Beckenham
Encyclopedia
Beckenham is a town in the London Borough of Bromley
, England
. It is located 8.4 miles (13.5 km) south east of Charing Cross
and 1.75 miles (2.8 km) west of Bromley
town. Until the coming of the railway in 1857, Beckenham was a small village in almost completely rural surroundings: once a family of entrepreneurs began the building of villas here, its population soared from 2000 to 26,000 during 1850-1900 and throughout the rest of the century. The current population is nearly 82,000
Today it is very much in London suburbia, although some of the grand houses of the early days remain.
of 1086, and in the Textus Roffensis
as Becceham. The name is thought to derive from Beohha's homestead (Beohhan + ham in Old English). The name of the small stream here - the River Beck - is most likely to have been named after the village.
and Bronze Age
artefacts have been found, reveals some evidence of early settlers. A Roman
camp was sited here, and a Roman road
, the London to Lewes Way
passed through the district.
With the arrival of the Normans
, the Manor of Beckenham took on added importance, and controlled much of what is modern Beckenham. St George's Church was built in the 12th century. In the Middle Ages, the manor lands were divided: at this time the estates of Kelsey and Langley came into being. Beckenham still remained a small village until well into the 19th century. The beginning of its growth began when, in 1773, John Cator
built Beckenham Place and became Lord of the Manor. After he died in 1807, his sons soon became aware that the area in such close proximity to London was ripe for development, especially once the railway had arrived in 1857; and large villas began to be built around the new station. Wide roads and large gardens epitomised these properties.
Between then and the early 20th century, further growth of Beckenham took place: The Shortlands
area in 1863; Clock House in the 1890s; Elmers End
in 1911 (where smaller suburban houses were built); Park Langley in 1908; and Eden Park in 1926. The Manor of Foxgrove was also broken up at some point: its name is commemorated in a local road.
came into being in 1935. It took over from what had been, since 1894, Beckenham Urban District Council, and included parts of Hayes and West Wickham
, previously part of Bromley Rural District Council. The new Borough status reflected the growth of Beckenham in little less than fifty years.
In 1965, as part of the creation of the Greater London Council
, the Borough council was disbanded, and Beckenham came under control of the newly-constituted London Borough of Bromley
. Councillors represent various parts of the erstwhile Borough of Beckenham. There is also a Beckenham Town Centre Management, with the aim of coordinating business interests in the town.
flows northwards at the eastern side of the town, towards its confluence with the River Thames
. The small stream, the River Beck, passes through the town before joining the Ravensbourne further north. The area is part of an outcrop of London Clay
which results in it consisting of many small hills.
the UK's biggest independent music distributor and Vizual
, a leading HR software developer.
, now a listed building. It is built in an unusual Japanese pagoda style and deals Peugeot
and Kia
cars. There is also St George's Church, datind back to 1100 but mostly rebuilt at the end of the 19th century. The lych gate is 13th century, one of the oldest in England, and the almshouses date back to 1694. There are two old pubs, Ye Olde George Inn (1662), and the Three Tuns. Kelsey Park is another landmark. It was part of the Kelsey Estate, but the mansion no longer remains. The only surviving buildings are the two Grade II listed lodge cottages at the entrance, which are over 200 years old.
, serving Orpington
line trains; New Beckenham
, and Clock House
on the Hayes line
; and Beckenham Hill
and Ravensbourne
on the Catford Loop Line
.
Tramlink route 2
links its terminus at Beckenham junction to East and West Croydon, and Wimbledon.
Main road routes passing through the town are the A222
, linking Croydon
and Sidcup
, and the shorter, more local, A234
and A2015 roads. Bus services radiate from Beckenham High Street on a large number of routes.
. The almshouses next to the church go back to 1694. There are also three other Anglican
churches in the town: All Saints Church; Holy Trinity Church; and St James at Elmers End. In addition, there are Methodist and Baptist
churches; and the Roman Catholic church dedicated to St Edmund of Canterbury.
