Bickley
Bickley is a district and a local government electoral ward in South East London, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is located east of Bromley and is situated 10.4 miles (16.7 km) south east of Charing Cross. It is known for its large and expensive houses.
Bickley | |
---|---|
Bickley Location within Greater London | |
Population | 13,904 (ward, 2001 Census)[1] 15,098 (2011 Census. Ward)[2] |
OS grid reference | TQ423688 |
London borough | |
Ceremonial county | Greater London |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | BROMLEY |
Postcode district | BR1,BR2 |
Dialling code | 020 |
Police | Metropolitan |
Fire | London |
Ambulance | London |
UK Parliament | |
London Assembly | |
Properties
Bickley Park contains a range of large houses, making it one of the most expensive areas in the Capital. It is the area between Chislehurst Road and Bickley Park Road extending to the railway at Chislehurst station. This area was the estate of Bickley Hall, a classical house designed by Robert Mylne, FRS, for John Wells, shipbuilder, in 1780 (demolished 1963). His brother William, shipbuilder and a director of Greenwich Hospital, inherited the estate, and his son John commissioned additions by Robert Smirke in 1810. Residential development started in the 1860s and was completed in the 1960s.
Notable residents
- Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge (1932–2000) Cricket player, lived on Hawthorne Road until about 1965.
- Florence Farr (1860–1917), religious writer and playwright, was born in Bickley.
- Evelyn Hellicar (1862–1929), architect.
- Gertrude Hermes (1901–1983) wood engraver, print maker and sculptor.
- Ethel Hurlbatt, principal of Bedford College, London.
- Pixie Lott (born 1991), singer-songwriter.
- Ernest Newton (1856–1921), architect.
- Charles Henry Bourne Quennell (1872–1935), architect and writer.
- Marjorie Quennell née Courtnay (1884–1972), artist, writer and museum curator.
- Peter Quennell (1905–1993), biographer, literary historian, editor, essayist, poet, and critic.
- John Wells (1761–1846), of Bickley Hall, High Sheriff of Kent. MP for Maidstone
Parks in Bickley
Jubilee Country Park
With entrances in Thornet Wood Road and Blackbrook lane, there are 62 acres (25 hectares) of wildflower meadows, hedgerows and semi-natural ancient woodland. There is a cycle route through this park to Petts Wood. The London LOOP footpath also goes through Jubilee Park and it is linked to National Trust countryside at Petts Wood and beyond that to Scadbury Park Nature Reserve.[3]
Whitehall Recreation Ground
A large play area on Southlands Road with children's playground.
Widmore Recreation Ground
A small local park with a children's playground which has entrances in Pembroke Road, Lewes Road and Tylney Road.
Education
Schools in Bickley
- Bickley Park (Independent)
- Bickley Primary School
- Breaside Preparatory School (Independent)
- Bromley High School (Independent)
- Bullers Wood School for Boys
- Scotts Park Primary
- St. George's Bickley Primary
Transport
Bickley station serves the area with services to London Victoria, Kentish Town, Orpington and Sevenoaks via Swanley. Bickley is also served by several Transport for London buses, connecting it with areas including Beckenham, Bexleyheath, Bromley, Catford, Chislehurst, Eltham, Locksbottom, Orpington, Petts Wood and Sidcup.
Nearby areas
Bickley borders Elmstead to the north, Chislehurst to the north east and east, Petts Wood to the south east, Southborough to the south, Bromley to the south west and west and Sundridge to the north west.
Places of worship
- St George's Church
- St. Augustine's Church
- Southborough Lane Baptist Church[4]
References
- Bromley.org 2001 Census information for the Bickley ward "Bickley ward population – 13904"
- "Bromley Ward population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
- Archived 8 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine
- Wythes, George. "George Wythes". Grace's Guide.