Bellingham
Bellingham is a district in south east London, in the London Borough of Lewisham. Its neighbouring districts are Catford, Sydenham and Downham. The Ravensbourne River runs through the centre of Bellingham, also to the west and east it is bordered by railway lines working south from Catford.
The real name Bellingham means ‘the water-meadow belonging to Beora’s people’, and was the name of the medieval manor in the region. The name was preserved by the farm in the region, Bellingham Railway Station and the Bellingham Estate. Additional historical names have already been preserved by the road names of the estate, which are connected with King Alfred, who was thought to have already been god, the father of the manor of Lewisham, and were extracted from the titles of mills, houses and areas in the certain region.
Bellingham was mainly farmland until the Bellingham Estate was built, between 1920 and 1923. London Town Council built about 2600 houses and flats during this time. Bellingham Estate was one of many large estates built by London City Council after the First World War to assist with slum clearance and relieve overcrowding. As there was lots of land available most of the dwellings built were two-story homes, and there was lots of green, open space.
Today, Bellingham is a localised town centre. Its traditional is Randlesdown Road, which has a supermarket, a gym, hairdressers and multiple restaurants and food outlets. It has a sixth form college also, and a church and a library. Bellingham boasts many popular recent and present residents, including the singer/song-writer Kate Bush, the former Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan, and the footballer Ian Wright.