History

The house was built in 1899 for Robert Whyte junior, his wife Margaret and their four musically accomplished daughters Marjorie, Dorothy, Jessie and Joyce.

The Whyte Quartet was formed and the gifted musicians played many concerts as well as entertaining the troops during the two world wars.

In 1919, following the death of Robert Whyte jnr., the family began to fulfil his plans of building a private Music Room and by 1925 the work was completed. Designed by architect Evelyn Hellicar to hold eighty guests, this intimate room was based on a Georgian Salon at Hampton Court Palace.

Today visitors can still see the single bricks carved with the Whyte’s initials laid by the family as the new walls began to rise.

In the musical world the family was well connected and visits by distinquished visitors – Sir Adrian Boult, Clifford Curzon, Paul Tortelier, Isabelle Baillie amongst them – were frequent.

When the house became vacant, after the death of Dorothy Whyte in 1968, the newly formed (1965) Bromley Arts Council approached the remaining Whyte family seeking to purchase the house and grounds to be used as an Arts centre. The family was extremely enthusiastic and the property was sold to the Arts Council under most generous terms.

As an Arts Centre Ripley continued to welcome well-known figures. In 1980 Peter O’Toole read a tribute to the memory of Lady Ackroyd (Joyce Whyte), and Dame Sybil Thorndyke gave a memorable Gala performance in the Music Room when she was in her eighties!! But there were also others who were soon to make their name – Julian lloyd Webber, Cliff Richard, James Galway, David Bowie, Emma Johnson…

Ripley Arts Centre now attracts over 18000 visitors a year from the community and further a field and we are proud to continue to offer a wide variety of arts activities, in addition to the classical musical concerts that began with the history of the house itself.

UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS AND WORLD CINEMA



Alex Hooton – 1st May to 22nd June 2012

Alex Hooton: "Animal Instincts" 1st May to 22nd June 2012 Two Open evenings 2nd May & 30th May 7...

Bromley Art Society – 1st May to 25th May 2012

Dining & Drawing rooms Please ring to view 020 8464 5816 Bromley Art Society 1st May to 25th May...

Mike Yates and Nicolette Shipton – 28th May to 22nd June 2012

Dining room - Please ring to view 020 8464 5816 Mike Yates and Nicolette Shipton- Pickford Studios -...

The View : Under Pressure – 29th May to 22nd June 2012

Drawing room - Please ring to view 020 8464 5816 The View : Under Pressure -  Jean Carus, Liz Chambe...

Karen Birt – 26th June to 20th July 2012

Dining Room Please ring to view 020 8464 5816 Karen Birt – The Breaking Wave 26th June to 20th July ...

Colin Anderson – 26th June to 20th July 2012

Drawing Room - Please ring to view 020 8464 5816 Colin Anderson – The Turning Landscape 26th June to...

Cynthia Barlow Marrs – 26th June to 20th July 2012

New Gallery Space - Open weekdays 9am to 4pm Cynthia Barlow Marrs SGFA: The Portable Forest 26th Jun...

Rebecca Strickson – 24th July to 17th August 2012

Dining room Please ring to view 020 8464 5816 Rebecca Strickson: 'I Knit Lace' - a collection of pri...

Daniel Kaneh – 24th July to 17th August 2012

Drawing room Please ring to view 020 8464 5816 Daniel Kaneh –Symbolic Fantasy 24th July to 17th Augu...

Punch & Judy Historic Exhibition – 24th July to 25th August 2012

New Gallery Space: Open weekdays 9am to 4pm Punch & Judy Historic Exhibition - AS PLEASED AS PUN...

Summer Exhibition – 21st August to 25th August 2012

Dining and Drawing rooms 21st August to 25th August 2012: Ring to view except on Garden Party day wh...

Rosie James – 29th August to 21st September 2012

New gallery Space viewing 9am to 4pm weekdays Rosie James : StitchDraw 29th August to 21st September...

Martin Pinder – 25th October to 18th November 2011

Martin Pinder - Local Aspects (Ring to view) 25th October to 18th November 2011 Open eve: 26th Octob...

15th May 2012 Goodbye Lenin (2002)

15th May 2012 Goodbye Lenin (2002), Director: Wolfgang Becker; German with sub-titles; Cert. 15 This...

19th June 2012 Millions Like Us (1943)

19th June 2012 Millions Like Us (1943); Directors: Sydney Gilliat and Frank Launder; Cert. U Filmed ...

24th July 2012 Enigma (2001)

24th July 2012 Enigma (2001); Director: Michael Apted; Cert. 15 This fast-paced film focuses on the ...

Jacqueline Glanvile – 3rd April to 27th April 2011

Jacqueline Glanvile , ECLECTIC COLLECTION 3rd April to 27th April 2011 I enjoy portraying my Caribbe...

Claudia Hazzard – 3rd April to 27th April

Claudia Hazzard - Landscapes of Britain and Canada 3rd April to 27th April Open eve 3rd April 7-9pm ...

Geoffrey Leeson – 3rd April to 27th April

THE SHIPPING FORECAST - Please ring to view 020 8464 5816 A new series of paintings by Geoffrey Lees...

Accident – 24th April 2012

24th April 2012 Accident (1967); Director: Harold Pinter. Cert. 12 Set amongst the spires of Oxford,...

Bromley Arts Council, Ripley Arts Centre, 24 Sundridge Avenue, Bromley BR1 2PX - Tel: 020 8464 5816 Fax: 020 8464 5816 Email: enquiries@bromleyarts.com

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