Town churches include:
St. George’s Church
(W. Gibbs Bartleet, 1885–1887), St. Barnabas on Oakhill Road (A. Stenning & H. Hall, 1878 or 1884), Christ Church, Fairfield Road (Blashill & Hayward, 1876), St. Edmund’s Catholic Church, Village Way (J. P’Hanlon Hughes, 1937), St. James, St. James’ Avenue (A.R. Stenning, 1879–1898), St. Michael and All Angels, Ravenscroft Road (W. H. Hobday & F. H. Maynard, 1955–1956), St. Paul, Brackley Road (Smith & Williams, 1872), Holy Trinity, Lennard Road (E.F. Clarke, 1878), Baptist Church, Elm Road (Appleton & E. W. Mountford, 1889), Congregational Church, Crescent Road (J. W. & R. F. Beaumont, 1887-8), Methodist Church (James Weir, 1887).
Beckenham Hospital, now called Beckenham Beacon, following redevelopment, is a minor treatment centre and an outstation to Princess Royal Hospital in Farnborough for outpatient services. It has GP, dental and other services available. The Bethlem Royal Hospital
, which specialises in psychiatry
is located along Monks Orchard Road, next to the border with Shirley
.
The South East London Green Chain
, a long distance footpath
is well-represented in Beckenham. Both Kelsey Park
and Beckenham Place Park
form part of the Chain. There are other open spaces in the town, including Croydon Road Recreation Ground
and Cator Park. South Norwood Country Park
abuts the town to the south-west. There is also a walk starting in Cator Park, going down the High Street, through Kelsey Park, then Croydon Road Recreation Ground and back to Cator Park.
, a former first-class cricket ground, staged the Kent All-Comers' Championships, an international tennis
tournament, from 1886 to 1996, featuring many of the world's top players as it opened the grass-court season building up to The Championships at Wimbledon. It was also the breeding ground of players such as England internationals Derek Underwood
and Richard Ellison, and most recently Kent captain Robert Key. The club held the world's first open grass-court tournament in June 1968 - one month after the sport became 'open' to amateur and professional players - with Australians Fred Stolle
and Margaret Court winning the singles titles. Beckenham Cricket Club is also the home to Bromley and Beckenham Hockey Club, a National League Hockey Club, with 8 Men's teams and 5 Women's team and one of the largest Junior Hockey Sections in the UK.
's long-running BBC Radio 4
comedy drama, No Commitments
(1992–2007), Beckenham is the home of the wildly snobbish, socially aspirational and insecure sister Victoria; the town is frequently mocked by association.
Beckenham is also one of the main locations of the novel The Buddha of Suburbia
(1990), by Hanif Kureishi
.
(also known as Elmers End Crematorium and Cemetery).
(1928–2003); Robin Awan (1986–present); Julie Andrews
(1935- ); David Bowie
(1947- ), who lived at 42 Southend Road, Beckenham from 1969–1973; Wende Snijders
(1978- ), the Dutch
singer; and the actors Maurice Denham
(1909–2002), and Simon Ward
(1941- ). CSgt
Frank Bourne
of Rorke's Drift
, South Africa
n Zulu
war, lived at 16 King's Hall Road, Beckenham and is buried in Beckenham Cemetery. Fr. Thomas Pelham Dale
SSC
, Anglo-Catholic clergyman was prosecuted for Ritualist practices in the 1870s. Writers include Enid Blyton
(1897–1968) and A.L. Barker (1918–2002); Betty Box
(1915–1999) and her brother Sydney
(1907–1983) were film producers. There are many sportsmen, especially cricketers; and Tom Pettitt
(1859–1956) was Real Tennis
world champion 1885-90. David Haye
, WBA
champion, moved to Beckenham in 2010.
and New Zealand
. The Australian and New Zealand Beckenhams were named after the town in London, and this association continues in the naming of adjacent areas: the town of Sydenham
is next to Beckenham in London, the suburb of Sydenham
adjoins the suburb of Beckenham
in Christchurch, and the suburb of Beckenham
in Perth
contains a Sydenham Street.
