IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Tubbenden Lane, ORPINGTON, BR6 9PW

Dalton Close is built on the site of the original "Tubbenden", for many years owned by the Maxwell family, as commemorated by The Maxwell (see Image), formerly the Maxwell Arms. One of the Maxwells, Elizabeth, in 1804 married Thomas Young, famed among many and varied things for his establishment of the wave theory of light, his work on the operation of the eye, his work on elasticity, and his pioneering work in relation to the translation of the Rosetta Stone. For most of the first half of the twentieth century, Tubbenden was the site of Cook's Poultry Farm, run by William Henry Cook. W H Cook was the son of William Cook, the breeder of the Buff Orpington and other Orpington breeds of poultry. A photo shows the entrance to the farm off Tubbenden Lane, including the milestone in Image which still stands the entrance to Dalton Close (see Image). The name Dalton Close presumably refers to the name Dalton, who were the owners of the manor of Tubbenden in the 16th/17th century.

Grade II listed milestone dating from 1779. Inscribed on it (although only just visible due to being repainted, presumably as part of a battle against graffiti) is "XV miles from London Bridge" with the date 1779. The listing particulars suggest that it is situated on the New Cross Turnpike of 1718, but although Tubbenden Lane is clearly an old road (it appears on the early 19th century Ordnance Survey map of the region), it wasn't on any direct route to or from anywhere, so it's not clear why it held any significance as a turnpike route. For a picture with more context, see Image Postscript: now restored - see Image

The milestone in Image, with Tubbenden Lane behind. See Image for info on Dalton Close, at whose junction with Tubbenden Lane the milestone stands.

Grade II listed milestone dating from 1779. The listing particulars suggest that it is situated on the New Cross Turnpike of 1718, but although Tubbenden Lane is clearly an old road (it appears on the early 19th century Ordnance Survey map of the region), it wasn't on any direct route to or from anywhere, so it's not clear why it held any significance as a turnpike route. See Image for photo before restoration and Image for context.

Carved stone post by the UC road, in parish of BROMLEY (BROMLEY District), Tubbenden Lane, Orpington, just North of junction with Dalton Close, on wide grass verge behind pavement, on East side of road. Bromley marker, erected by the Sevenoaks turnpike trust in the 19th century. Inscription reads:- XV Miles from LONDON Bridge 1779 Grade II listed. List Entry Number: 1186829 https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1186829 Milestone Society National ID: KE_LBR15.

An old route from Orpington to Farnborough, seen here at its junction with Woodhead Drive. The line of trees on the left marks the front boundary of a row of large houses built in the 1870s - Sunnyside, Fernbank, The Alchornes, Northolme and Sherlies, of which Sunnyside was notable as the home of George Allen, publisher to John Ruskin. The area was subsequently redeveloped in stages from the 1960s onwards, with Sherlies (the largest plot) being demolished first.

In the 1870s 5 large houses were built on the north side of Tubbenden Lane to the south of Orpington Station, the largest and easternmost being called Sherlies with the others being (from east to west) Northolme, The Alchornes, Fernbank and Sunnyside. All these other four are shown in the 1881 census with the name "Sherlies" next to the house name, suggesting that they were all part of the same original plot, subdivided for building purposes. All the houses have since been demolished, at different times, with their sites developed for housing. This is Northolme Rise - comparison with the 1910 6 inch map shows that it follows the route of the former driveway of Northolme. The style of housing suggests that Northolme and its gardens was developed later than Sherlies but before the other neighbouring houses. With thanks to local resident Calvin Wickham for help with the research into the history of Sherlies and its neighbours.

These houses were built in the late 1970s. Tubbenden Lane is an old route from Orpington to Farnborough, now largely built up.