Orpington, Kent

Description
Orpington, a village and a parish in Kent. The village has a station on the S.E.R., 13 miles from London, 4 SE of Bromley, and a post, money order, and telegraph office. The parish contains also the hamlet of Crofton, and comprises 3517 acres; population, 4099. There is a parish council consisting of fifteen members. The manor of Great Orpington belongs to the Dyke family, and that of Little Orpington to the Stapleton family. The Priory, a residence in the neighbourhood, is a very ancient mansion in the Tudor style, parts of the building dating back as far as 1393. Hops and all kinds of fruit are plentifully grown. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Canterbury; net value, £300 with residence. Patron, the Archbishop of Canterbury. The church is mainly Early English, includes Norman portions, and has a low embattled tower. There is a Baptist chapel. St Paul's is a small chapel of ease situated at Crofton, and there is a large new church (St Andrew's) near St Mary 'Cray. Queen Elizabeth was entertained at Bark Hart in 1573 by Sir P. Hart.