Formerly part of Kent, Downe Village was once considered part of the county up until 1965, when it became part of the London Borough of Bromley.
With its picket-fenced houses and cottages, the village has remained mostly unchanged over the decades, with local pubs The George and Dragon and The Queen’s Head still standing.
Historic photos shared with the News Shopper by Downe local Steve Barnes have revealed how Downe would have once looked as far back as 1880, back when the village was considered part of Kent.
Some of the village’s oldest features which remain are its 13th century church and The Queen’s Head pub, which was first built in 1565 after Queen Elizabeth I visited.
Although the village has remained mostly unchanged over the last century, some of its buildings did experience some bomb damage, with the village being so close to Biggin Hill airport which played a vital role during WWII.
We’ve compared historic photos with photos taken from Google to show how the village would have looked over the last 100 years compared to now.
High Street & The Queen’s Head, 1905 vs 2023
Ivy Cottages & The Queen’s Head, 1922 vs 2023
George and Dragon & Ivy Cottages, 1880 vs 2023
Elm Cottage, High Elms Road, 1947 vs 2023
St Mary The Virgin Church, 1920 vs 2023
