Lord Simon de Manning, a former Lord of the Manor for Kevington, London, and holder of the land which now includes Cudham, was a Grandson of Rudolph de Manning, Count Palatine, (who, married Elgida, aunt to King Harold I, (Harold Harefoot), of England); he was the royal Standard Bearer to King Richard the Lionheart, who carried the royal Standard to Jerusalem in 1190, during the First Crusade. In England, the forms Earl Palatine and Palatine Earldom are preferred.
The Blacksmith's Arms, originally a 17th-century farmhouse, has memorabilia relating to the music hall artiste known as "Little Tich". Cudham was part of Bromley Rural District from 1894 and Orpington Urban District from 1934 to 1965. The village was therefore part of Kent (and administered by Kent County Council) until the creation of Greater London on 1 April 1965. Cudham Recreation Ground, behind the church and pub, is home to Cudham Wyse Cricket Club, which was formed in 1965.
Since 2019, the local Member of Parliament is Gareth Bacon, elected with 30,882 votes or 63.4% of the vote share. Previously, the local Member of Parliament has been Jo Johnson of the Conservatives who is brother of the former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
By a numerical majority of 22,378 votes (45.9%), Orpington is the safest Conservative Parliamentary seat in London.
One councillor is elected every four years to Bromley London Borough Council. To date, the Darwin ward has only been represented by representatives from the Conservative Party.