How Pubs Around Chelsfield Village have Changed from 1982, Five Bells, Bo-peep, Rock and Fountain

How Chelsfield Village, Kent, Pubs have changed, 1982 to 2023.
In the 1980s I was very concerned about the number of old buildings disappearing so I photographed parts of Orpington, Kent and London to create a record. I mainly focused on listed and locally listed buildings as well as anything else that was interesting or anything that looked like it was about to be demolished.
Well, pubs were interesting and in these cases old, so I took photos in the early 1980s . The pubs were the Five Bells in the centre of Chelsfield Village, the Bo-peep near Hewitts farm and the Rock and Fountain in Well Hill.
Well I have come back in 2023 to see what has happened.
Incredibly given the loss of so many pubs recently, 2 of the 3 are still trading.
I will cover location, some history and context and have a good look at the 1980s photos.
Please stay to the end to for all the detail.
I hope you enjoy, please like and subscribe.
Thank you for watching Eclectic Experience, change seen through images.
Chelsfield is located here, in Kent, on the edge of the London Borough of Bromley. It is just off the A224, the Orpington bypass and near the M25.
I have done another 2 videos on Chelsfield, one on Chelsfield Village and another on Chelsfield Park Hotel, now a hospital, links at end.
Looking at Historic England's map, The Five Bells is here, the Rock and Fountain was here, both Grade II listed buildings and the Bo-peep is here, a locally listed building.
Back in the 1980s I went to all these pubs, they were seen as country pubs, well they were country pubs, even though they were so close to London and from what I remember sold the same beer, Courage as the other nearby pubs in the more built up areas.
Sources
Historic England
London Borough of Bromley Website
National Library of Scotland - maps
Five Bells Pub website
Bo-peep Pub website

[@rontanser9369]

Thank you yes I did enjoy that. Lovely to see the little old village and pubs with all your information as well. Made it fascinating

[@eclecticexperience1]

Thank you, yes it really is a lovely area

[@stephenrichards5386]

I remember the 5 from the 1950s

[@hirsch4155]

So is the village in Kent or in Bromley? If it’s at the edge but still in Bromley it wouldn’t be in Kent. But you say it’s in Kent.

[@brigidsingleton1596]

I used to work at (what in the 1970's was called) Chelsfield Riding School, situated on Church Road, just up the hill from the village of Pratt's Bottom, in Kent. The next village along, was / is Chelsfield. Both villages were classed (then, at least), as being in Kent. ...even Farnborough, and Down were classed as being in Kent, and all of these were / are outside Bromley (which used to be known as Bromley, Kent, but is apparently now on the outskirts of Greater London. (...as is, I suppose, Shortlands ?!) 🤔🐴🐎🐴❤️🖖

[@hirsch4155]

@@brigidsingleton1596 haha I love that detailed answer :)

[@brigidsingleton1596]

@@hirsch4155
I thank you ... The reason is:
I was _never_ _ever_ any good at précis !
(My school English teacher would _forever_ thus complain...
And, so, _whenever_ asked...
I'd repeat - in length - again) !! 😊🐴❤️🖖

[@stephenleader8065]

Kent as a county goes right up to the Thames so theoretically a lot of London boroughs are also in Kent

[@nuttyboy7164]

Good video but geographically wrong, this is not in Kent, it's south east London. And is in the london borough of bromley although you suggest it is not. You should check before you post.

[@Barnaby_bo]

So it's been open since 1668 and it was still open in 1982. No big deal. Go back in 2023 and AMAZINGLY it's still open. Hahaha