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Sidcup

Sidcup is an area of south-east London, England, primarily in the London Borough of Bexley. It is 11.3 miles (18.2 km) south-east of Charing Cross, bordering the London Boroughs of Bromley and Greenwich. It was part of Kent prior to the creation of Greater London in 1965.

Sidcup
Sidcup High Street
Sidcup is located in Greater London
Sidcup
Sidcup
Location within Greater London
Population15,400 
OS grid referenceTQ461718
London borough
Ceremonial countyGreater London
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post townSIDCUP
Postcode districtDA14, DA15
Post townLONDON
Postcode districtSE9
Dialling code020
PoliceMetropolitan
FireLondon
AmbulanceLondon
UK Parliament
London Assembly
List of places
UK
England
London
51°25′35″N 0°06′09″E / 51.4263°N 0.1024°E / 51.4263; 0.1024

The name is thought to be derived from Cetecopp meaning "seat-shaped or flat-topped hill"; it had its earliest recorded use in 1254.[1]

According to the ONS, as of 2021, the population of Sidcup is 15,400 (rounded to the nearest 100).[2]

History

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Sidcup ward (dark green) in the Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency (light green) within the London Borough of Bexley (yellow)

Origins

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The 18th-century Sidcup Place

Sidcup originated as a tiny hamlet on the road from Maidstone to London. According to Edward Hasted, "Thomas de Sedcopp was owner of this estate in the 35th year of king Henry VI. [i.e. in the 1450s] as appears by his deed."[3] Hasted described Sidcup in the latter part of the 18th century as "a small street of houses, among which is an inn of much resort", referring to the former Black Horse pub on the high street.[4]

Sidcup parish formed the Sidcup Urban District of Kent from 1908. It was initially known as Foots Cray; however, in 1921 the urban district,[5] and in 1925 the parish,[6] were 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.

Recent

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A number of manor houses, converted to other uses, remain. They include Frognal House, the birthplace and residence of Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney, converted for use as residential and nursing accommodation; Lamorbey House, now used by Rose Bruford College; Sidcup Place, a bar and restaurant; and The Hollies, converted for residential use.

Area

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Sidcup borders Blackfen to the north, Albany Park to the northeast and east, Foots Cray to the south-east, Chislehurst to the south and south-west, New Eltham to the west and Avery Hill to the north-west.

Sidcup has a mixture of large Victorian and Edwardian properties alongside typical 1930s suburbia. It retains many parks and open spaces hinting at the great estates and large homes which once stood in the area.

The town contains Queen Mary's Hospital, a large Leisure Centre, four colleges and three secondary schools. Sidcup High Street is the main retail and commercial street, and there are some other shops and local businesses on the adjacent Station Road. In 2014, Sidcup High Street was the subject of a £1.8 million regeneration scheme In Store For Sidcup paid for by London Borough of Bexley.[7]

Most of the district is within the London Borough of Bexley, however, several parts in the North are under the governance of the Royal Borough of Greenwich, including Southspring, Greenhithe Close, Halfway Street (offsite Avery Hill), Radfield Way, Croyde Close and Overmead.

Geography

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Sidcup lies 2.8 miles (4.5 km) south-west of Bexleyheath; 4 miles (6.4 km) north-east of Bromley; 3.3 miles (5.3 km) north of Orpington; 3.4 miles (5.5 km) north-west of Swanley.

Demographics

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The war memorial on the Green at Sidcup

In 2021, the estimated population was given as 15,400. 18.5% of residents are aged 65+, slightly above the statistics for the whole of the London Borough of Bexley. At the census of 2021, the non-white population of Sidcup was recorded at 18.1%; the largest minority group were Asian or Asian British (7.0% of the total population). The percentage of those who are separated or divorced (including dissolved civil partnerships) was 11.0%, just above that of the entire borough at 10.6%. 48.5% reported Christianity as their religious belief which was lower than the borough average, with 'No religion' being the second largest category at 38.8%, higher than the borough average of 33.6%.[2]

Education

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For education in Sidcup, see London Borough of Bexley § Education.

Primary schools in Sidcup include: Birkbeck, Burnt Oak Junior School, Chatsworth, Days Lane, Holy Trinity Lamorbey, Longlands, Orchard School, Our Lady of the Rosary, Royal Park, Sherwood Park, and St Peter Chanel.

Secondary schools in Sidcup include Chislehurst and Sidcup Grammar School, Blackfen, Cleeve Park, Hurstmere and Kemnal Technology College.

Bird College, Christ the King: St Mary's (RC) Sixth Form College, and Rose Bruford College all have sites in Sidcup.

