Bickley
Bickley | |
---|---|
![]() The Church of Saint George in Bickley | |
Location withinGreater London | |
Population | 13,904 (ward,2001 Census)[1] 15,098 (2011 Census. Ward)[2] |
OS grid reference | TQ423688 |
London borough | |
Ceremonial county | Greater London |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | BROMLEY |
Postcode district | BR1,BR2 |
Dialling code | 020 |
Police | Metropolitan |
Fire | London |
Ambulance | London |
UK Parliament | |
London Assembly | |
Bickleyis a district and a local government electoral ward in South East London, within theLondon Borough of Bromley.It is located 10.4 miles (16.7 km) south east ofCharing Cross,borderingElmsteadto the north,Chislehurstto the north-east and east,Petts Woodto the south-east,Southboroughto the south,Bromleyto the south-west and west andWidmoreto the north-west. Until 1965, it was in thehistoric countyofKent.
History
[edit]The area's name is first recorded in 1279, the 'ley' or 'lea' referring to a forest clearing, and 'Bicca' either meaning a pointed ridge, or else a personal name.[3]The area remained rural, save for a small hunting lodge belonging to the Wells family dating to 1759.[3]The Lodge was gradually enlarged to become Bickley Hall, a classical house designed byRobert Mylne,FRS,for John Wells, shipbuilder, in 1780 (demolished 1963).[citation needed]His brother William, shipbuilder and a director ofGreenwich Hospital,inherited the estate, and his son John commissioned additions byRobert Smirkein 1810.[citation needed]John Wells began selling part of his lands in 1841 following due to financial difficulties, and by the late 1850s a few large houses had been built in the area, aided by the opening ofBickley railway station(formerly named Southborough Road) in 1858 andChislehurst stationin 1865.[3]Much of the area was purchased and developed by George Wythes, who commissioned numerous large houses for the wealthy classes, most of them designed byRichard Norman ShawandErnest Newton.St George's Church was built in 1865, and a cricket ground in 1868.[3]Smaller-scale development continued throughout the early 20th century and several of the older, larger properties were demolished or sub-divided.[3]The area today remains a wealthy one, characterised by large detached housing.[3]
Parks in Bickley
[edit]Jubilee Country Park
[edit]With entrances in Thornet Wood Road and Blackbrook lane, there are 62 acres (25 hectares) of wildflower meadows, hedgerows and semi-natural ancient woodland. There is a cycle route through this park to Petts Wood. TheLondon LOOPfootpath also goes through Jubilee Park and it is linked to National Trust countryside at Petts Wood and beyond that toScadbury ParkNature Reserve.[4]
Whitehall Recreation Ground
[edit]A large play area on Southlands Road with a children's playground.
Widmore Recreation Ground
[edit]A small local park with a children's playground which has entrances in Pembroke Road, Lewes Road and Tylney Road.
Education
[edit]Schools in Bickley
- Bickley Park (Independent)
- Bickley Primary School
- Breaside Preparatory School(Independent)
- Bromley High School(Independent)
- Bullers Wood School for Boys
- Scotts Park Primary
- St. George's Bickley Primary
Transport
[edit]Bickley stationserves the area with services toLondon Victoria,Kentish Town,OrpingtonandSevenoaksviaSwanley.Bickley is also served by severalTransport for Londonbuses, connecting it with areas includingBeckenham,Bexleyheath,Bromley,Catford,Chislehurst,Eltham,Locksbottom,Orpington,Petts WoodandSidcup.
Places of worship
[edit]- St George's Church
- St. Augustine's Church
- Southborough Lane Baptist Church[5]
Notable residents
[edit]- David Bowie(1947-2016), musician, lived at 106 Canon Road from 1953 to 1954.[6]
- Colin Cowdrey,Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge (1932–2000) Cricket player, lived on Hawthorne Road until about 1965.[citation needed]
- Florence Farr(1860–1917), religious writer and playwright, was born in Bickley.[7]
- Norman Fulton(1909–1980), composer, lived in Bickley.[8]
- Evelyn Hellicar(1862–1929), architect.[citation needed]
- Gertrude Hermes(1901–1983) wood engraver, print maker and sculptor, born in Bickley.[9]
- Ethel Hurlbatt,principal ofBedford College, London,born in Bickley.[10]
- Pixie Lott(born 1991), singer-songwriter, spent part of her childhood in Bickley.[11]
- Ernest Newton(1856–1921), architect who designed many houses in the area.[3]
- Charles Henry Bourne Quennell(1872–1935), architect of the Bickley development and writer, lived at 9 The Avenue.[3]
- Marjorie QuennellnéeCourtnay (1884–1972), artist, writer and museum curator, wife of CHB Quennell.[12]
- Peter Quennell(1905–1993), biographer, literary historian, editor, essayist, poet, and critic, son of CHB Quennell.[12]
- John Wells(1761–1846), of Bickley Hall, High Sheriff of Kent. MP for Maidstone.[3]
Gallery
[edit]-
Bickley sign on Bickley Park Road
-
Woodlands Road, lined by substantial detached properties
-
The Elms, Bickley
-
The grade II listed St George's Church, built 1863-65 (with the spire rebuilt in 1905-06)[13]
-
A typical house in the area
-
Bickley rail station
References
[edit]- ^Bromley.org2001 Census information for the Bickley ward[permanent dead link]"Bickley ward population – 13904"
- ^"Bromley Ward population 2011".Neighbourhood Statistics.Office for National Statistics.Retrieved10 October2016.
- ^abcdefghiWilley, Russ (2006).The London Gazzetteer.Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. p. 42.
- ^[1]Archived8 July 2010 at theWayback Machine
- ^Wythes, George."George Wythes".Grace's Guide.
- ^Palmer, Jim (11 January 2016)."18 south east London places where David Bowie lived, learned and played".News Shopper.Retrieved31 August2020.
- ^Wise, Caroline."Florence Farr, Priestess and Adept".Fellowship of Isis.Retrieved29 August2020.
- ^National Library of Scotland archive
- ^James Hamilton (2004).Hermes, Gertrude Anna Bertha (1901–1983).Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.Oxford University Press. Retrieved January 2014.(subscription required)
- ^Badham, Sophie (2004)."Hurlbatt, Ethel".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/48440.ISBN978-0-19-861412-8.Retrieved29 August2020.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^"Pixie Lott Singer HD Wallpapers".papershd.Archived fromthe originalon 15 April 2015.Retrieved2 December2014.
- ^abDenigan, James (2004)."Quennell, Sir Peter Courtney".Oxford Dictionary of National Biography(online ed.). Oxford University Press.doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/53167.ISBN978-0-19-861412-8.Retrieved29 August2020.(Subscription orUK public library membershiprequired.)
- ^Historic England."Church of St George (1064311)".National Heritage List for England.Retrieved6 September2020.