Bromley High Street 1987

A jerky video record of Bromley, Greater London, more than three decades ago. It shows some of the houses, roads, shops and a church which were demolished to make way for the Glades shopping centre. Image quality reflects its age and the fact that it was recorded on a hired Beta camera, transferred to VHS and only now digitised.

[goldcoins]

1987, a pint of beer was 23p, a Ford Escort van was £600 and a 3 bedroom semi detached house was around £30K.

[rselvanathan]

I had just recently moved to Bromley in 1986....never left... amazing trip down memory lane.

[CloseQuarterCombatLFC]

Thanks for the video and great memories!! I left Ravensbourne School in 83. Also every week going to Dr Crippens wine bar in Bromley south for some great 80's soul/funk.

[surfblue]

Looking at that film Bromley did not change that much after I left in 1980 and this film was shot. I lived in a Cul de Sac of Westmorland Road when I was growing up, so remember just about every place on the film, and have memories associated with them. My younger brother was born in the hospital opposite Bristol Street Motors, and my older brother worked at Bristol Street Motors.
I got chased out of the Westmorland car park once because we were racing Safeways trolleys down the ramps, and I brought marbles in the Habitat store. Got two of my bikes from the cycle shop at the bottom of the high street, and remember jumping a red light on the first pedestrian cross the day I was 16 on my moped.
I went back there to work in the mid 90s at the department store on the Market Square, the place was changed then and I have not been back since.

[lisabrown]

Awww I was a mere 22 then . Thanks for the Memories . I was keeping my eyes peeled for a younger Me with my Mum and Nan :)

[suzanneatkinson]

I was born in Bromley in 63. Many good memories, went to Southborough lane School inf/ jun, then Ravensbourne Sch for Girls and left there in 79. Worked at the GPO office Bromley South as a telephonist. Would move back if could afford it❤

[thebaron]

Wow! Some great memories there of the year I left school. Amazing how much is still actually the same.It was, without a doubt, a far better time, when the world was far more sane! Thanks for the video.

[aaronhewitt]

Thank you for taking the time to post this. I grew up in Beckenham in 1980s & 1990s. Many Saturdays spent shopping with my Mum in Bromley on Saturdays around this time. Memories!

[GdpIsNationalIncomePerYear]

Thanks for posting, a very good video.

[sonicboomish]

What a nostalgia trip! I used to hang in bromley as a kid in the 90s (watching video now as it's where i used to do all my christmas shopping). Had no idea you could drive through it!

[mytube]

I lived in bromely from 1976 untill 96. Great vid, cosmos hse, chaterton Road, effies kebab, the chaterton Arms pub.

[jeremyrogers]

Thanks for the video, you really appreciate it in years to come when looking back nostalgically. Yes it was possible to drive cars through the high street in the late 1980s, then with the development of the Glades in 1992 (I think) the high street was pedestrianised. Interesting to see the cars of the time back then and the type of clothing typically worn by the public.

[tiocfaidh]

Wonderful video! I was born in Bromley Hospital and went to school at Ravensbourne School for boys. I used to get the 208 bus home from Masons Hill.

[BusesinLondon]

Despite how much has changed, it still looks very much recognisable

[lerpack]

Though living on outskirts of Bromley since1960, l lived near the centre ( Hammelton Rd ) in a flat from ‘75. ln ‘78 our landlord died and we had to move out. The Council said if l find a full-time job. ( l was free lance at the time ), they would find us a house near to my work…..New Town’s of the time were offered. l found a job at Wokingham ( London Waiting ), and sure to Bromley Councils word, they found us a nice council house in Basingstoke within 8 weeks. We later wanted to try Wales, so we applied for a simple ‘council exchange’….Went to Cardiff to see a notice board of families who wanted to swap to other counties. Sortied it easily. We spent our next 10 early family years in South Wales. A brilliant move. We appreciated the country side. Was able to get a cheap mortgage at the time in the property boom. Our 2nd last house there we bought for £19k with streams, 1/3 acre, 5bedrooms. sold it for £65k in ‘92. We were very lucky l think. A happy memory of Bromley was sailing my model boat in the Library Gardens. I believe the boating pond it is still there?

[brslamdoornetwork]

How little has changed in my town over the years, despite the more residential establishments coming about, the police station, shopping outlets etc.

[JohnnieE]

I've still got a bone to pick with the Dripping Tap Store!

[timjones]

Great video, thanks for sharing. Lots of memories. The bike shop at 02:27 was Skate City, spent many an hour in there.

[archiewoosung]

Think this was about the time I left Bromley, never to return. The Macdonalds was still relatively new, I think.

[robertsissons]

Very nostalgic! I worked in Bromley in 1987 for Global Tours, in Elmfield Road by the South Station. ILG sold the business to Wallace Arnold in 1988 and I went to work elsewhere.