Healthcare

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Sidcup Cottage Hospital was opened in 1882 in Birkbeck Road, Sidcup.[8] The building soon became too small and new premises were opened on the corner of Birkbeck and Granville Road in 1890.[8] The premises became financially unviable and closed in 1974.[8] The building was demolished and Sidcup Health Centre, now known as the Barnard Medical Practice was erected in the site.[8]

Notable staff included:

Queen Mary's Hospital was opened in 1917 with 300 beds in a number of wooden huts. Until 1925 it was the central military hospital for the reconstructive surgery of war veterans, led by Sir Harold Gillies The original hospital closed in 1929, being reopened as a general hospital in 1930 by Queen Mary, after whom it was named. A new building was opened in 1965.[14][15] Since 2013 it has been managed by the Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.[16]

Sport and leisure

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Sidcup has a Non-League football club Sporting Club Thamesmead F.C. who play at the Sporting Club Thamesmead. On Sydney Road, there is a Sidcup Sports Club, housing the local rugby and cricket clubs.

Sidcup also has a Leisure Centre on Hurst Road with 2 pools and a gym.

The Sidcup and District Motor Cycle Club was formed at the Station Hotel, Sidcup in 1928. The club owns the Canada Heights motorcycle sport venue in Button Street, Swanley.[17]

Culture, identity and community

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Buildings along Faraday Avenue, reflecting a mix of high-rise and low-rise buildings in the area around Sidcup railway station. In the background is the 14-storey Marlowe House, a Metropolitan Police administration building housing their Museum and Historic Vehicle Collection.

Sidcup is home to the Rose Bruford College of drama and Bird College, both of which have several famous alumni, and the Sidcup Symphony Orchestra,[18] which also serves the wider South East London area. In an interview with Lake Bell (who studied at Rose Bruford College) in 2015, comedian James Corden described Sidcup as "the armpit of England" on his late night American chat show The Late Late Show with James Corden.[19]

The murder of teenager Rob Knox at the Metro Bar on Station Road in 2008 was national headline news. Knox was an aspiring actor who had, just before his death, filmed a small part in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. He was killed protecting his brother from a group of youths.[20] His murderer, Karl Bishop, also from Sidcup, was later found guilty of murder and sentenced.[21] Following Knox's death, his family have campaigned to end knife crime among young people.[22] The Rob Knox Foundation has organised a Rob Knox Film Festival in Sidcup and the neighbouring town of Bexleyheath, and a bench was dedicated to Knox at St John's Church in Sidcup in 2015.[23]

Transport

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The Church of Saint John the Evangelist, the main Anglican congregation in Sidcup

National Rail

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Sidcup railway station opened in October 1866, a month after the opening of the Dartford Loop Line on 1 September 1866. It is 1 mile (1.6 km) north of Sidcup town centre. The station provides the area with Southeastern services to London Charing Cross and to Gravesend.

Roads

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Sidcup High Street is on the A211, following in length the old London – Maidstone – Hythe road. The A211 starts just at the eastern end of Eltham High Street, running through New Eltham, then alongside the A20 Sidcup By-pass before ending at Foots Cray, where the B2173 continues towards Swanley along the former A20 road. The A211 connects the two main roads in this district; Station Road and Main Road.

East Rochester Way on the A2 road runs partly through the district, adjoining Blackfen Road. This road provides links to the Blackwall Tunnel and Kent.

Buses

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Sidcup is served by a number of Transport for London bus routes, namely the 51, 160, 229, 233, 269, 286, 321, 492, 625, 669, B14, R11 and SL3.[24] These connect Sidcup with areas including Bexleyheath, Bromley, Catford, Crayford, Chislehurst, Dartford, Eltham, Greenwich, Erith, Lewisham, New Cross, Orpington, Swanley, Thamesmead, Welling & Woolwich.

Notable residents

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The 19th-century mansion house of Abbeyhill in Sidcup, now a Grade II listed building
 
A 19th-century lodge in Sidcup, now a Grade II listed building

Fictional residents

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References

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  1. ^ Mills, Anthony David (2001). Oxford Dictionary of London Place Names. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-280106-6.
  2. ^ a b "Build a custom area profile - Census 2021, ONS". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  3. ^ Hasted, Edward (1797). The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 2. pp. 135–141.
  4. ^ Mercer 1994, Introduction.
    The phrase of much resort means much frequented or visited.

