Welcome to the Cray 150 Publications website!
** Two new books are coming soon! (March 2025). Please see details below **
Cray 150 Publications aims to publish local interest books and to organise or support local events relating to the arts and heritage of Orpington and the Crays. On the pages of this website you'll find information about our books and a range of what we hope are interesting and informative local themed articles.
If you'd like to browse and buy our books why not visit the Croft Tea Room at 263 High Street St Mary Cray where in addition to their menu of super tasty treats you can check out their delightful range of artwork, books, jewellery and other giftware. You'll certainly find local interest books galore, because community publishing is our speciality at Cray 150 featuring the splendid work of local artists, photographers and writers.
The Croft Tea Room is open from Wednesdays to Sundays. You'll also find that copies of some of our local history books are kindly stocked for borrowing or for reference in Orpington Library and St Paul's Cray Library, and in Historic Collections at Bromley Central Library.
On Sale again! Copies of the new Cray Wanderers FC history book Wandering No More! are now back in stock and can be purchased from the club shop at home matches at Flamingo Park or via e-mail [email protected]
A Date for your Diary: Thursday 13th February 2025 at St Paul's Cray Library (11.30am) Jerry Dowlen's local history talk Curiosities of the Crays. Admission free.
** Two new books are coming soon! (March 2025). Please see details below **
Cray 150 Publications aims to publish local interest books and to organise or support local events relating to the arts and heritage of Orpington and the Crays. On the pages of this website you'll find information about our books and a range of what we hope are interesting and informative local themed articles.
If you'd like to browse and buy our books why not visit the Croft Tea Room at 263 High Street St Mary Cray where in addition to their menu of super tasty treats you can check out their delightful range of artwork, books, jewellery and other giftware. You'll certainly find local interest books galore, because community publishing is our speciality at Cray 150 featuring the splendid work of local artists, photographers and writers.
The Croft Tea Room is open from Wednesdays to Sundays. You'll also find that copies of some of our local history books are kindly stocked for borrowing or for reference in Orpington Library and St Paul's Cray Library, and in Historic Collections at Bromley Central Library.
On Sale again! Copies of the new Cray Wanderers FC history book Wandering No More! are now back in stock and can be purchased from the club shop at home matches at Flamingo Park or via e-mail [email protected]
A Date for your Diary: Thursday 13th February 2025 at St Paul's Cray Library (11.30am) Jerry Dowlen's local history talk Curiosities of the Crays. Admission free.
Short Stories by local writers!
For the new year 2025 we have gathered twenty-five short stories penned by customers and friends of the Croft Tea Room. This new book Twenty-Five for '25 will showcase the fine creative talent of our local writers and we will be advising shortly the date when the book [Price £2.95] will be on sale at the Croft Tea Room.
For the new year 2025 we have gathered twenty-five short stories penned by customers and friends of the Croft Tea Room. This new book Twenty-Five for '25 will showcase the fine creative talent of our local writers and we will be advising shortly the date when the book [Price £2.95] will be on sale at the Croft Tea Room.
The road to Flamingo Park the new home of Cray Wanderers FC.
Coming too in March 2025 is a big new book filled with colour photos and information telling the story of Cray Wanderers football club opening their new home ground at Flamingo Park for the 2024/25 season. Our new book Pitches at an Exhibition charts the history and geography of where Kent and London's oldest football club has 'wandered' (literally!) in the local district during its 164 years lifetime. The story includes a look back to the club's 150th anniversary in 2010 when a history exhibition was staged at Bromley Museum.
This super new book [Price £4.95] will be on sale at Cray Wanderers home matches from March 2025.
Coming too in March 2025 is a big new book filled with colour photos and information telling the story of Cray Wanderers football club opening their new home ground at Flamingo Park for the 2024/25 season. Our new book Pitches at an Exhibition charts the history and geography of where Kent and London's oldest football club has 'wandered' (literally!) in the local district during its 164 years lifetime. The story includes a look back to the club's 150th anniversary in 2010 when a history exhibition was staged at Bromley Museum.
This super new book [Price £4.95] will be on sale at Cray Wanderers home matches from March 2025.
Local History: Two reprints of our popular books!
If you like reading local history Cray 150 has just published reprints of two of our most popular books that became sold out in 2024. Sign Here! covering the local history of the London Borough of Bromley is available again in a new second edition [Price £4.95]. So too is The City of London: Wandering and Wondering [Price £4.95] covering the historic square mile of the old Roman walled city of Londinium nowadays renowned as a leading centre of financial services filled with remarkable buildings old and new.
