Open House Festival 2024 will see an expanded Bromley showcase, with a former rockstar changing room, a theatre converted from a stable, and a history tour of Petts Wood joining the venue list.
Pink Floyd, Bob Marley and Lou Reed were all former visitors of one new venue, the Dorset Road allotment clubhouse, which was previously used as a changing room for the Crystal Palace Park Bowl before being relocated and recently refurbished. Bromley Little Theatre is another repurposed venue, with the building having begun its life as a Victorian bakery and stables.
Returning favourites include the medieval Scadbury Moated Manor, the much-loved Crystal Palace dinosaurs and the impressively restored Bromley Old Town Hall, with residents, families and architecture lovers encouraged to enjoy these free attractions and more throughout the festival, which runs from 14 to 22 September.
Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing said: “This exciting and expanded programme provides a great opportunity for residents and visitors to explore and find some of the hidden gems and architectural treasure that Bromley has on offer. I am proud to see our support for Open House Festival going from strength to strength each year, with thanks to our partners for their support across the borough.”
Councillor Nicholas Bennett JP, Design and Heritage Champion added: “Preserving history is so important to us in Bromley, with our buildings ranging from Tudor cottages to more modern art deco design. It is thanks to our decisions to preserve important buildings and support restoration where possible that we still have this wide range of venues to enjoy now as part of these festivities.”
As borough partners, the council has worked with local groups to build a programme of 19 eye catching attractions across every corner of the borough. Orpington has been chosen as Bromley’s Open House Neighbourhood for 2024. Residents are able to enjoy highlights such as Crofton Roman Villa in Orpington and may wish to see the new Orpington 1st mural while nearby.
A guided walk in Petts Wood offers an overview of the history of the area, with much dating back to Basil Scruby in the 1920s and 1930s. Various other tours will also be on offer across the borough, including at the RAF Biggin Hill Memorial Museum and to explore the Bromley Historic Collections in Bromley Central Library.
The Crofton Roman Villa is returning to the festival as the council continues to explore the restoration of this site. This follows the repairs and restoration to protect Scadbury Moated Manor in recent years, to preserve its Tudor origins for residents to enjoy for years to come.
Originally introduced as a weekend long opportunity for visitors to enjoy places of architectural interest not usually open to the public, Open House has now expanded to a week-long celebration of architecture and open spaces across London. Each day, participating venues throw open their doors and welcome everyone free of charge to curious visitors keen to explore and appreciate places of interest often hidden from the public.
A complete list of all the venues and events can be viewed on the Open House website. To view all the venues in the borough, select ‘Bromley’ from the ‘all areas’ filter at the top of that page.
Scadbury Moated Manor also features as part of Heritage Open Days, which runs from 6 to 15 September. Find out more about the three Bromley events taking part online.
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For media enquiries contact James George, Public Affairs, 0208 313 4565 james.george@bromley.gov.uk