Pratt's Bottom


Pratt's Bottom is a village in Greater London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley and the historic county of Kent. It is south of its parent parish of Orpington, and beyond London's urban sprawl.
It has frequently been noted on lists of unusual place names.
It is a small village, consisting of a main road on which is situated a school, a village shop and the Bulls Head pub, two small churches and a few side roads. There is a village hall behind the green.

History

A "bottom" in this context means a valley or hollow, and the Pratts were a noble family once seated in the area. Pratt's Bottom formed part of the ancient, and later civil, parish of Chelsfield in Kent and was part of the Bromley Rural District from 1896. The parish was abolished in 1934 and the village became part of Orpington Urban District. In 1965 it was transferred to Greater London, to form part of the London Borough of Bromley.
A tollgate stood in the village for many years. The turnpike cottage was demolished in the 1930s but is still seen as emblematic of the village, so much so that it is the basis of the recent village sign placed on the green.
Sue Short has written a book about the history of the village titled Pratts Bottom: A Journey Through Life.
Pratt's Bottom was declared to be the 'sister city' of Wellington, New Zealand in 2009 by then-Mayor, Kerry Prendergast.

Local Government Elections

Transport

Pratts Bottom being in the county of Greater London, is still under Transport for London remit despite being outside London, is served by several London Buses bus services from London with routes R5 and R10 with services to Orpington via Green Street Green and to Knockholt. The nearest rail link to Pratts Bottom is at Knockholt station in Kent.

Nearby Areas

Pratts Bottom borders Chelsfield to the north and north east, Badgers Mount to the east, Halstead to the south east, Knockholt to the south and south west, Hazelwood to the west and Green Street Green to the north west.