Poverest consultation and Scadbury's open weekend
Published Thursday 10 September 2026
Have your say on Poverest Centre, visit Scadbury's ruins in Chislehurst, or choose antiques, piano and live music this weekend.
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Top Updates
Council consults on closing the Poverest Centre
Bromley Council is considering closing the Poverest Centre building and moving adult education to a hub-and-spoke model across several venues. No final decision has been made. The consultation runs until Sunday 18 October, with sessions at the Poverest Centre from 1:30pm to 3pm on Friday 25 September and 9:30am to 11am on Saturday 26 September, plus an Orpington Library session on Saturday 26 September. Read the proposal and complete the consultation.
Visit Scadbury's ruins during the open weekend
The archaeological site at Scadbury Moated Manor in Chislehurst, which is not normally open to the public, opens free from 2pm to 5pm on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September. Follow the self-guided trail to see excavations and the Tudor kitchen and great-hall foundations; last entry is 4:30pm. Plan a visit to Scadbury Manor.
Dates For Your Diary
Saturday 19 September, 10am–noon or 2pm–4pm · £60
Make a silver charm at the Priory
Learn to saw, texture and polish your own sterling-silver charm with Collette Dawn Jewellery at the Priory on Church Hill. The two-hour workshop is suitable for adult beginners, with materials included. Places are available on request, with confirmation from the maker within 72 hours. Choose a session and request a place.
Sunday 18 October, 2:30pm–3:30pm
Orpington Band concert for Welcare
Orpington Band plays a fundraising concert for family-support charity Welcare at St Mary's Church in Green Street Green. Save the Orpington Band date.
What's On
Friday 11 September
JVL Duo and The Two Jills, 7:30pm–10:30pm. Mandolin player Jimmy Van Lin and fiddler Will Street bring songs by Elvis, Johnny Cash, The Beatles and more to Orpington Liberal Club, with a ukulele set from The Two Jills. Visitors pay £1 entry, and the suggested cash contribution for the performers is £6.50. See the live-music details.
Saturday 12 September
Songwriting workshop with Andy Smythe, 2pm–4:30pm. Bring a song in progress or start something new at Andy Smythe's afternoon workshop at Orpington Liberal Club. Check the songwriting workshop details.
Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 September
Scadbury Moated Manor open weekend, 2pm–5pm · free. Walk around a normally closed archaeological site in Scadbury Park and see the remains of the Walsingham family's Tudor manor. Enter from the public nature trail; last admission is 4:30pm and donations are welcome. See the open-weekend details.
Sunday 13 September
Petts Wood Antiques Fair, 9:30am–2:30pm. Browse more than 40 stalls of vintage jewellery, ceramics, silver, artwork and collectables at Petts Wood Memorial Hall, 200 Petts Wood Road. Parking is available nearby. Plan a visit to the antiques fair.
PianoPlus opening recital at All Saints, 7:15pm–8:30pm. The Ivory Duo Piano Ensemble opens the PianoPlus recital series at All Saints Church on Bark Hart Road. The programme ranges from Bach and Debussy to a premiere by Lola Perrin; doors open at 7pm and the concert is open to all ages. Book the PianoPlus recital.
Tuesday 15 September
Woodland Explorers for little ones at High Elms, 10am–11:30am · £5.50 per child. Children aged 18 months to five can join storytime and outdoor activities at High Elms Country Park's BEECHE forest school. Children must be accompanied by an adult; babies in arms are free. Book the Woodland Explorers session.
Roadworks and Transport
Farnborough Hill works due to finish on Sunday morning: Council roadworks involving a road closure on Farnborough Hill were due to start at 8pm yesterday, Wednesday 9 September, and are scheduled to finish at 6am on Sunday 13 September.
Gillmans Road and The Landway remain closed: The gas-work closure on Gillmans Road is scheduled to finish at the end of Thursday 15 October. The Landway closure is due to finish at the end of Friday 25 September.
Temporary lights on Orpington High Street: Two sets of two-way temporary traffic lights affect the High Street. Water-network work is scheduled to finish at the end of Friday 11 September, and power-network work at 6pm on Monday 14 September. Check the Bromley roadworks map.
Planning Watch
Six-metre rear extension proposed on Court Road: A prior-approval application at 154 Court Road proposes a single-storey rear extension extending six metres beyond the original house. The application was received on Monday 7 September and is marked valid. View application 26/03496/NOT.
Loft conversion proposed on Oregon Square: Plans for 74 Oregon Square include a part-gable loft conversion, a rear dormer and three front rooflights. View application 26/03476/HPA.