A POTTED HISTORY
Ravensbourne was probably built in 1862 and its first owner was Mrs Joanna Maria Bonham Carter (1792-1884).
Mrs Bonham Carter was the daughter of Mr William Smith who was an MP for Norwich and also the wife of Mr John Bonham Carter who from 1816-1838 was the MP for Portsmouth.
In the 1862 edition of Strongs Directory of Bromley parts of its description of Keston states “Keston House is the seat of Mrs Bonham Carter” and there is no listing of any residence named Ravensbourne.
Mrs Bonham Carter was the daughter of Mr William Smith who was an MP for Norwich and also the wife of Mr John Bonham Carter who from 1816-1838 was the MP for Portsmouth.
In the 1862 edition of Strongs Directory of Bromley parts of its description of Keston states “Keston House is the seat of Mrs Bonham Carter” and there is no listing of any residence named Ravensbourne.
Three important facts are listed in 1863 to suggest this was the first year of Ravensbourne:
(a) This year’s edition of Strongs lists Mrs Bonham Carter living at Ravensbourne.
(b) The 1 February edition of the Bromley Record in this year has an advert placed in it for “Misses Chapman’s Establishment for Young Ladies” giving the address as Keston House – until then the home of Mrs Bonham Carter.
(c) During this year an Ordnance Survey map was drawn to plot the Parish Boundaries of the Bromley District in accordance with the new Highways Act, on it is the first official record of a large house named Ravensbourne.
Ravensbourne continues to be recorded as her residence until her death in 1884 when her funeral was noted in the Bromley Record as being “unusual” principally that she was carried in an elm clamshell within an oak coffin.
On her death the house was taken over by her third daughter – Miss Alice Bonham Carter (1828-1912).
Miss Bonham Carter only kept Ravensbourne for just over two years and the 1887 edition of Strongs Directory of Bromley finds Ravensbourne listed as the address of Mrs Percival Humbro.
(a) This year’s edition of Strongs lists Mrs Bonham Carter living at Ravensbourne.
(b) The 1 February edition of the Bromley Record in this year has an advert placed in it for “Misses Chapman’s Establishment for Young Ladies” giving the address as Keston House – until then the home of Mrs Bonham Carter.
(c) During this year an Ordnance Survey map was drawn to plot the Parish Boundaries of the Bromley District in accordance with the new Highways Act, on it is the first official record of a large house named Ravensbourne.
Ravensbourne continues to be recorded as her residence until her death in 1884 when her funeral was noted in the Bromley Record as being “unusual” principally that she was carried in an elm clamshell within an oak coffin.
On her death the house was taken over by her third daughter – Miss Alice Bonham Carter (1828-1912).
Miss Bonham Carter only kept Ravensbourne for just over two years and the 1887 edition of Strongs Directory of Bromley finds Ravensbourne listed as the address of Mrs Percival Humbro.
This continues for five years until 1893 when the name disappears from the directory. It re-appears in the following year’s directory listed as vacant and then promptly disappears again for the next two years.
In 1897 Ravensbourne enters the Directory of Bromley again as the address of a man who was to become one of the most important and powerful men in Kent. His name was Mr John Wheeler Bennet (1856-1926). During his life at Ravensbourne he was to become a JP and later be awarded CBE and hold such offices as Director of the Metropolitan Railway Co, Chairman of the Surplus Lands Committee, Director of the Metropolitan Railway Country Estates Ltd, a Chairman of the London Home and Foreign Exchange, Chairman of the Kent County War Fund, Benefactor of Bromley Hospital and twice High Sheriff of Kent. He even appeared in the 1911 Who’s Who Edition.
In 1897 Ravensbourne enters the Directory of Bromley again as the address of a man who was to become one of the most important and powerful men in Kent. His name was Mr John Wheeler Bennet (1856-1926). During his life at Ravensbourne he was to become a JP and later be awarded CBE and hold such offices as Director of the Metropolitan Railway Co, Chairman of the Surplus Lands Committee, Director of the Metropolitan Railway Country Estates Ltd, a Chairman of the London Home and Foreign Exchange, Chairman of the Kent County War Fund, Benefactor of Bromley Hospital and twice High Sheriff of Kent. He even appeared in the 1911 Who’s Who Edition.
When he died in 1926 an article appeared in the papers stating that “he left an estate with a gross value of £684,188,12s.5d with a net personalty of £672,078,13s8d. The article goes on to say that the duties on the property at this valuation will amount to nearly £200,000 and that in his Will he leaves to his wife his residence “Ravensbourne” together with his household effects, horses, carriages, motor cars, etc (Baxters Clippings).
Whilst there is no listing in 1927 (possibly whilst the Will was being executed) in 1928 it is shown as belonging to his wife Mrs Jn W Bennet and continues to do so until 1933.
1934 shows Ravensbourne now belonging to Mr Jeffrey Ellingham and continues to do so until 1940 when unfortunately copies of the Bromley Directory are not available until 1952.
However other records show that in 1947 Ravensbourne was bought by Tate & Lyle Ltd along with 35 acres of parkland and was to become their International Development Centre until being sold to Lawdons Ltd, Property Developers, in 1967 who had plans for turning the included grounds into housing.
Whilst there is no listing in 1927 (possibly whilst the Will was being executed) in 1928 it is shown as belonging to his wife Mrs Jn W Bennet and continues to do so until 1933.
1934 shows Ravensbourne now belonging to Mr Jeffrey Ellingham and continues to do so until 1940 when unfortunately copies of the Bromley Directory are not available until 1952.
However other records show that in 1947 Ravensbourne was bought by Tate & Lyle Ltd along with 35 acres of parkland and was to become their International Development Centre until being sold to Lawdons Ltd, Property Developers, in 1967 who had plans for turning the included grounds into housing.