Bellingham is an area in south east London, in the London Borough of Lewisham. Its neighbouring districts are Catford, Sydenham and Downham. The Ravensbourne River runs through the middle of Bellingham, also 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 name of the medieval manor in the area. The name was preserved by the farm in the area, Bellingham Railway Station and the Bellingham Estate. Other historical names have already been preserved by the street titles of the estate, which are connected with King Alfred, who was simply thought to have been god, the father of the manor of Lewisham, and were taken from the real names of mills, houses and areas in the area.
Bellingham was farmland until the Bellingham Estate was built, mostly between 1920 and 1923. London Town Council built about 2600 houses and flats during this time. Bellingham Estate was among the many large 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 constructed were two-story homes, and there was lots of green, open space.
Today, Bellingham is a localised town centre. Its high street is Randlesdown Road, which has a supermarket, a fitness center, hairdressers and multiple restaurants and food outlets. It has a sixth form college also, and a church and a library. Bellingham boasts many popular past and present residents, like the singer/song-writer Kate Bush, the former Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan, and the footballer Ian Wright.