London Borough of Bromley
The London Borough of Bromley is a London borough of south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in the borough is Bromley.-Geography:...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is located 8.4 miles (13.5 km) south east of Charing Cross
Charing Cross
Charing Cross denotes the junction of Strand, Whitehall and Cockspur Street, just south of Trafalgar Square in central London, England. It is named after the now demolished Eleanor cross that stood there, in what was once the hamlet of Charing. The site of the cross is now occupied by an equestrian...
and 1.75 miles (2.8 km) west of Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
town. Until the coming of the railway in 1857, Beckenham was a small village in almost completely rural surroundings: once a family of entrepreneurs began the building of villas here, its population soared from 2000 to 26,000 during 1850-1900 and throughout the rest of the century. The current population is nearly 82,000
Today it is very much in London suburbia, although some of the grand houses of the early days remain.
Etymology
The settlement is referred to as Bacheham in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086, and in the Textus Roffensis
Textus Roffensis
The Textus Roffensis, or in full, Textus de Ecclesia Roffensi per Ernulphum episcopum , refers to a manuscript in which two originally separate manuscripts written about the same time, between 1122 and 1124, are bound together...
as Becceham. The name is thought to derive from Beohha's homestead (Beohhan + ham in Old English). The name of the small stream here - the River Beck - is most likely to have been named after the village.
History
Although early written history tells little of the area, archaeological evidence at Holwood Park, where Stone AgeStone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
and Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
artefacts have been found, reveals some evidence of early settlers. A Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
camp was sited here, and a Roman road
Roman roads in Britain
Roman roads, together with Roman aqueducts and the vast standing Roman army , constituted the three most impressive features of the Roman Empire. In Britain, as in other provinces, the Romans constructed a comprehensive network of paved trunk roads Roman roads, together with Roman aqueducts and the...
, the London to Lewes Way
London to Lewes Way (Roman road)
The London to Lewes Way is a long Roman road between Watling Street at Peckham and Lewes in Sussex. The road passes through Beckenham and West Wickham, then crosses the North Downs above Titsey, on the county boundary between Surrey and Kent, and is overlain by Edenbridge High Street.The road...
passed through the district.
With the arrival of the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
, the Manor of Beckenham took on added importance, and controlled much of what is modern Beckenham. St George's Church was built in the 12th century. In the Middle Ages, the manor lands were divided: at this time the estates of Kelsey and Langley came into being. Beckenham still remained a small village until well into the 19th century. The beginning of its growth began when, in 1773, John Cator
John Cator
John Cator was a wealthy timber merchant and landowner responsible for the layout of much of the areas around Blackheath and Beckenham, both in London — and both of which were in the county of Kent during the late 18th century.The son of a Herefordshire timber merchant and Quaker, Cator...
built Beckenham Place and became Lord of the Manor. After he died in 1807, his sons soon became aware that the area in such close proximity to London was ripe for development, especially once the railway had arrived in 1857; and large villas began to be built around the new station. Wide roads and large gardens epitomised these properties.
Between then and the early 20th century, further growth of Beckenham took place: The Shortlands
Shortlands
Shortlands is a ward of the London Borough of Bromley, located less than a mile from Bromley town centre. Historically, Shortlands was known as Clay Hill. It became known as Shortlands around 1800, after the fields which, at this point of the Ravensbourne river, ran at right angles up the slopes...
area in 1863; Clock House in the 1890s; Elmers End
Elmers End
Elmers End is a place in London Borough of Bromley, England. It has a large green space which is the centre of a gyratory. Very close to the combined railway station and Tramlink terminus bearing its name is the old sewage farm. The remains of this industrial site can still be seen...
in 1911 (where smaller suburban houses were built); Park Langley in 1908; and Eden Park in 1926. The Manor of Foxgrove was also broken up at some point: its name is commemorated in a local road.
Governance
The Municipal Borough of BeckenhamMunicipal Borough of Beckenham
Beckenham was a local government district in north west Kent from 1878 to 1965 around the town of Beckenham. The area was suburban to London, formed part of the Metropolitan Police District and from 1933 was included in the area of the London Passenger Transport Board.-History:In 1878 the parish of...
came into being in 1935. It took over from what had been, since 1894, Beckenham Urban District Council, and included parts of Hayes and West Wickham
West Wickham
West Wickham is a place in the London Borough of Bromley, England. It is 10.3 miles south east of Charing Cross. West Wickham history dates back to early settlements existing since 1068, although the name `Wickham` is an indication of an earlier Anglo-Saxon settlement...
