Sidcup
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 51°25′35″N 0°06′09″E / 51.4263°N 0.1024°E
| Sidcup | |
  Sidcup shown within Greater London |
|
| Population | 64,123 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| London borough | Bexley |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SIDCUP |
| Postcode district | DA14, DA15 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| European Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Old Bexley & Sidcup |
| London Assembly | Bexley and Bromley |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
Sidcup is a suburban development in the London Borough of Bexley, South East London. Located 11.3 miles (18.2 km) south east of Charing Cross. Sidcup is bordered by both the London Borough of Bromley and Kent County Council and whilst now part of Greater London, was once referred to as the gateway to Kent.
Much of Sidcup is typical 1930s suburbia, primarily owner occupied semi-detached and detached housing, but it retains many parks and open spaces hinting at the great estates and large homes which once stood in the area.
The town contains a major hospital, a recently opened sports and leisure centre, as well as two colleges (Bird College and Rose Bruford College). The town centre has a mix of high street stores, independent shops, a modern library, coffee shops, snooker hall and several pubs. Sidcup contains a number of districts, some of them once villages in their own right - Blackfen, Foots Cray, Longlands, and Lamorbey.
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[edit] History
The name is thought to be derived from Cetecopp meaning 'seat shaped or flat topped hill'; it has its earliest recorded use in 1254.[1] Sidcup originated as a tiny hamlet on the road from London to Maidstone.
A number of manor houses (converted to others uses) remain. They include Frognal House, the birthplace and residence of Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, after whom Sydney, Australia was named (now converted for use as residential and nursing accommodation), Lamorbey House (now used by the Rose Bruford College), Sidcup Place (now a Brewers Fayre bar and restaurant) and "The Hollies" (now converted for residential use).
Sidcup parish formed the Sidcup Urban District of Kent from 1908. It was initially known as Foots Cray; however, in 1921 the urban district,[2] and in 1925 the parish,[3] was renamed Sidcup. The parish and district were abolished in 1934 and combined with Chislehurst to form the Chislehurst and Sidcup civil parish and urban district. In 1965 the parish and urban district were abolished. Sidcup went on to form part of the London Borough of Bexley in Greater London and Chislehurst formed part of the London Borough of Bromley.
Sidcup is mentioned in two famous plays and their film adaptations, Noël Coward's Relative Values and Harold Pinter's The Caretaker, and it was the location of the 2004 Dasani scandal.
It is also reputed that it was on the platform[4] of Sidcup railway station that Mick Jagger and Keith Richards first agreed to form a band, which later became the Rolling Stones. Other connections of Sidcup to the world of entertainment and show business include the Rose Bruford College of drama and Bird College, both of which have many well known and famous alumni; regular large-scale concerts are given by Sidcup Symphony Orchestra[5], which also serves the wider London Borough of Bexley.
For many years, Sidcup had as its constituency (Old Bexley and Sidcup) Member of Parliament, the Rt Hon. Sir Edward Heath, Prime Minister 1970-1974.
Sidcup's population as of 2009 is over 60,000,[citation needed] making it the second most populated town in the London Borough of Bexley, after Bexleyheath.
[edit] Associated notable people
- Michele Austin - Actress. Schooled in Sidcup.
- Steve Backley - Olympic sportsman. Born in Sidcup.
- Doreen Bird - Dance teacher. Lived in Sidcup and established college.
- Quentin Blake - Illustrator/Artist. Born in Sidcup.
- Ben Chorley - Footballer. Born in Sidcup.
- Charlie Clements - Actor. Born in Sidcup.
- Ian Davenport - Artist. Born in Sidcup.
- Martin Evans - Musician, former drummer of American Indie Pop band Milton and the Devils Party. Born and raised in Sidcup.
- Steve Hillier - Musician. Schooled in Sidcup.
- John Paul Jones - Bass guitarist Led Zeppelin. Born in Sidcup.
- Rob Knox - Actor, murdered in Sidcup.
- Ivan Magill - Innovative anaesthetist. Worked in Sidcup.
- Clive Mendonca - Footballer for Charlton Athletic. Lived in Sidcup
- Lee Murray - Former kickboxer and mixed martial arts champion, wanted for Securitas depot robbery. Born in Sidcup.
- Emma Noble - Glamour model. Born in Sidcup.
- Mike Rann - Premier of South Australia, politician. Born in Sidcup, lived in Blackfen prior to emigrating to New Zealand with his parents.
- John Regis - Olympic athlete. Lived in Sidcup.
- Wayne Routledge - Footballer. Born in Sidcup.
- Ethel Smyth - Composer and Suffragette. Born in Sidcup.
- Jim Staples - International Rugby Union captain, educated in Sidcup.
- Viscount Sydney - Frognal House, Sidcup was the birthplace and home of Thomas Townshend, first Viscount Sydney, after whom Sydney, Australia was named.
- Dick Taylor - Founder Member of The Pretty Things and early bass guitarist in the Rolling Stones. Schooled in Sidcup.
- Gordon Watson - Former Sheffield Wednesday footballer was born in Sidcup.
- Elizabeth Wiskemann - Journalist. Born in Sidcup.
- Doug Wright - Cricketer. Born in Sidcup.
- Sarah Louise Young - former pornographic actress, born in Sidcup.
[edit] Education
- For education in Sidcup see the main London Borough of Bexley article
[edit] Local Primary Schools
- Benedict House Primary School (Private)
- Birkbeck Primary School
- Burnt Oak Junior School
- Days Lane Primary School
- Hurst Primary School
- Longlands Primary School
- Merton Court Preparatory School (Private)
- West Lodge Primary School (Private)
[edit] Local Secondary Schools
[edit] Local Further & Higher Education Institutes
- Bird College, which also provides pre-vocational music and dance services on behalf of Bexley London Borough
- Rose Bruford College
[edit] Places of Worship
- All Saints Church, Rectory Lane
- Avery Hill Christian Fellowship, Southspring
- Christ Church, Main Road
- Emmanuel Church, Hadlow Road
- Foots Cray Baptist Church, Sidcup Hill
- Holy Redeemer Church, Days Lane
- Holy Trinity Church, Hurst Road
- New Community Church, Station Road
- New Generation Church, Acorn Centre, Birkbeck Road
- Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Burnt Oak Lane
- St Andrew's Church, Maylands Drive
- St James Church, North Cray Road
- St John's Church, Church Road
- St Lawrence's Church, Hamilton Road
- Sidcup Baptist Church, Main Road
- Sidcup New Covenant Church, Maylands Drive, (Uses St. Andrew's Premises)
[edit] Transport and locale
[edit] Nearby places
Nearby places often considered as part of Sidcup and having Sidcup as the "post town".
Other nearby places
[edit] Railway station
Sidcup is on the London commuter rail network and is served by two lines operated by Southeastern: London Charing Cross - Gravesend and the London Cannon Street ring line.
[edit] References
- ^ Mills, A., Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names, (2000)
- ^ Vision of Britain - Foots Cray Urban District
- ^ Vision of Britain - Foots Cray / Sidcup parish
- ^ The platform where Mick And Keith agreed to from a band
- ^ Sidcup Symphony Orchestra
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