1934 -The former offices of the Orpington Urban District Council.   1st April 1934 - Orpington  Urban District Council was  created from a number of local  councils as part of the Kent  Review of Order Act. In 1965  Orpington Urban District  Council is abolished and is  transferred from Kent to  London under the London  Borough of Bromley (a  grouping of the Boroughs of  Beckenham, Bromley, part of  Chislehurst and Sidcup and  the Urban District Councils of  Penge and Orpington. The  LLB was to become the  largest of the 32 London  Boroughs.    Circa 1950 - Orpington Secondary Modern (for boys), Charterhouse Road   Later to became Charterhouse  Secondary School (it has  since been demolished and a  houses built in its place).  Some of the trees in the area  of housing that replaced it  were planted when the school  was opened in 1936. This was  Orpington’s first secondary  modern.    1962 - Winner - Eric Lubbock March 1962   Having joined the Liberal Party  in 1960 and become a  councillor the following year,  Lubbock won a sensational  by-election victory at  Orpington on 15 March 1962,  with a majority of 7,855. This  was a swing of nearly 22%  from the Conservatives and  brought the number of Liberal  MPs to seven.   1956 - The Orpington Urban District Council Civic Heraldry Granted 30th July 1956. The blue and white wave  represents the River Cray,  which has its source in the  District, and the mural crowns  symbolise the urban  development in the northern  and central parts of the  District. The sword and chain  are derived from the badge of  the famous Royal Air Force  Station at Biggin Hill. The  green border represents the  Green Belt around London,  and symbolises the rural  character of the extensive  eastern and southern parts of  the District, which lie within the  Belt. The white horse, previously  used as an emblem by the  Council, is from the arms of the  Kent County Council, and the  mural crown from the shield,  symbol of civic government,  makes the crest distinctive to  Orpington.    1963 - Flyer - Eric Lubbock March 1962 - Eric Lubbock March 1967 - Midfield Primary School Midfield Primary School was  one of the first in the Cray  Valley. It is still functioning to  this day.   1967 - St. Olave's Grammar School   Founded in 1571 by Queen  Elizabeth I, in Southwark, as  St. Olave’s and St. Saviour’s,  St Olave’s moved to a state of  the art school in Orpington in  1967. Current School Website    HOME IMAGES CONTACT ARTICLES TIMELINE INTERACTIVE ABOUT Copyright (c) 2008- 2012 - Orpington History - All Rights Reserved - Disclaimer Web Design and Hosting by Web Cloud Designs HOME IMAGES CONTACT ARTICLES TIMELINE INTERACTIVE ABOUT The Council Municipal From a small Manor Village estate Orpington has become a very big town within the largest of the London Boroughs. Orpington managed its own civil matters from Saxon times through to 1965. From Lords of the Manor, Parish Councils to its own Major there are many tell tall signs of a once strong and effective Urban Council. Many valuable local services were set up by the Urban District Council. Orpington has had its share of political interest over the years. Its a ‘safe’ conservative seat but once back in the 1960s a shock win by the Liberal Party and a man called Eric Lubbock (now Baron Avebury) put Orpington in the news and the term ‘Orpington Man’ was born Politics Education If you are interested in  knowing about the career of  Eric Lubbock please click  here.  National Services Orpington ‘Board’ School - Chislehurst Road   The Orpington Board School, later to be Chislehurst Road School was Orpington’s first and proper school for all. There were two  schools here. A infant and junior school. The school was built by the Orpington Parish ‘School Board’ as an act of parliament in 1870  demanded all Parishes to have a school for all. Perviously education in Orpington was either privately funded or give by the Lord of the  Manor. Most children went to work at a very early age. The School opened in 1882 and was the pride of the then Village for many  years. The school closed in the late 1980’s just after the colour photos below. In later years the School also hosted the towns School  Dentist!