, previously part of Bromley Rural District Council. The new Borough status reflected the growth of Beckenham in little less than fifty years.
In 1965, as part of the creation of the Greater London Council
Greater London Council
The Greater London Council was the top-tier local government administrative body for Greater London from 1965 to 1986. It replaced the earlier London County Council which had covered a much smaller area...
, the Borough council was disbanded, and Beckenham came under control of the newly-constituted London Borough of Bromley
London Borough of Bromley
The London Borough of Bromley is a London borough of south east London, England and forms part of Outer London. The principal town in the borough is Bromley.-Geography:...
. Councillors represent various parts of the erstwhile Borough of Beckenham. There is also a Beckenham Town Centre Management, with the aim of coordinating business interests in the town.
Geography
The original village of Beckenham was situated at what is now the northern part of the town area. Around it were the great estates: Beckenham Park, Kelsey and Langley Park. The River RavensbourneRiver Ravensbourne
The River Ravensbourne is a tributary of the River Thames in South London, England. It flows into the River Thames on the Tideway at Deptford, where its tidal reach is known as Deptford Creek.- Geography :...
flows northwards at the eastern side of the town, towards its confluence with the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. The small stream, the River Beck, passes through the town before joining the Ravensbourne further north. The area is part of an outcrop of London Clay
London Clay
The London Clay Formation is a marine geological formation of Ypresian age which crops out in the southeast of England. The London Clay is well known for the fossils it contains. The fossils from the Lower Eocene indicate a moderately warm climate, the flora being tropical or subtropical...
which results in it consisting of many small hills.
Economy
Despite its leafy image, due to its close proximity to London and the fact that it is served by eight railway stations (Beckenham Junction, Clockhouse, New Beckenham, Ravensbourne, Kent House, Elmers End, Eden Park and Beckenham Hill), Beckenham makes an ideal business location. The area boasts a busy high street containing many restaurants, upmarket chains as well as family run independents, and has a good selection of well performing schools. Beckenham is the headquarters to Capita Registrars Limited who provide share registration services for more than half of the UK’s quoted companies, Proper RecordsProper Records
Proper Records is a record label founded in 1988 by Malcolm Mills and Paul Riley. Commencing with a handful of releases, including The Balham Alligators and Chilli Willi and the Red Hot Peppers, the label grew in stature and renown through its reissue marque, 'Proper Box', whose 4CD boxsets for...
the UK's biggest independent music distributor and Vizual
Vizual
Human Resource Management specialist Vizual Business Tools was established in 1996 and develops Human Resources software solutions for all business sectors across all company sizes, aimed at reducing the traditional administration associated with HR processes...
, a leading HR software developer.
Landmarks
One of the interesting landmarks in Beckenham is the Chinese GarageChinese Garage
The Chinese Garage is a garage and former petrol station situated in Beckenham in the London Borough of Bromley, on a roundabout linking Beckenham, Eden Park and Shortlands.-History:...
, now a listed building. It is built in an unusual Japanese pagoda style and deals Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
and Kia
Kia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
cars. There is also St George's Church, datind back to 1100 but mostly rebuilt at the end of the 19th century. The lych gate is 13th century, one of the oldest in England, and the almshouses date back to 1694. There are two old pubs, Ye Olde George Inn (1662), and the Three Tuns. Kelsey Park is another landmark. It was part of the Kelsey Estate, but the mansion no longer remains. The only surviving buildings are the two Grade II listed lodge cottages at the entrance, which are over 200 years old.
Transport
Beckenham has several railway links to London and to the south of Kent. The stations are Beckenham Junction, serving several routes: Kent HouseKent House railway station
Kent House railway station serves an area between Penge and Beckenham in the London Borough of Bromley in south London: it takes its name from Kent House farm nearby, historically the first house in Kent after crossing the Surrey border. It is in Travelcard Zone 4, and the station and all trains...
, serving Orpington
Orpington
Orpington is a suburban town and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley. It forms the southeastern edge of London's urban sprawl and is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
line trains; New Beckenham
New Beckenham railway station
New Beckenham railway station serves Beckenham in the London Borough of Bromley in south east London, in Travelcard Zone 4. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southeastern.- Services :The typical off peak train service per hour is:...
