasures. It covers an area of about 7.2 hectares (15.8 acres) that is a natural river corridor for the river Beck. This small river gives the Wood its special charm, waterside trees and plant life form the heavily wooded appearance of the Wood.
The history of High Broom Wood is surprisingly unknown for such an urban location. It is known that it was originally part of the Monk’s Orchard Estate and parts may have been the garden of Oak Lodge house but the building of Bethlem Hospital in 1928, which opened in 1934, and the construction of Monks Orchard Road in 1931 divided High Broom Wood from the rest of Bethlem Hospital site. The other boundary of High Broom Wood is now formed by St. David’s Close and Chamberlain Crescent, these were built on farm land in the 1950s and 1960s.
During the Second World War, the Wood was used as a dump for material from the adjacent bomb damaged houses. Some of this material can still be seen on the pathways and has been uncovered during our conservation work.
The Friends group was started in 2007 and meets every second Saturday morning in the month to undertake conservation work in the Wood.
For further information regarding our work please visit our Facebook page at: Friends of Highbroom Wood
Alternatively please complete the form below with your name, email address and comment and we will be in touch in due course.
The history of High Broom Wood is surprisingly unknown for such an urban location. It is known that it was originally part of the Monk’s Orchard Estate and parts may have been the garden of Oak Lodge house but the building of Bethlem Hospital in 1928, which opened in 1934, and the construction of Monks Orchard Road in 1931 divided High Broom Wood from the rest of Bethlem Hospital site. The other boundary of High Broom Wood is now formed by St. David’s Close and Chamberlain Crescent, these were built on farm land in the 1950s and 1960s.
During the Second World War, the Wood was used as a dump for material from the adjacent bomb damaged houses. Some of this material can still be seen on the pathways and has been uncovered during our conservation work.
The Friends group was started in 2007 and meets every second Saturday morning in the month to undertake conservation work in the Wood.
For further information regarding our work please visit our Facebook page at: Friends of Highbroom Wood
Alternatively please complete the form below with your name, email address and comment and we will be in touch in due course.