Bellingham
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 centre of Bellingham, also to the west and east it is bordered by railway lines jogging south from Catford.
The real name Bellingham means ‘the water-meadow belonging to Beora’s people’, and was the true 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 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 real names of mills, houses and fields in the area.
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. Bellingham Estate was one of many huge estates built by London City Council following the First World War to assist with slum clearance and alleviate overcrowding. As there was lots 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 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 recent and present residents, like the singer/song-writer Kate Bush, the former Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan, and the footballer Ian Wright.
