35 High Street

Bromley

Above photo, 1856. Kindly sent by Maria Wilson.

Above photo, date unknown, kindly sent by Michael Strotton.

Above postcard, date unknown. This is the building shown right, as Henekey's.

Above Google image showing 35 High Street in August 2017. However, this is not the correct location as there has been some renumbering of the High Street.

Above photo 1968. This is where the "Rising Sun" was next to Woolworths. You can see the barrel clock. Littlewoods across the road was the site of the "White Hart." Looking up to Paynes where the "Foresters" had been. Woolworths was originally 33-34 High Street later renumbered 140-142. Presumably the "Rising Sun" would have been 35 renumbered to 144. Woolworths closed in 1983, possibly the pub went at the same time as the area was redeveloped and new shops built.

Above photo 2018.

In 1856, the "Rising Sun" was the headquarters of the Society of Bromley Youths' bellringers. The landlord, George Porter, was a Lincolnshire man, who supplied the bellringers with liquid refreshment after those ceremonies which called for bells to be rung. Next door to the "Rising Sun" was Samuel Porter's drapery business, at 36/37, High Street. In the distance of the 1856 photo, can be seen the original Police Station, which moved to this location in 1841..."

Rory Kehoe says Bromley Police Station moved from its original location (mid-1860s?) and occupied the former drapery at 36/37, High Street, with the old nick then becoming the "Forester's Arms" soon afterwards.

Maria Wilson writes in April 2019 and tells me that the pub is closed and was demolished and was also known as Henekeys Ltd, which I believe was a wine and spirit merchants.

Mick Salter follows this up with the following:- Henekeys was a very special place, it had a uniformed man at the door, to greet customers and keep out the unwanted. It had a large entrance hall, with a oak staircase to the first floor, where there was a select area for those who wanted a quiet drink and be served at their table.

Downstairs was a huge open area, a very long bar, with all the oak barrels along the back wall. It had oak panelling everywhere, something I had to polish, but the most interesting feature was two back to back open fires in the centre, it had no chimney above, the smoke went downwards, under the floor, to a chimney at the back.

Along the road from Henekeys was the Churchill theatre, and I met many very famous stars, who used to come in for a drink, and often went on into the night, behind closed doors.

From an email received 6 October 2020. Regarding the Rising Sun in Bromley, I always knew it as just Henekeys Wine House, I was under manager, the manager was an Irish gentleman, Mr Mckluskie, (not sure of spelling) he lived in the apartment above, with his wife and daughter. When I first worked there, it was still Henekeys and sold wines ports and spirits, a lot sold from large oak barrels, the most famous was the white port. It was then taken over by Fortes and resorted to a near normal pub. Mick Salter.

From an email received 16 October 2023. Good morning. We recently purchased an old farmhouse in Nova Scotia, Canada, and the previous owners left behind their pewter collection. One of the pieces, I'm not sure if you'd call it a flagon or a tankard, is inscribed on the bottom in cursive with the words "Rising Sun, High St, Bromley, Kent". In research I came across your post about the pub, asking for information or pictures relating to it, so I'm attaching a few for you. Dan Smitham. Above photo showing the front of the pewter pot. Showing the engraving J B and Masonic symbols either side.

Above photo showing the side of the pewter pot.

Above photo showing the base of the pewter pot.

Today (2018) it is the site of Diechman or Specsavers, which was just to the right of Woolworths.

LICENSEE LIST

PORTER George 1840-58+ (age 53 in 1851)

HADDEN John 1871+ (age 33 in 1871)

LINES Martha Mrs 1882+

FERRIS W E 1897-98+

RIDGES William Henry 1903+

THOMAS Arthur Samuel 1913-18+

GRAVES James Henry & Amelia Nellie 1922-28+

COLLIER Henry C 1930+

https://pubwiki.co.uk/RisingSun.shtml

From the Kelly's Directory 1903

Census