Bellingham is an area in south east London, in the London Borough of Lewisham. Its neighbouring districts are Catford, Downham and Sydenham. The Ravensbourne River runs through the middle of Bellingham, and to the east and west it is bordered by railway lines running south from Catford.
The real name Bellingham means ‘the water-meadow owned by Beora’s people’, and was the true name of the medieval manor in the area. The real 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 street names of the estate, which are linked with King Alfred, who was simply thought to have been the lord of the manor of Lewisham, and were taken from the names of mills, houses and areas in the certain region.
Bellingham was mainly farmland before Bellingham Estate was built, between 1920 and 1923. London City Council built about 2600 houses and flats during this time period. Bellingham Estate was one of many huge estates constructed by London City Council following the First World War to assist with slum clearance and relieve overcrowding. As there was plenty 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 fitness center, hairdressers and multiple restaurants and food outlets. It also has a sixth form college, and a church and a library. Bellingham boasts many popular recent and present residents, including the singer/song-writer Kate Bush, the previous Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan, and the footballer Ian Wright.