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 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 owned by Beora’s people’, and was the real 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. Other historical names have already been preserved by the road brands of the estate, which are linked with King Alfred, who was thought to have already been god, the father of the manor of Lewisham, and were taken from the true names of mills, houses and areas in the area.
Bellingham was farmland before Bellingham Estate was built, between 1920 and 1923. London City Council built about 2600 homes and flats during this time. Bellingham Estate was among the many huge estates built by London City Council after the First World War to aid with slum clearance and reduce overcrowding. As there was plenty of land available the majority of the dwellings constructed were two-story homes, and there was plenty of green, open space.
Today, Bellingham is a localised city centre. Its traditional is Randlesdown Road, which includes 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 famous former and present residents, like the singer/song-writer Kate Bush, the former Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan, and the footballer Ian Wright.