, and Clock House
Clock House railway station
Clock House railway station is in the London Borough of Bromley in south east London, in Travelcard Zone 4 between Beckenham and Penge. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southeastern on the Hayes line....
on the Hayes line
Hayes Line
The Hayes Line is the railway service in south east London, United Kingdom operated by Southeastern between Charing Cross or Cannon Street and Hayes in the London Borough of Bromley...
; and Beckenham Hill
Beckenham Hill railway station
Beckenham Hill railway station is in the London Borough of Lewisham in south London, very close to the border with Bromley. It is in Travelcard Zone 4, and the station and all trains are operated by Southeastern...
and Ravensbourne
Ravensbourne railway station
Ravensbourne railway station is in the London Borough of Bromley in south London. It is in Travelcard Zone 4, and the station and all trains are operated by Southeastern....
on the Catford Loop Line
Catford Loop Line
The Catford Loop Line is a railway line in southeast London. It carries a suburban stopping service from central London to Sevenoaks, and is also a relief route for the Chatham Main Line which conveys passenger trains from London Victoria to the Kent coast...
.
Tramlink route 2
Tramlink route 2
Tramlink route 2 is one of three tram routes operated as part of the Tramlink network in south London. The route is operated by London Tramlink, part of Transport for London under the Tramlink brand.- History :...
links its terminus at Beckenham junction to East and West Croydon, and Wimbledon.
Nearest places
- BromleyBromleyBromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
- ShortlandsShortlandsShortlands is a ward of the London Borough of Bromley, located less than a mile from Bromley town centre. Historically, Shortlands was known as Clay Hill. It became known as Shortlands around 1800, after the fields which, at this point of the Ravensbourne river, ran at right angles up the slopes...
- AnerleyAnerleyAnerley is a district of South London, England, located in the London Borough of Bromley. It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross. Anerley is geographically an outer lying area of London, although it is considered to have characteristics of an Inner city suburb...
- Elmers EndElmers EndElmers End is a place in London Borough of Bromley, England. It has a large green space which is the centre of a gyratory. Very close to the combined railway station and Tramlink terminus bearing its name is the old sewage farm. The remains of this industrial site can still be seen...
- PengePengePenge is a suburb of London in the London Borough of Bromley. It is located south east of Charing Cross.-History:Penge was once a small town, which was recorded under the name Penceat in a Saxon deed dating from 957...
Main road routes passing through the town are the A222
A222 road
The A222 is a non-primary A road between Bexley and Croydon. The road passes through three London boroughs.-Route:The A222 starts in the narrow Bexley High Street, which has a great deal of character. It passes Bexley railway station and the B2210, then it carries on along the train lines until it...
, linking Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
and Sidcup
Sidcup
Sidcup is a district in South East London in the London Borough of Bexley and small parts of the district in the London Borough of Greenwich.Located south east of Charing Cross, Sidcup is bordered by the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bromley and Kent County Council, and whilst now part of...
, and the shorter, more local, A234
A234 road
The A234 is an A road between Crystal Palace and Beckenham in London, England.It starts as Crystal Palace Park Road near the top of Sydenham Hill. Running down on the North side of Crystal Palace Park it passes under two viaducts for the railway lines between London Bridge and East Croydon and...
and A2015 roads. Bus services radiate from Beckenham High Street on a large number of routes.
Religious sites
The town has a number of places of worship. St. George's Church is the principal parish church, and is in the centre of Beckenham. It was extensively rebuilt, at the end of the 19th. century, but an earlier building dates back to 1100. It has a 13th. century lych gate that is thought to be one of the oldest in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The almshouses next to the church go back to 1694. There are also three other Anglican
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
churches in the town: All Saints Church; Holy Trinity Church; and St James at Elmers End. In addition, there are Methodist and Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
churches; and the Roman Catholic church dedicated to St Edmund of Canterbury.
Town churches include:
St. George’s Church
St. George’s Church, Beckenham
St. George’s Church, Beckenham is the Church of England parish church of Beckenham, Kent.St George's church is the principal parish church, and is in the centre of Beckenham...
