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, and to the east and west it is bordered by railway lines running south from Catford.
The true name Bellingham means ‘the water-meadow belonging to Beora’s people’, and was the real name of the medieval manor in the area. The real name was preserved by the farm in the area, Bellingham Railway Station and the Bellingham Estate. Various other historical names have been preserved by the street names of the estate, which are linked with King Alfred, who was thought to have been the lord of the manor of Lewisham, and were extracted from the brands of mills, houses and areas in the certain area.
Bellingham was farmland before Bellingham Estate was built, mostly between 1920 and 1923. London City Council built about 2600 houses and flats in this time. Bellingham Estate was one of many large estates constructed by London City Council following the First World War to aid with slum clearance and relieve overcrowding. As there is lots of land available most of the dwellings built were two-story houses, and there was lots of green, open space.
Today, Bellingham is a localised city centre. Its high street is Randlesdown Road, which has a supermarket, a gym, hairdressers and multiple restaurants and food outlets. It also has a sixth form college, and a church and a library. Bellingham boasts many famous past and present residents, including the singer/song-writer Kate Bush, the former Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan, and the footballer Ian Wright.
