Keston
| Keston | |
|---|---|
 Keston Pond |
|
 Keston
|
|
| Keston shown within Greater London | |
| OS grid reference | TQ415645 |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | KESTON |
| Postcode district | BR2 |
| Dialling code | 01689 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| London Assembly | |
Keston is a village now in the London Borough of Bromley, but historically part of Kent. It is part suburban, part rural in nature and lies on the edge of Hayes Common, to the northwest of the Greater London / Kent border. It includes the small hamlet of Nash to the southwest.
Flint implements and pit dwellings on Keston and Hayes Commons show occupation of the area back to at least 3000 B.C., and there are Iron Age encampments in Holwood Park and on Keston Common.
In the valley below the village are the ruins of a complex of 3rd century AD Roman tombs and mausolea (51°21′04″N 0°01′48″E / 51.3511068°N 0.0299549°E) connected with the nearby 1st - 4th century AD Roman villa excavated 1967-1992 (51°21′02″N 0°01′44″E / 51.3506679°N 0.0287962°E).
Sited closer to the original Keston Court than the main village itself, Keston's small medieval church is unusual in that does not have a dedication to a saint, but built into the altar-table is the top of the 17th century altar inlaid with a very elaborate cross and inscribed "The Keston Marke: IN HOC SIGNO VINCES", so the parish has a distinctive symbol instead.
William Wilberforce was a frequent visitor to the area as his close friend, William Pitt the younger, lived at Holwood Park. It was on top of the vale of Keston near to an oak tree that he discussed the abolition of slavery with his friend, Pitt. Only the partial dead remains of the 'Wilberforce oak' are left but a new oak tree has been planted in its place. A stone bench, 'Wilberforce seat', commemorating the event, now marks the spot and bears the inscription from his diary "Just above a steep descent into the vale of Keston, I resolved to give notice ... in the House of Commons of my intention to bring forward the abolition of the Slave Trade."
...
Wikipedia