Founded in the 17th century, with later additions and extensions, the property includes three listed buildings.

[1][2][3] Bromley College was founded in 1666 by the Will of John Warner, Bishop of Rochester, to provide housing for "twenty poore widowes of orthodoxe and loyall clergiemen.”, which was supported by his estate at Swaton.

Its purpose is to provide housing for retired Church of England clergy and their spouses, retired widows and widowers of clerks, a divorced or separated spouse of a clerk or the unmarried child or step-child of a deceased collegian.

[9] It is run by a body of trustees which includes ex-officio positions assigned to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of London, the Bishop of Rochester, the Dean of St Paul's, the Archdeacon of Bromley and Bexley and the Chancellor of the Diocese of Rochester.

Some of these appoint deputies who manage the college with seven more co-opted trustees, while day-to-day administration is the responsibility of the Chaplain.