    The Black Horse was for several years used for adult education; as of 2024, however, it lies empty.
  5. ^ "Vision of Britain through Time:Foots Cray UD". A Vision of Britain through Time.
  6. ^ "Vision of Britain through Time:Sidcup CP/AP". A Vision of Britain through Time.
  7. ^ "New-look Sidcup High Street after £1.8 million regeneration". Newsshopper. 15 September 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d "Sidcup Cottage Hospital". Lost Hospitals of London. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  9. ^ Matron’s Annual Letter to Nurses, No.21, Matron's Annual Letter to Nurses, 1894–1916; RLHLH/N/7/2, No.21, April 1914, 43; Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, London
  10. ^ a b c Rogers, Sarah (2022). 'A Maker of Matrons'? A study of Eva Lückes's influence on a generation of nurse leaders:1880–1919' (Unpublished PhD thesis, University of Huddersfield, April 2022)
  11. ^ Hodgson, Alice Fortune, Register of Nurses, General Part 1922, 146; The General Nursing Council for England and Wales; The Nursing Registers, 1898–1968 [Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed on 14 September 2018].
  12. ^ Hodgson, Alice F., RG101/1244H; 1939 England and Wales Register for Chislehurst and Sidcup, Kent; The National Archives, Kew [Available at: www.ancestry.co.uk, accessed on 14 September 2018]
  13. ^ "Confirmation Service in Hospital". Gloucester Journal: 6. 28 March 1931 – via The British Newspaper Archive.
  14. ^ "Celebrating 100 years of QMH". Oxleas NHS Trust. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  15. ^ "Queen Mary's Hospital". Lost Hospitals of London.
  16. ^ "Queen Mary's Hospital". Oxleas NHS Trust. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  17. ^ "Trials". 30 March 2020.
  18. ^ "Sidcup Symphony Orchestra". Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  19. ^ a b Bell, Jess (22 August 2015). "'It's not the armpit, but it's close': James Corden trashes Sidcup on chat show". News Shopper. Retrieved 11 June 2017.
  20. ^ Lusher, Adam; Sawer, Patrick (24 May 2008). "Harry Potter actor Robert Knox stabbed to death protecting his younger brother". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  21. ^ "Man guilty of Potter actor murder". BBC News. 4 March 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  22. ^ Christie, Sam (12 June 2013). "Mum of Sidcup knife victim Rob Knox 'not surprised' by high weapon crime in Dartford". newsshopper.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  23. ^ Griffiths, Josie (15 August 2015). "Church bench tribute to murdered Harry Potter actor, Sidcup's Rob Knox". newsshopper.co.uk. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  24. ^ "TFL Bus Route Map from Sidcup" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 29 May 2015.
  25. ^ "Surnames beginning with A". bexley.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  26. ^ O'Brien, Brendan (25 March 2015). "Harry Arter looks to make up for lost time". Irish Examiner. Retrieved 9 February 2017.
  27. ^ a b c "Surnames beginning with B". bexley.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  28. ^ "Barking and Dagenham Post". Barking and Dagenham Post.
  29. ^ "Player profile: Christopher Battarbee". CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  30. ^ "Our Founder". Bird College of Dance. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  31. ^ "Rt Rev. Tom Burns". Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  32. ^ Woods, Alan (3 July 2012). "Columnist Garry Bushell throws support behind Sidcup's Waitrose campaign". News Shopper. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  33. ^ Johnson, Boris (7 November 2011). "Metal thieves dishonour the war dead with their vandalism". Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  34. ^ "Callender, Sheila Theodora Elsie". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/93866. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  35. ^ "Ben Chorley Profile". aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  36. ^ "Charlie Clements". IMDb.
  37. ^ "Jason Crowe – football stats". soccerbase.com. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  38. ^ "Jay Darlington, born in London, England, keyboardist... May 3 in History at BrainyHistory.com". BrainyHistory. Retrieved 10 March 2018.
  39. ^ "Ian Davenport". University of Warwick Art Collection. Retrieved 9 November 2013.
  40. ^ "Joe Healy | Football Stats | Dartford | Age 34 | Soccer Base". www.soccerbase.com. Retrieved 16 April 2021.
  41. ^ Cawdell, Luke (30 September 2016). "Dartford searching for goalkeeper to replace Deren Ibrahim after call-up to Gibraltar's World Cup qualifying squad". Kent Online. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  42. ^ "John Paul Jones". led-zeppelin.org. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  43. ^ Glendinning, Lee (24 May 2008). "Harry Potter film actor stabbed to death". theguardian.com. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  44. ^ Edwards, Richard (4 March 2009). "Harry Potter actor Rob Knox: profile". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  45. ^ "Surnames beginning with M". bexley.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 14 November 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  46. ^ Wildsmith, Prof. Tony. "Dr Ivan Whiteside Magill". Royal College of Anaesthetists. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  47. ^ "SIDCUP: Cage fighter Lee Murray will not be extradited over Securitas robbery". News Shopper. 2 July 2009. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  48. ^ "Major becomes a grandad". BBC News. 29 July 2000. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  49. ^ Williamson, Brett. "Rann's last stand: Will step down October 20, 2011". ABC Adelaide. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  50. ^ Rowbottom, Mike (9 August 1994). "Athletics/European Championships: Regis is latest to join list of wounded". The Independent. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
  51. ^ "Mark Ricketts – player profile". eurosport.com. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  52. ^ Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Edinburgh: Mainstream Publishing. p. 362. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  53. ^ "Members of the San Luigi orders: Archbishop Geoffrey Paget King". san-luigi.org. 13 November 2012. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  54. ^ "Surnames beginning with S". bexley.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  55. ^ "Give town's musician a noteworthy tribute". Bexley Times. 25 June 2009. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  56. ^ "Frognal". bexley.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
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  58. ^ "Elizabeth Wiskemann". ed.ac.uk. University of Edinburgh. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2016.
  59. ^ Hodgson, Derek (20 November 1998). "Obituary: Doug Wright". The Independent. Retrieved 17 November 2016.

Bibliography

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  • Mercer, John (1994). Sidcup: A Pictorial History. Chichester: Phillimore & Co. ISBN 978-0-850-33907-9.
  • Mercer, John (2013). Sidcup & Foots Cray: A History. Stroud: Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1-445-61195-2.
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