If you like reading local history Cray 150 has just published reprints of two of our most popular books that became sold out in 2024. Sign Here! covering the local history of the London Borough of Bromley is available again in a new second edition [Price £4.95]. So too is The City of London: Wandering and Wondering [Price £4.95] covering the historic square mile of the old Roman walled city of Londinium nowadays renowned as a leading centre of financial services filled with remarkable buildings old and new.
Old football club ... New stadium!
Cray 150 has been honoured to publish the bumper new local football club history book Wandering No More! - Cray Wanderers FC history 1860 - 2014. *
This new book [July 2024] coincides with a proud and landmark moment in the long history of the oldest football club in Kent and London. The Wands have built a new stadium at Flamingo Park on the A20 Sidcup by-pass and it is the first ever time that the famous old club has a ground of its own. Superbly put together by club historian and statistician Peter Goringe the book is a true collectors item for all who have followed the fortunes and wanderings of the Cray Wanderers football club.
*This book was such a popular success that the first print run in July 2024 quickly sold out! The book is back in stock again now (from 23rd January 2025). Copies can be purchased (Price £16) at Cray Wanderers home matches at Flamingo Park or by post (£19.95) if you E-mail us at [email protected]
Cray 150 has been honoured to publish the bumper new local football club history book Wandering No More! - Cray Wanderers FC history 1860 - 2014. *
This new book [July 2024] coincides with a proud and landmark moment in the long history of the oldest football club in Kent and London. The Wands have built a new stadium at Flamingo Park on the A20 Sidcup by-pass and it is the first ever time that the famous old club has a ground of its own. Superbly put together by club historian and statistician Peter Goringe the book is a true collectors item for all who have followed the fortunes and wanderings of the Cray Wanderers football club.
*This book was such a popular success that the first print run in July 2024 quickly sold out! The book is back in stock again now (from 23rd January 2025). Copies can be purchased (Price £16) at Cray Wanderers home matches at Flamingo Park or by post (£19.95) if you E-mail us at [email protected]
Orpington Literary Festival 2024
Thank you to all who came to hear and enjoy the illustrated talk Curiosities of Orpington at Orpington Library on Wednesday morning 15th May. In front of a full house local authors Richard Bowdery and Jerry Dowlen presented a selection of highlights from their new little local history books Curiosities of the Crays and Curiosities of Orpington published by Cray150 in October 2023. Guest poet Maureen Hillier kindly recited her Orpington poem. The event was part of the Orpington Literary Festival 2024. sponsored by Orpington 1st - GLL Better - Rotary South-East. For Richard and Jerry it was a follow-up to the two full house Orpington in Letters events that they staged during the Orpington Literary Festival of May 2023.
Photo (L to R): Richard Bowdery, Jerry Dowlen and Maureen Hillier.
Our Books
Here is a list of all our Cray 150 published books.
Twenty-Five for '25 (March 2025)
Short stories by customers and friends of the Croft Tea Room.
Pitches at an Exhibition (March 2025)
The long and winding road to Flamingo Park where Cray Wanderers are now playing football.
The City of London: Wandering and Wondering (second edition December 2024)
A walk in words around the City of the London past and present. This new second edition is an update of our now sold-out first book (2013).
Sign Here! (second edition October 2024)
A review of blue plaques, monuments and town & village signs of special interest in the London Borough of Bromley. This new (October 2024) second edition is an update of our now sold-out first book (2018).
Wandering No More! Cray Wanderers FC 1860 to 2024 (July 2024)
A bumper new and updated history of Kent and London's oldest football club who have just moved into their new stadium and first ever permanent home at Flamingo Park..
From Clambercrown to the Goose Cathedral (2024)
Celebrating the life and works of the Kent author Jocelyn Brooke
Transistor Radio at the Wedding (2024)
Score Direct from a Bounce-Up (2024)
Football nostalgia! from 1960s through to the 1990s.
Curiosities of the Crays (2023)
Curiosities of Orpington (2023)
These two local history light reads are full of information, comment and photos..
let sleeping dogs stand (2023)
Poems by Richard Bowdery. To purchase a copy please use this link:
richardbowderywriter.wordpress.com/poetry-books/
When Harry Met Cray (2023) *** SOLD OUT ***
Recalling the 1980s at Cray Wanderers and at other local football clubs in Kent and London.
