Bexleyheath
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bexleyheath, formerly known as "Bexley New Town", part of the London Borough of Bexley, consists of a suburban development located 12 miles (19.3 km) east-south-east of Charing Cross.
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[edit] Shopping and leisure
The modern town area of today features a bingo-hall, Cineworld cinema, hotel, magistrates' court, reference library, six-a-side football centre and ten-pin bowling alley (Ten Pin) among the more usual retail outlets. A substantial section of Broadway has become pedestrianised to upgrade conditions for shoppers and to respond to the competition from the Bluewater Shopping Centre close to nearby Greenhithe.
[edit] History
As recently as 200 years ago, Bexley Heath comprised an area of scrub land with few buildings (Bexley Heath windmill stood at the corner of Erith Road and Mayplace Road). The heath bordered Watling Street, the ancient Roman road between London and Canterbury. In 1766 Sir John Boyd had Danson House built in parkland (now Danson Park between Bexleyheath and Welling).
In 1814 the land to the north of Bexley that would become Bexleyheath became subject to an Enclosure Act. In 1859 architect Philip Webb designed Red House for the artist, reforming designer and socialist William Morris on the western edge of the heath, in the hamlet of Upton — before Upton became largely developed as a London suburb. Red House forms an early essay in a romantically-massed, non-historical, brick-and-tile domestic vernacular style; it has diverse windows and an extravagant stairway. The National Trust acquired the house in 2003.
Bexleyheath's parish church, Christ Church, dates from 1841 and the parish of Bexleyheath from 1866. (The building of the current church took place in 1877).
Alfred Bean, railway engineer and one-time owner of Danson House, furthered the development of Bexleyheath as a London suburb by championing the Bexleyheath Line in the 1880s to support the growth of the estates around Danson Park. The clock tower at the centre of the modern shopping area, built in 1912, commemorates the coronation of King George V.
[edit] Notable residents
- Steve Backley, javelin champion, attended Hurst Primary School and then Beths Grammar School
- singer-songwriter Kate Bush was born in Bexleyheath
- Bernie Ecclestone attended Bexleyheath School
- Graham Kersey, Surrey county cricketer also attended Beths Grammar School
- Liam Ridgewell, Aston Villa F.C. footballer was born and raised in Bexleyheath
- Linda Smith, stand-up comic and star of Radio 4 and BBC2, attended Bexleyheath School
- Delia Smith, television chef, attended Bexleyheath School
- Andy Townsend, professional footballer, attended Bexleyheath School
[edit] Transport
[edit] Rail
Two railway stations serve Bexleyheath: Bexleyheath Station and Barnehurst Station, both located on the Bexleyheath line. Trains go to London Charing Cross or London Victoria to the west, and to Dartford to the east. Some trains in peak hours go to Slade Green Station.
[edit] Buses
Bexleyheath, well served by buses, has become a major bus hub. Buses go to most places in the London Borough of Bexley and also the London Borough of Greenwich, with some going further to places such as Lewisham, Bromley or Orpington.
[edit] Schools
- Bexleyheath School
- St Catherine's RC School for Girls
- St Columba's Catholic Boys' School
- Townley Grammar School for Girls
- Beths Grammar School (formerly Bexley and Erith Technical High School)
[edit] Nearest places
[edit] Nearest railway stations
- Albany Park railway station
- Barnehurst railway station
- Bexley railway station
- Bexleyheath railway station
- Welling railway station
[edit] External links
- Bexleyheath website
- Bexleyheath School
- Red House - Details
- RED HOUSE - Bexley
- Welling
- Powerful Song about the area
