Sidcup
Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use British English Template:Infobox UK place Sidcup is an area of south-east London, England, primarily in the London Borough of Bexley. It is Template:Convert 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.
The name is thought to be derived from Template:Lang meaning "seat-shaped or flat-topped hill"; it had its earliest recorded use in 1254.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
According to the ONS, as of 2021, the population of Sidcup is 15,400 (rounded to the nearest 100).<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
History
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Origins
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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."<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Harvnb.
The phrase of much resort means much frequented or visited.
The Black Horse was for several years used for adult education; Template:As of, however, it lies empty.
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Sidcup parish formed the Sidcup Urban District of Kent from 1908. It was initially known as Foots Cray; however, in 1921 the urban district,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in 1925 the parish,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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
[edit]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
[edit]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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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
[edit]Sidcup lies Template:Convert south-west of Bexleyheath; Template:Convert north-east of Bromley; Template:Convert north of Orpington; Template:Convert north-west of Swanley.
Demographics
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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%.<ref name=":2" />
Education
[edit]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
[edit]Sidcup Cottage Hospital was opened in 1882 in Birkbeck Road, Sidcup.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> The building soon became too small and new premises were opened on the corner of Birkbeck and Granville Road in 1890.<ref name=":0" /> The premises became financially unviable and closed in 1974.<ref name=":0" /> The building was demolished and Sidcup Health Centre, now known as the Barnard Medical Practice was erected in the site.<ref name=":0" />
Notable staff included:
- Alice Fortune Hodgson (1881-1942), Matron from 1913<ref>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</ref> until at least September 1939.<ref name=":1">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)</ref><ref>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]. </ref><ref>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]</ref> Hodgson trained at The London Hospital under Matron Eva Luckes between 1903-1905.<ref name=":1" /> She remained there as a private nurse, undertook her midwifery training, and worked as a staff nurse before she left in 1908.<ref name=":1" /> As Matron Hodgson and the nursing staff were present when a long term in patient was confirmed into the Church of England by the Bishop of Rochester in 1931.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since 2013 it has been managed by the Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Sport and leisure
[edit]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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Culture, identity and community
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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,<ref name=sso>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="corden">Template:Cite news</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His murderer, Karl Bishop, also from Sidcup, was later found guilty of murder and sentenced.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Following Knox's death, his family have campaigned to end knife crime among young people.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Transport
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National Rail
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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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- F. Matthias Alexander (1869–1955), Australian actor and inventor of the Alexander technique, lived in Penhill House, Sidcup, for 30 years<ref name="A">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Harry Arter (1989–) footballer (Bournemouth F.C. and Republic of Ireland), born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Steve Backley (1969–), Olympic javelin silver medallist, born in Sidcup<ref name="B">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Gareth Bacon (1972–), politician and leader of the Conservative Party in the Greater London Assembly
- Sam Bailey (1977–), winning contestant, The X Factor, grew up in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Angela Barnes (1976–) actress, stand-up comedian, born in SidcupTemplate:Citation needed
- Christopher Battarbee (1975–), cricketer (Oxford University), born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Lake Bell (1979–), American actress, lived in Sidcup while studying at Rose Bruford College in the 1990s.<ref name="corden"/>
- Doreen Bird (1928–2004), dance teacher, lived in Sidcup and established Bird College<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Quentin Blake (1932–), illustrator, artist, born in Sidcup<ref name="B"/>
- Denis Bond (1946–), children's author, actor and scriptwriter, lives in Sidcup<ref name="B"/>
- Tom Burns (1944–), Catholic bishop, lived and ministered in Sidcup and taught at St Mary's School in the 1970s<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Garry Bushell (1955–), journalist, lives in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- George Albert Cairns (1913–44), recipient of the last Victoria Cross of World War II, lived and worked in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Sheila Callender (1914–2004), haematologist, born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite ODNB</ref>
- Ben Chorley (1982–), footballer, born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Charlie Clements (1987–), actor (EastEnders), born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Jason Crowe (1978–), footballer, born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Jay Darlington (1968–), musician (former keyboardist for the band Kula Shaker and currently a member of the band Magic Bus), born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Ian Davenport (1966–), abstract painter and former Turner Prize nominee, born in Sidcup<ref name=warwick-cv>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Douglas Harries (1893–1972), Royal Air Force air vice-marshal and first-class cricketer
- Joe Healy (1986–), footballer who previously played in the Football League for Millwall, born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Deren Ibrahim (1991–), Gibraltarian footballer, born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Alfred Garth Jones (1872–1955), illustrator, spent the last years of his life in SidcupTemplate:Citation needed
- John Paul Jones (1946–), bass guitarist (Led Zeppelin), born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Rob Knox (1989–2008), actor, murdered in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Douglas Macmillan (1884–1969), founder of Macmillan Cancer Support, lived in Knoll Road from 1924 until 1966, and also ran his charity from that address. Bexley Civic Society placed a blue plaque on the house in 2010<ref name="M">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Ivan Magill (1888–1986), innovative anaesthetist, worked in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Lee Murray (1977–), former kickboxer and mixed martial arts champion, convicted of the Securitas depot robbery, lived in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Emma Noble (1971–), model and actress, born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Mike Rann (1953–), Premier of South Australia, politician, born in Sidcup, lived in Blackfen prior to emigrating to New Zealand with his parents<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- John Regis (1966–), Olympic sprinter, lived in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Mark Ricketts (1984–), footballer, born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Wayne Routledge (1985–), footballer, born in Sidcup<ref name=Hugman2010-11>Template:Cite book</ref>
- Gerard Shelley (1891–1980), author, translator and Catholic bishop, born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Nevil Shute (1899–1960), novelist and aeronautical engineer, lived in Hatherley Road from 1924 to 1930 while working at Vickers in Crayford<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Ethel Smyth (1858–1944), composer and suffragette, born in St. John's Road, Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
- Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney (1733–1800), politician and Cabinet minister, lived in Frognal House, Foots Cray<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Gordon Watson (1971–), former Sheffield Wednesday footballer, born in Sidcup<ref name = "AZ">Template:Cite web</ref>
- Elizabeth Wiskemann (1899–1971), historian and journalist, born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Doug Wright (1914–98), cricketer (Kent and England), born in Sidcup<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Fictional residents
[edit]- In the Harold Pinter play The Caretaker, Davies repeatedly says that "all his papers" are in Sidcup, and he will return there, but is "waiting for the weather to break".
- Roderick Spode — fictional politician and fashion designer, was the 7th Earl of Sidcup in the Jeeves stories by P. G. Wodehouse.
References
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[edit]External links
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