Flash-Bang-Wallop! (2023)
Recalling the 1990s at Cray Wanderers and at other local football clubs in Kent and London.
Away-Days Cray (2022)
Adventures and stories of Cray Wanderers away match travels from 1894 to 2022.
Ken Collishaw 2nd edition (2022)
A nostalgic return to the 1950s and 1960s when Ken Collishaw scored goals! goals! goals!
Exciting Discoveries (2021)
Selected articles from Cray Wanderers football programmes from 1961 to 2021
Shirts that Stand the Strain (2021)
Adverts old and new in Cray Wanderers football programmes from 1900 to 2021
Our Covid Calendar (2021)
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
Undertow (2021)
Michael Gould’s fictional story set in a London suburb and on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales in 1961.
The Tribute Programmes (2021)
Phil Babbs (editor) presents a selection of Cray Wanderers programme tribute articles 2010 and 2020.
Problem Solved! (2020)
Jerry Dowlen’s fictional short stories featuring Inspector Gledd the chess-playing Scotland Yard detective.
Crayons in my Scrapbook (2020)
Local football in the 1940s and 1950s featuring Cray Wanderers and other clubs from London and Kent.
Let Us See the Goals Go In (2019)
Local football in the 1960s featuring Cray Wanderers and other clubs from London and Kent.
Where Have All the Stars Gone (2019) *** SOLD OUT ***
Local football in the 1970s featuring Cray Wanderers and other clubs from London and Kent.
Beautiful Colours (2018) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
There’s More to Say about Cray (2018)
More local history of the Crays told from the perspective of Cray Wanderers football club.
Here is a list of all our Cray 150 published books.
Twenty-Five for '25 (March 2025)
Short stories by customers and friends of the Croft Tea Room.
Pitches at an Exhibition (March 2025)
The long and winding road to Flamingo Park where Cray Wanderers are now playing football.
The City of London: Wandering and Wondering (second edition December 2024)
A walk in words around the City of the London past and present. This new second edition is an update of our now sold-out first book (2013).
Sign Here! (second edition October 2024)
A review of blue plaques, monuments and town & village signs of special interest in the London Borough of Bromley. This new (October 2024) second edition is an update of our now sold-out first book (2018).
Wandering No More! Cray Wanderers FC 1860 to 2024 (July 2024)
A bumper new and updated history of Kent and London's oldest football club who have just moved into their new stadium and first ever permanent home at Flamingo Park..
From Clambercrown to the Goose Cathedral (2024)
Celebrating the life and works of the Kent author Jocelyn Brooke
Transistor Radio at the Wedding (2024)
Score Direct from a Bounce-Up (2024)
Football nostalgia! from 1960s through to the 1990s.
Curiosities of the Crays (2023)
Curiosities of Orpington (2023)
These two local history light reads are full of information, comment and photos..
let sleeping dogs stand (2023)
Poems by Richard Bowdery. To purchase a copy please use this link:
richardbowderywriter.wordpress.com/poetry-books/
When Harry Met Cray (2023) *** SOLD OUT ***
Recalling the 1980s at Cray Wanderers and at other local football clubs in Kent and London.
Flash-Bang-Wallop! (2023)
Recalling the 1990s at Cray Wanderers and at other local football clubs in Kent and London.
Away-Days Cray (2022)
Adventures and stories of Cray Wanderers away match travels from 1894 to 2022.
Ken Collishaw 2nd edition (2022)
A nostalgic return to the 1950s and 1960s when Ken Collishaw scored goals! goals! goals!
Exciting Discoveries (2021)
Selected articles from Cray Wanderers football programmes from 1961 to 2021
Shirts that Stand the Strain (2021)
Adverts old and new in Cray Wanderers football programmes from 1900 to 2021
Our Covid Calendar (2021)
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
Undertow (2021)
Michael Gould’s fictional story set in a London suburb and on the Isle of Anglesey, Wales in 1961.
The Tribute Programmes (2021)
Phil Babbs (editor) presents a selection of Cray Wanderers programme tribute articles 2010 and 2020.
Problem Solved! (2020)
Jerry Dowlen’s fictional short stories featuring Inspector Gledd the chess-playing Scotland Yard detective.
Crayons in my Scrapbook (2020)
Local football in the 1940s and 1950s featuring Cray Wanderers and other clubs from London and Kent.
