Bradbourne Hall

A brief history of Bradbourne Hall and the Estate.

William Bosvill inherited Bradbourne in 1682, and built this magnificent Hall, which was completed in 1728. Sadly, due to the death of his wife soon after completion, William Bosvill refused to enter his new house. On his death the house passed to his son Henry.

Henry Bosville added a large room to the mansion and laid out the series of lakes, utilising the tributary of the Darenth which formerly served the mill. Henry Bosville left the estate to Thomas Lane who died in 1805, and it then passed on to his 12 year old son, Henry Thomas.

Bradbourne was sold to Henry Hughes in 1840, who restored the house and built a summerhouse known as Mount Harry, set on the brow of the hill overlooking the lakes and mansion. Henry Hughes died in 1865 leaving Bradbourne to his nephew, Admiral Hughes D’Aeth, who had little interest in the estate. This, and the coming of the railway in 1858, effectively split the Bradbourne lands into 3 portions.

The land to the north which included the mansion, lakes and chapel, was sold to coal mine owner Francis Crawshay in 1870, who built the wooden belfry at the top of the chapel. Being an authority on Druidical law he erected many stone monoliths in lines and circles throughout the grounds, many of which still stand.

Multon Lambarde obtained the mansion and remainder of the estate from Crawshay’s son in 1896, and it was passed onto his son, Major William Gore Lambarde, who lived in the mansion until May 1927 when it was put up for auction.

Proceeding along Robyns Way from the A25, this magnificent house stood just past the Betenson Avenue cross-roads on the right-hand side, and was demolished some time between 1933 and 1940. Three sets of semi-detached houses were erected roughly where it stood.

The information above is a very brief overview of the history of the estate and taken from a much more detailed account, "The History of Bradbourne Park". This is available from the Residents' Association, for a nominal sum.

If you are interested please contact one of the Committee Members.

Julie Beach

Rear view of Bradbourne Hall

Visit Roger Sheldon's Web Site to read in more detail about Bradbourne Hall, and also see his superb collection of photographs

To read about the Bell of Bradbourne Hall, click here

A brief history of Bradbourne Hall and the Estate.

William Bosvill inherited Bradbourne in 1682, and built this magnificent Hall, which was completed in 1728. Sadly, due to the death of his wife soon after completion, William Bosvill refused to enter his new house. On his death the house passed to his son Henry.

Henry Bosville added a large room to the mansion and laid out the series of lakes, utilising the tributary of the Darenth which formerly served the mill. Henry Bosville left the estate to Thomas Lane who died in 1805, and it then passed on to his 12 year old son, Henry Thomas.

Multon Lambarde obtained the mansion and remainder of the estate from Crawshay’s son in 1896, and it was passed onto his son, Major William Gore Lambarde, who lived in the mansion until May 1927 when it was put up for auction.

Proceeding along Robyns Way from the A25, this magnificent house stood just past the Betenson Avenue cross-roads on the right-hand side, and was demolished some time between 1933 and 1940. Three sets of semi-detached houses were erected roughly where it stood.

The information above is a very brief overview of the history of the estate and taken from a much more detailed account, "The History of Bradbourne Park". This is available from the Residents' Association, for a nominal sum.

If you are interested please contact one of the Committee Members.

Julie Beach

Visit Roger Sheldon's Web Site to read in more detail about Bradbourne Hall, and also see his superb collection of photographs

To read about the Bell of Bradbourne Hall, click here

Copyright © 2009 Bradbourne Park Residents' Association. All rights reserved.