{"id":"69394e6c7202e9abd62bd0c0","title":"Keston Leaves Green","path":"walks/routes/recommended/keston-leaves-green","contentMarkdown":"# Kent Ramblers: Walk 109\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_109.jpg)\n\n## Points of Interest\n\n### Cudham Workhouse\n\n![](https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P109a.jpg)\n\nThis was one of the first workhouses to be \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tpurpose-built in response to Sir Edward Knatchbull's Act \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tof 1722-23 which sought to act as a deterrent by making \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe workhouse the only relief available to the poor.  \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tPoor people not desperate enough to accept the harsh \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tregime were to be 'put out of the Parish Books' and not \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tentitled to relief in that or any other parish.  \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAccording to a Parliamentary survey in 1776-88, Cudham \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tworkhouse could accommodate 35 people.\n\n### The Wilberforce Oak\n\nBeneath an old oak in the grounds of Holwood, the \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\thome of William Pitt, William Wilberforce decided to \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tseek the abolition of slavery.  The original oak \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tdied around the turn of the century (the sorry remains \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcan be seen below the path) and a replacement has been \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tplanted closer to the path.\n\n### Keston Common �\n\n' is the scene of an ecological disaster in H G \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWells' book The Food of the Gods.  A local doctor  \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\texperiments secretly in a nearby cottage with an \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\talkaloid that promotes exceptional growth.  Some of \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe alkaloid escapes into the ponds where it is eaten by \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\ttadpoles and works its way up the food chain.  Soon \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe Common is overrun with giant plants and animals.  \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe tale is apparently an unconvincing allegory for the \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tcontrast between large and small units in local \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tgovernment ' Wells preferring the large.\n\n### Public Transport\n\nThe following buses pass the roundabout at the \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tjunction of Westerham Road and Heathfield Road passed \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tnear the beginning of the walk (from where you follow \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWesterham Road southwards'):\n\nBus 146 from Bromley North and Bromley South on its \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tway to Downe.  The service is hourly every day.\n\nBus 246 from Bromley North and Bromley South to \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tBiggin Hill and Westerham.  The service is \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\thalf-hourly from Monday to Saturday and hourly on \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSunday.\n\nBus R2 from Orpington High Street or station \r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t(half-hourly, not Sundays).\n\nAutomatically migrated from https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_109.htm on 2025-12-11 08:56","contentHtml":"<h1>Kent Ramblers: Walk 109</h1>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/banner_109.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<h2>Points of Interest</h2>\n<h3>Cudham Workhouse</h3>\n<p><img src=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/images/P109a.jpg\" alt=\"\"></p>\n<p>This was one of the first workhouses to be \n\t\t\t\t\t\tpurpose-built in response to Sir Edward Knatchbull&#39;s Act \n\t\t\t\t\t\tof 1722-23 which sought to act as a deterrent by making \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe workhouse the only relief available to the poor.<br>\t\t\t\t\t\tPoor people not desperate enough to accept the harsh \n\t\t\t\t\t\tregime were to be &#39;put out of the Parish Books&#39; and not \n\t\t\t\t\t\tentitled to relief in that or any other parish.<br>\t\t\t\t\t\tAccording to a Parliamentary survey in 1776-88, Cudham \n\t\t\t\t\t\tworkhouse could accommodate 35 people.</p>\n<h3>The Wilberforce Oak</h3>\n<p>Beneath an old oak in the grounds of Holwood, the \n\t\t\t\t\t\thome of William Pitt, William Wilberforce decided to \n\t\t\t\t\t\tseek the abolition of slavery.  The original oak \n\t\t\t\t\t\tdied around the turn of the century (the sorry remains \n\t\t\t\t\t\tcan be seen below the path) and a replacement has been \n\t\t\t\t\t\tplanted closer to the path.</p>\n<h3>Keston Common �</h3>\n<p>&#39; is the scene of an ecological disaster in H G \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWells&#39; book The Food of the Gods.  A local doctor<br>\t\t\t\t\t\texperiments secretly in a nearby cottage with an \n\t\t\t\t\t\talkaloid that promotes exceptional growth.  Some of \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe alkaloid escapes into the ponds where it is eaten by \n\t\t\t\t\t\ttadpoles and works its way up the food chain.  Soon \n\t\t\t\t\t\tthe Common is overrun with giant plants and animals.<br>\t\t\t\t\t\tThe tale is apparently an unconvincing allegory for the \n\t\t\t\t\t\tcontrast between large and small units in local \n\t\t\t\t\t\tgovernment &#39; Wells preferring the large.</p>\n<h3>Public Transport</h3>\n<p>The following buses pass the roundabout at the \n\t\t\t\t\t\tjunction of Westerham Road and Heathfield Road passed \n\t\t\t\t\t\tnear the beginning of the walk (from where you follow \n\t\t\t\t\t\tWesterham Road southwards&#39;):</p>\n<p>Bus 146 from Bromley North and Bromley South on its \n\t\t\t\t\t\tway to Downe.  The service is hourly every day.</p>\n<p>Bus 246 from Bromley North and Bromley South to \n\t\t\t\t\t\tBiggin Hill and Westerham.  The service is \n\t\t\t\t\t\thalf-hourly from Monday to Saturday and hourly on \n\t\t\t\t\t\tSunday.</p>\n<p>Bus R2 from Orpington High Street or station \n\t\t\t\t\t\t(half-hourly, not Sundays).</p>\n<p>Automatically migrated from <a href=\"https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_109.htm\">https://www.kentramblers.org.uk/KentWalks/public/walk_109.htm</a> on 2025-12-11 08:56</p>\n"}