Hollydale Open Space

Hollydale House was the residence of the Kirkpatrick family for many years until the late C19th. James Kirkpatrick (1701-1770) was the first owner, who eventually retired here in 1750. His son, also James (1729-1818), became a captain in the East India Company and was the occupier of Hollydale in 1779. He rose to become a Colonel and was nicknamed 'the Handsome Colonel of Madras'. The house, which is shown on Hasted’s map of 1779, may have been the work of either of these. It was extended considerably both to east and west, and the small parkland and lakes were created, together with the lodge and entrance drive with its avenue of lime trees, some of which still remain. These works were carried out by the 'Handsome Colonel' or by his son George (b.1763). Hollydale was described by John Dunkin in his 'Outlines and History of the Antiquities of Bromley' (1815) as a very elegant mansion commanding an extensive view of the surrounding countryside. A History of Kent of 1830 (in Bromley Library) states: ‘Hollydale in the parish of Keston, the seat of the Kirkpatrick family, is situated in a small park about 3 miles SE from Bromley. This is an ancient structure, but was greatly improved by Col. James Kirkpatrick father of the late George Kirkpatrick, Esq. The interior is elegantly embellished with paintings and some fine sculpture in marble. The distance from London is about 13 miles.'

The Kirkpatrick family had strong connections with India; George's brother, James Achilles Kirkpatrick (b.1764), was, like their half-brother William, the British Resident at the Court of Hyderabad. His marriage to Khair un Nissa, a daughter of a wealthy Indian aristocrat, is recounted by William Dalrymple in 'The White Moguls'. There are several memorials to the family in Keston Church (q.v.).

The house and estate occupied a good position, with spring fed water, extensive views to the north, access to London and the coast, and it was near other large properties such as Holwood, Hayes Courte, Hayes Place, Oakley House and The Rookery. The house had a sizeable stable block that contained three coach houses in the centre surmounted by a clock and bell turret, stabling to the left, and accommodation above. This remains today as a private house at 32/32A Croydon Road. To the east of this lay a walled kitchen garden with a spring running through it. The wall, a fine, well-built structure of red brick, survives in part, varying in height from 10 to 12 feet, and appears older than the stable.

The 1st edition Ordnance Survey 1882 shows the mansion approached via a long drive from the Hastings Road to the north. The drive meanders around a small landscape park, which was embellished with two summer houses, an ornamental lake, as well as belts and clumps of trees. An icehouse was indicated to the east of the lake and the courtyard to the north of the house had a fountain. The estate appears to have changed little until 1933, when the local council bought the land and the mansion, which was demolished, and built Beverley Road in 1934/5. Lakeside Drive was built in 1936 and the southern edge of the property was divided into building lots.

By 1936, the northern and eastern parkland had been extensively developed although the lake and some woodland around it survived, marked on the OS map of that date as 'Recreation Ground'. By the second half of the C20th the site of the mansion, the remaining parkland and The Cedars, an adjoining property formerly known as Keston Lodge, had been built over.

Hollydale Recreation Ground is approached from the south along a tarmac path from the Lakeside Drive entrance. There is a second entrance from Kemble Drive to the north, with two further entrances leading to the tarmac path: one from Beverley Road to the north, and one from Lakeside Drive to the east towards the north end of that road. This leads down a sloping path through an area of ornamental trees and shrubs to the southern end of a small lake. The lake is surrounded by trees and shrubs and has a small oval island in the centre. The water spills over a concrete weir to a second smaller lake. The tarmac path, with occasional seats, follows the edge of the upper lake and leads to the recreation ground at the northern end of the site. A small play area is situated to the south of the recreation ground and the rest is given over to mown grass. The recreation area slopes to the west. What appears to be relict terracing running north/south divides the grassed area into two levels. This may be an old field boundary as shown of the 1st edition OS 1882. A gazebo formerly in Crystal Palace Park was located here in 2003.

The park is now managed by idverde UK, which in June 2015 was contracted by Bromley Council for the management of the borough's parks, green spaces and countryside service, a relationship that was extended in April 2019 for a further 16 years.