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Pratts Bottom name derives from the Pratt family. The Pratts were notable residents in the 14th-century. Stephen Pratt is the first member of this family associated with the area. The word bottom in this context refers to the valley of Rushmore Hill. The area was known for a while as Spratts Bottom. The nowadays settlement features two churches, a school, a pub, and a local store. The village hall is behind the green. Rushmore Hill is the main road in the area. Chelsfield Grange dates from the 15th century. At one point, it housed a grammar school. Grange Drive and Orchard Road were built in 1920 on the old site of the Grange.
The Bull’s Head pub was originally a 1575 inn. It features a beer garden that hosts events. Legend has it that highwayman Dick Turpin was a Bull’s Head regular. An underground tunnel connected Pear Tree Cottage where Turpin lived and the pub. In 1748, the village had a tollgate. The tollway cottage was demolished in 1930 but it remains a landmark and symbol of this BR6 settlement. The village sign on the green depicts the old cottage. The Porcupine inn dating from 1791 is another building that was demolished. In 1798, a mail coach robbery took place in Pratts Bottom. The £240 bounty was never claimed because the robber was never found.
Pratts Bottom: A Journey Through Life is a Sue Short book about the village’s history. The settlement is considered an iconic English village. Lists of unusual or funny place names often feature this South East London area. Pratts Bottom Primary School was established in 1886. The original school had three classrooms. The music and drama studio, library, and teacher’s lounge are located in the old school building. Pratts Bottom is sister-city to Wellington, New Zealand.