You might be forgiven for thinking that the extensive woodlands and golf course are deep into the Kent countryside, but High Elms is actually in the outer London Borough of Bromley. There is a cafe and visitor centre, along with ruins of High Elm House. The house was lived in by the Lubbock family. Sir John Lubbock (astronomer and banker) inherited the land from his father (John Wiliam Lubbock, a London banker and MP) and built the house in 1840. Sir John’s son (also called John) invited Charles Darwin to visit shortly after Darwin moved into Downe House (just a carriage drive away) in 1842. The two became firm friends. Another visitor was William Gladstone.
The estate can be traced back to the time of William the Conqueror, who gifted it to his half-brother, Odo, bishop of Bayeux.
What is left of the house, which burnt down in the 1960’s , is just a layout, a few stones, the tennis courts ( now grassed over), an ice house, but the gardens and land remain. There are several pleasant walks and High Elms seems to be a popular spot for families and dog walkers.
High Elms Country Park made for a pleasant afternoon’s walking in dappled light, and the surprise of finding the unusual sight of a fallen tree whose branches have grown into trees themselves (see photos).
There is a lot more about High Elms here, including how to get there and a nature trail that can be downloaded and printed to use on your visit.
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