(W. Gibbs Bartleet, 1885–1887), St. Barnabas on Oakhill Road (A. Stenning & H. Hall, 1878 or 1884), Christ Church, Fairfield Road (Blashill & Hayward, 1876), St. Edmund’s Catholic Church, Village Way (J. P’Hanlon Hughes, 1937), St. James, St. James’ Avenue (A.R. Stenning, 1879–1898), St. Michael and All Angels, Ravenscroft Road (W. H. Hobday & F. H. Maynard, 1955–1956), St. Paul, Brackley Road (Smith & Williams, 1872), Holy Trinity, Lennard Road (E.F. Clarke, 1878), Baptist Church, Elm Road (Appleton & E. W. Mountford, 1889), Congregational Church, Crescent Road (J. W. & R. F. Beaumont, 1887-8), Methodist Church (James Weir, 1887).
Education
The principal secondary schools in Beckenham are Kelsey Park Sports College; Cator Park School;/ and the two Langley Park schools: for boys and girls. There are also a large number of schools catering for primary education. Such as the independent Roman Catholic school, Bishop Challoner, and Churchfields Primary School.Health
Bethlem Royal Hospital
The Bethlem Royal Hospital is a psychiatric hospital located in London, United Kingdom and part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust. Although no longer based at its original location, it is recognised as the world's first and oldest institution to specialise in mental illnesses....
, which specialises in psychiatry
Psychiatry
Psychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
is located along Monks Orchard Road, next to the border with Shirley
Shirley
Shirley may refer to:*Shirley , either a given name or a surname-Places:United Kingdom*Shirley, Derbyshire, England*Shirley, Southampton, a district of Southampton, England...
.
Culture and leisure
There is a museum and archives at Bethlem Royal Hospital. The local Odeon cinema has six screens and is a grade II listed building. In common with most towns of its size, Beckenham has a number of leisure organisations and societies; whilst the Beckenham Festival of Music and Dancing takes place every November. Beckenham Theatre exists to put on amateur productions. The Beckenham Concert Band is a successful community wind band which has, over the last 35 years, raised thousands of pounds for local and national charities. It caters for amateur wind and brass musicians and performs locally during the winter months and across London and the South East during the summer.The South East London Green Chain
South East London Green Chain
The South East London Green Chain, also known as the Green Chain Walk is a linked system of open spaces between the River Thames and Crystal Palace Park in London, England. In 1977 four London Boroughs and the Greater London Council created this Green Chain of 300 open spaces to protect them from...
, a long distance footpath
Long-distance trail
Long-distance trails are the longer recreational trails mainly through rural areas, used for non-motorised recreational travelling ....
is well-represented in Beckenham. Both Kelsey Park
Kelsey Park
Kelsey Park is a public park in Beckenham in the BR3 postcode area in the borough of Bromley, South London. It historically formed the landscaped park of the Kelsey Manor Estate....
and Beckenham Place Park
Beckenham Place Park
Beckenham Place Park is located mainly in Beckenham but is under the jurisdiction of the London Borough of Lewisham in South East London. The Park lies on the Lewisham/Bromley border strictly speaking between Downham, Bellingham, Beckenham and Shortlands. It was acquired from the Cator Estate by...
form part of the Chain. There are other open spaces in the town, including Croydon Road Recreation Ground
Croydon Road Recreation Ground
Croydon Road Recreation Ground is a public park located in Beckenham in the London Borough of Bromley. It is near the High St and adjacent to Beckenham Hospital...
and Cator Park. South Norwood Country Park
South Norwood Country Park
South Norwood Country Park is a park in South Norwood, close to Elmers End station, mainly in the London Borough of Croydon. It is a 47 hectare green space which opened in 1989...
abuts the town to the south-west. There is also a walk starting in Cator Park, going down the High Street, through Kelsey Park, then Croydon Road Recreation Ground and back to Cator Park.
Sport
Beckenham Cricket Club in Foxgrove RoadFoxgrove Road
Foxgrove Road, home to Beckenham Cricket Club, a multi-sports club, is a former first-class cricket venue located in Beckenham, England.It was used by Kent County Cricket Club as an outground for 14 matches between 1886 and 1905...
