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Friends of Havelock Rec

A Selection of other Local History in the Neighbourhood

Posted on September 4, 2020 by Kerry Hood

 

The Crooked Billet V2 and Bomb-Alley

Another notable event in WW2 was the destruction of the Crooked Billet pub on Southborough Lane, half a mile to the north east, by a V2 rocket on 19th November 1944.  Locals say that they were initially told it was a gas explosion, so they wouldn’t panic at the inexplicable damage from the unknown new weapon.   It was the largest single incident for casualties in the old Borough of Bromley during the Second World War: 27 people were killed and dozens more were injured, many very seriously. The Crooked Billet was rebuilt in 1957 and is now a Harvester restaurant.

The British counter-intelligence had fed the Germans the mis-information that their V1 bombs were landing ten miles too far north, and the consequent adjustments meant that those that were not shot down in “bomb-alley” landed in this part of Kent. Just half a mile north, this side of the Crooked Billet, in what is now Jubilee Country Park, was the Thornet Wood Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Site, one of a defensive ring of gun sites encircling London during the Second World War. **

 

At this time, there was a ‘wall’ built on Valeswood Road, to keep the inhabitants of The London Corporation’s estate in Downham out of Bromley (or to deter them from taking a short cut – thanks to Downham Estate Having Your Own Patch for the pic). Bromley was part of Kent until the boundary changes of 1965, so the houses in the area still have ‘kent’ in their addresses. At this time Orpington residents were given a vote as to whether they wanted to join the new borough or not.

 

The Crooked Billet V2, Bomb-Alley and Bromley Wall

Another notable event in WW2 was the destruction of the Crooked Billet pub on Southborough Lane, half a mile to the north east, by a V2 rocket on 19th November 1944.  Locals say that they were initially told it was a gas explosion, so they wouldn’t panic at the inexplicable damage from the unknown new weapon.   It was the largest single incident for casualties in the old Borough of Bromley during the Second World War: 27 people were killed and dozens more were injured, many very seriously. The Crooked Billet was rebuilt in 1957 and is now a Harvester restaurant.

The British counter-intelligence had fed the Germans the mis-information that their V1 bombs were landing ten miles too far north, and the consequent adjustments meant that those that were not shot down in “bomb-alley” landed in this part of Kent. Just half a mile north, this side of the Crooked Billet, in what is now Jubilee Country Park, was the Thornet Wood Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Site, one of a defensive ring of gun sites encircling London during the Second World War. **

Though the Gas Board owned the pit (to put the leftover cinders from making town gas in), much of the rubble from all the building damaged in the bombing was placed in the pit, along with household rubbish.

At this time, there was a ‘wall’ built on Valeswood Road, to keep the inhabitants of The London Corporation’s estate in Downham out of Bromley (or to deter them from taking a short cut – thanks to Downham Estate Having Your Own Patch for the pic). Bromley was part of Kent until the boundary changes of 1965, so the houses in the area still have ‘kent’ in their addresses. At this time Orpington residents were given a vote as to whether they wanted to join the new borough or not.

 

 

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collapsed house with airplane propeller sticking out

Neighbouring Local History – Heinkel bomber shot down in Johnson Rd

On November 9th, 1940, a German Heinkel bomber was shot down by anti-aircraft fire, and when crashed it on Johnson Road, demolishing two houses. A neighbour described it as "It sounded like a tornado; he shut the door and threw himself down." and the local paper reported "Mrs Button was at the kitchen door and her husband pulled her to safety as their house collapsed.  They both crawled out unhurt.  Both are over 70.  Mr Button, and old soldier, went back and turned off the gas at the mains".
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WW2 artillery men around large gun

Neighbouring Local History – Jubilee Country Park’s Not-so-quiet WW2 role

Just half a mile north, this side of the Crooked Billet, in what is now Jubilee Country Park, was the Thornet Wood Heavy Anti-Aircraft Gun Site, one of a defensive ring of gun sites encircling London during the Second World War.
see more...

Neighbouring Local History – Keeping Riff-Raff out… Bromley’s own Class Wall

Bromley's own Class Wall - built iIn 1926, across Valeswood Road/Alexandra Crescent (a private road) , to keep the inhabitants of The London Corporation’s estate in Downham out of Bromley.
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A pile of rafters on top of a pile of debris

Neighbouring Local History – The Crooked Billet V2 and Bomb-Alley

Another notable event in WW2 was the destruction of the Crooked Billet pub on Southborough Lane, half a mile to the north east, by a V2 rocket on 19th November 1944.  Locals say that they were initially told it was a gas explosion, so they wouldn’t panic at the inexplicable damage from the unknown new weapon. The British counter-intelligence had fed the Germans the mis-information that their V1 bombs were landing ten miles too far north, and the consequent adjustments meant that those that were not shot down in “bomb-alley” landed in this part of Kent
see more...

WW2 – bombs in Havelock Road

In September 1940 and aerial mine dropped on number 29, when a man and his 14-year-old daughter were killed.  This created a large crater, as well as demolishing the chicken sheds at the back of No. 21.  There is a block of flats on the site now.   Aerial mines detonated above the ground, in order […]
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Posted in Local History | Tagged neighbouring-local-history

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Local History, Photos & Reminisces

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Early morning landscape by Jon Emmanuel
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snowmen and snow forts in 2009
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