Let Us See the Goals Go In (2019)
Local football in the 1960s featuring Cray Wanderers and other clubs from London and Kent.
Where Have All the Stars Gone (2019) *** SOLD OUT ***
Local football in the 1970s featuring Cray Wanderers and other clubs from London and Kent.
Beautiful Colours (2018) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
There’s More to Say about Cray (2018)
More local history of the Crays told from the perspective of Cray Wanderers football club.
Marvellous Dreams (2017) *** SEE IMAGE ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
So Long, C.U. (2017) *** SOLD OUT ***
More of Jerry Dowlen’s memoirs of working in the City of London.
The Best of Cray Chatter Volume Two (2017) *** SOLD OUT ***
More selected articles from the Cray Chatter local football magazine 1980 to 2002.
From my Window (2016) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
The Croft Tea Room (2016)
Carol Wells tells her story of opening and running St Mary Cray’s very popular Tea Room from 2007 to 2015.
Win in Eleven Moves (2016)
Jerry Dowlen and a lifetime interest in the game of chess.
The Best of Cray Chatter Volume One (2016) *** SOLD OUT ***
Selected articles from the Cray Chatter local football magazine 1980 to 2002.
Raising the Roof (2015) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
So Long, C.U. (2017) *** SOLD OUT ***
More of Jerry Dowlen’s memoirs of working in the City of London.
The Best of Cray Chatter Volume Two (2017) *** SOLD OUT ***
More selected articles from the Cray Chatter local football magazine 1980 to 2002.
From my Window (2016) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
The Croft Tea Room (2016)
Carol Wells tells her story of opening and running St Mary Cray’s very popular Tea Room from 2007 to 2015.
Win in Eleven Moves (2016)
Jerry Dowlen and a lifetime interest in the game of chess.
The Best of Cray Chatter Volume One (2016) *** SOLD OUT ***
Selected articles from the Cray Chatter local football magazine 1980 to 2002.
Raising the Roof (2015) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original art and poetry by members and friends of the Croft Poetry Club.
Wandering Through the Crays (2015)
A social history of St Mary Cray and its famous football club the Cray Wanderers. Articles, photos and memoirs by many current and former residents of the Crays.
Meandering Through the Millstream (2015)
A mini-booklet of selected articles from the church magazine of St Mary’s, St Mary Cray, from 1951 to 2015.
A Cray Compendium (2014) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original writing and art by residents of the Crays and Orpington.
Dove on the Wing (2013) *** SEE IMAGE ***
A biography of Donald Ward (1909 – 2003) Bromley poet and pacifist. Written by Richard Bowdery and Jerry Dowlen in conjunction with Mike Floate of Newlands Publishing.
Forever Amber (2011) *** SOLD OUT ***
Cray Wanderers FC History 1860 to 2010. Co-authors Jerry Dowlen and Peter Goringe; Editor: Mike Floate. Published to mark the 150th anniversary of London’s oldest football club Cray Wanderers.
After Football, Nothing Much Happens (2004)
A short biography of Donald Ward, Bromley poet and pacifist.
Jerry Dowlen is the Cray 150 Publications editor and webmaster, 2024 E: [email protected] Some of our local history books are stocked by Bromley Libraries on the lending &/or reference shelves. .
A social history of St Mary Cray and its famous football club the Cray Wanderers. Articles, photos and memoirs by many current and former residents of the Crays.
Meandering Through the Millstream (2015)
A mini-booklet of selected articles from the church magazine of St Mary’s, St Mary Cray, from 1951 to 2015.
A Cray Compendium (2014) *** SOLD OUT ***
Original writing and art by residents of the Crays and Orpington.
Dove on the Wing (2013) *** SEE IMAGE ***
A biography of Donald Ward (1909 – 2003) Bromley poet and pacifist. Written by Richard Bowdery and Jerry Dowlen in conjunction with Mike Floate of Newlands Publishing.
Forever Amber (2011) *** SOLD OUT ***
Cray Wanderers FC History 1860 to 2010. Co-authors Jerry Dowlen and Peter Goringe; Editor: Mike Floate. Published to mark the 150th anniversary of London’s oldest football club Cray Wanderers.
After Football, Nothing Much Happens (2004)
A short biography of Donald Ward, Bromley poet and pacifist.
Jerry Dowlen is the Cray 150 Publications editor and webmaster, 2024 E: [email protected] Some of our local history books are stocked by Bromley Libraries on the lending &/or reference shelves. .