, a former first-class cricket ground, staged the Kent All-Comers' Championships, an international tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
tournament, from 1886 to 1996, featuring many of the world's top players as it opened the grass-court season building up to The Championships at Wimbledon. It was also the breeding ground of players such as England internationals Derek Underwood
Derek Underwood
Derek Underwood MBE is an English former international cricketer, and a former President of the MCC....
and Richard Ellison, and most recently Kent captain Robert Key. The club held the world's first open grass-court tournament in June 1968 - one month after the sport became 'open' to amateur and professional players - with Australians Fred Stolle
Fred Stolle
Frederick "Fred" Sydney Stolle is an Australian tennis player. He was born in Hornsby, New South Wales, Australia. He is the father of former Australian Davis Cup player Sandon Stolle....
and Margaret Court winning the singles titles. Beckenham Cricket Club is also the home to Bromley and Beckenham Hockey Club, a National League Hockey Club, with 8 Men's teams and 5 Women's team and one of the largest Junior Hockey Sections in the UK.
Media
In Simon BrettSimon Brett
Simon Brett is a prolific writer of whodunnits. The son of a chartered surveyor, he was educated at Dulwich College and Wadham College, Oxford, where he got a first-class honours degree in English...
's long-running BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
comedy drama, No Commitments
No Commitments
No Commitments is a comedy radio drama written by Simon Brett,broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It portrays the day-to-daylives of three very different sisters.-Main characters:...
(1992–2007), Beckenham is the home of the wildly snobbish, socially aspirational and insecure sister Victoria; the town is frequently mocked by association.
Beckenham is also one of the main locations of the novel The Buddha of Suburbia
The Buddha of Suburbia
The Buddha of Suburbia may refer to:* The Buddha of Suburbia , a 1990 novel by Hanif Kureishi* The Buddha of Suburbia , a 1993 BBC television series based on the book...
(1990), by Hanif Kureishi
Hanif Kureishi
Hanif Kureishi CBE is an English playwright, screenwriter and filmmaker, novelist and short story writer. The themes of his work have touched on topics of race, nationalism, immigration, and sexuality...
.
Public services
The burial site is at Beckenham CrematoriumBeckenham Crematorium and Cemetery
-Location:Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery is located between South Norwood Country Park and Birkbeck. The cemetery was opened in 1880 and is also known as Elmers End Cemetery.-Memorials:* Many World War I graves...
(also known as Elmers End Crematorium and Cemetery).
Notable people
Among those who can lay claim to fame, and who have either been born or lived in Beckenham or have had some important contribution to make to the town, there are show business people such as Bob MonkhouseBob Monkhouse
Robert Alan "Bob" Monkhouse, OBE was an English entertainer. He was a successful comedy writer, comedian and actor and was also well known on British television as a presenter and game show host...
(1928–2003); Robin Awan (1986–present); Julie Andrews
Julie Andrews
Dame Julia Elizabeth Andrews, DBE is an English film and stage actress, singer, and author. She is the recipient of Golden Globe, Emmy, Grammy, BAFTA, People's Choice Award, Theatre World Award, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award honors...
(1935- ); David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
(1947- ), who lived at 42 Southend Road, Beckenham from 1969–1973; Wende Snijders
Wende Snijders
Wende Snijders is a Dutch singer. Her first name Wende is commonly used as her artist name.-Biography:...
(1978- ), the Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
singer; and the actors Maurice Denham
Maurice Denham
Maurice Denham OBE was an English character actor who appeared in over 100 television programmes and films throughout his long career.-Life and career:...
(1909–2002), and Simon Ward
Simon Ward
Simon Ward is an English stage and film actor.-Early life:Simon Ward was born in Beckenham, Kent, near London, the son of a car dealer. From an early age he wanted to be an actor. He was educated at Alleyn's School, London, the home of the National Youth Theatre, which he joined at age 13 and...
(1941- ). CSgt
Colour Sergeant
Colour sergeant or colour serjeant is a non-commissioned title in the Royal Marines and infantry regiments of the British Army, ranking above sergeant and below warrant officer class 2....
