We asked a local historic society what the name Bromley means – and discovered it has links to a flower.

According to Bromley Civic Society, Bromley takes its name from the Anglo Saxon “Bromleag” - meaning a field or heath where brooms grow.

Broom, otherwise known as Genisteae, is a yellow flower appearing between April and July.

Bromley was formerly covered in the shrub-like plant and in Victorian times people made visits to Bromley to see the Broom that grew in abundance.

Bromley celebrated “Broom Day” in honour of its namesake up until the year of 1939.

By the 1980s much of the broom had disappeared, but new Brooms have since grown on Martin’s Hill since being replanted in 1986.

These Brooms can still be seen there today at Martin’s Hill, which is a two-minute walk along Church Road behind Primark, between mid-April to the end of May.

The Vice Chair of Bromley Civic Society, Peter Martin, is keen for Bromley to reinstate its old tradition of Broom Day, and to protect and revive its once abundant namesake flower.

Peter said: "Bromley takes its name from the Anglo-Saxon Bromleag, meaning a field or a heath where the broom grows.

"The whole district was once covered by the shrub. And in Victorian times, people used to come out on the railway, which had just been completed, on day trips, especially to see the broom at Bromley, it was really famous.

"And they used to have a Broom Day, that went up right until the last war, and there's a programme of the Broom Day that dates from 1933.

"Today there's just a remnant bit left, which has been very carefully looked after on Martin's Hill, near the war memorial - there's a photograph of it there - and we're quite keen that this broom is kept in flourish.

"But we think it was replanted in 1986, after the Queen came to visit the Civic Centre. There was a big display with broom on a hill that was inside the Great Hall. And then when she went away, they took the broom and replanted it out on Martin's Hill.

Have you got a story for us? You can contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletters to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

"And I know the residents in St Paul's Square also have been looking after the broom, and I think they planted some themselves as well.

"So there is the broom of Bromley, and long may it thrive and keep going.

“We would like to bring back the idea of a Broom Day, which would be about this time of year, with better weather.

“The broom looks fantastic in the sunshine, when it's shining out yellow, it's lovely.”