Pratt's Bottom

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type = Greater London
region= London
population=
official_name= Pratt's Bottom
latitude= 51.3397
longitude= 0.1128
london_borough= Bromley
constituency_westminster= Orpington
post_town= ORPINGTON
postcode_area= BR
postcode_district= BR6
dial_code= 01689
os_grid_reference= TQ471622

Pratt's Bottom is a village in the London Borough of Bromley,Mills, A., "Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names", (2001)] located at the south eastern boundary of Greater London with Kent.

It is a small village, consisting of a main road (Rushmore Hill) on which is situated a school, a village shop (the post office was closed as part of the widespread branch closures of June 2008) and the Bulls Head pub, two small churches and a few side roads. There is a village hall behind the green.

History

The name is first recorded as "Spratts Bottom" in 1773 and by 1791 it had changed to the present form. The meaning is likely to be "valley of a family called Pratt". It formed part of the ancient, and later civil, parish of Chelsfield in KentVision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10040152&c_id=10001043 Chelsfield parish] ( [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10040152&c_id=10001043 historic boundaries] )] and was part of the Bromley Rural District from 1894. The parish was abolished in 1934 and the village became part of Orpington Urban District.Vision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10223568 Orpington parish] ] In 1965 it was transferred to Greater London, to form part of the London Borough of Bromley.

A tollgate stood in the village for many years. The turnpike cottage was demolished in the 1920s but is still seen as emblematic of the village, so much so that it is the basis of the recent village sign placed on the green.

Nearest places

*Chelsfield
*Badgers Mount
*Knockholt
*Sevenoaks

References

External links

* [http://www.prattsbottom.co.uk/history.htm Historical notes on the village]
*Rude Britain