Frank Bourne
Frank Bourne
Lieutenant-Colonel Frank Edward Bourne OBE DCM was a decorated British soldier who participated in the defence of Rorke's Drift during the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War. He was also the last known survivor of the battle.-Early life:...
of Rorke's Drift
Rorke's Drift
The Battle of Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was a battle in the Anglo-Zulu War. The defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenant John Chard of the Royal Engineers, immediately followed the British Army's defeat at the Battle of...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Zulu
Zulu Kingdom
The Zulu Kingdom, sometimes referred to as the Zulu Empire or, rather imprecisely, Zululand, was a monarchy in Southern Africa that extended along the coast of the Indian Ocean from the Tugela River in the south to Pongola River in the north....
war, lived at 16 King's Hall Road, Beckenham and is buried in Beckenham Cemetery. Fr. Thomas Pelham Dale
T. Pelham Dale
Thomas Pelham Dale was an English Anglo-Catholic ritualist clergyman, most famous for being prosecuted and imprisoned for ritualist practices-Biography:...
SSC
Society of the Holy Cross
The Society of the Holy Cross is an international Anglo-Catholic society of priests with members in the Anglican Communion, the Continuing Anglican Movement and the Roman Catholic Church's Anglican Use...
, Anglo-Catholic clergyman was prosecuted for Ritualist practices in the 1870s. Writers include Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton was an English children's writer also known as Mary Pollock.Noted for numerous series of books based on recurring characters and designed for different age groups,her books have enjoyed huge success in many parts of the world, and have sold over 600 million copies.One of Blyton's most...
(1897–1968) and A.L. Barker (1918–2002); Betty Box
Betty Box
Betty Evelyn Box was a prolific British film producer. She is considered one of the best of her generation, with a flair for making genuinely popular British films....
(1915–1999) and her brother Sydney
Sydney Box
Sydney Box was a British film producer and screenwriter, brother of another prominent British filmmaker, Betty Box. He produced the postwar screenplay, The Seventh Veil, which earned him the 1946 Oscar for best original screenplay with his then wife Muriel Box after which the couple were hired by...
(1907–1983) were film producers. There are many sportsmen, especially cricketers; and Tom Pettitt
Tom Pettitt
Tom Pettitt was the real tennis world champion from 1885 to 1890.-Biography:Born in Beckenham, Kent, England, Pettitt emigrated to Boston, Massachusetts as a penniless teenager. He quickly rose from being the dressing-room boy at a private court on Buckingham Street, to being its head...
(1859–1956) was Real Tennis
Real tennis
Real tennis – one of several games sometimes called "the sport of kings" – is the original indoor racquet sport from which the modern game of lawn tennis , is descended...
world champion 1885-90. David Haye
David Haye
David Deron Haye is a retired English professional boxer,Haye is the former WBA heavyweight champion. He is also the former unified world cruiserweight champion, holding the WBA, WBC, WBO, and The Ring cruiserweight titles, and also the former European cruiserweight champion.- Amateur :Haye...
, WBA
WBA
WBA is a three-letter abbreviation which may refer to:*WBA is the ICAO airline code for Finnish Commuter Airlines*Warner Bros. Animation*West Bromwich Albion F.C., an English professional football team...
champion, moved to Beckenham in 2010.
Other Beckenhams
There are towns called Beckenham in AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. The Australian and New Zealand Beckenhams were named after the town in London, and this association continues in the naming of adjacent areas: the town of Sydenham
Sydenham
Sydenham is an area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Lewisham; although some streets towards Crystal Palace Park, Forest Hill and Penge are outside the ward and in the London Borough of Bromley, and some streets off Sydenham Hill are in the London Borough of Southwark. Sydenham was in...
is next to Beckenham in London, the suburb of Sydenham
Sydenham, New Zealand
Sydenham is an inner suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, located two kilometres south of the city centre, on and around the city’s main street, Colombo Street...
adjoins the suburb of Beckenham
Beckenham, New Zealand
Beckenham is an inner suburb of Christchurch, New Zealand, located three kilometres south of the city centre. The Heathcote River winds through this predominantly residential suburb, a section of which is often referred to locally as the "Beckenham Loop"....
in Christchurch, and the suburb of Beckenham
Beckenham, Western Australia
Beckenham is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Gosnells.-History:This suburb has seen many name changes. It was most recently known as Buckingham, it once shared a "common usage" name of Waverley with East Cannington, and has one of the oldest primary schools in...
in Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
contains a Sydenham Street.