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, also to the west and east it is bordered by railway lines working 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 region. The true 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 brands of the estate, which are connected with King Alfred, who was thought to have been the lord of the manor of Lewisham, and were extracted from the names of mills, houses and areas in the area.
Bellingham was farmland until the Bellingham Estate was built, between 1920 and 1923. London City Council built about 2600 houses and flats during this time period. Bellingham Estate was among the many large estates constructed by London City Council following the First World War to assist with slum clearance and reduce overcrowding. As there was plenty of land available most of the dwellings built were two-story homes, and there was plenty of green, open space.
Today, Bellingham is a localised town centre. Its traditional is Randlesdown Road, which includes 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 well-known past and present residents, like the singer/song-writer Kate Bush, the previous Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan, and the footballer Ian Wright.