Editing Beckenham

{{Short description|Town in Greater London, England}}
{{About|the town in Greater London, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}

{{Infobox UK place
| country                   = England
| map_type                  = London
| region                    = London
| population                = 46,844
| population_ref            = ([[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 Census]]<ref>Beckenham is made up of 3 wards in the London Borough of Bromley: Clock House, Copers Cope, and Kelsey and Eden Park. {{cite web|url=http://data.london.gov.uk/2011-census-ward-pop |title=2011 Census Ward Population Estimates &#124; London DataStore |access-date=9 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202755/http://data.london.gov.uk/2011-census-ward-pop |archive-date=22 February 2014 |df=dmy }}</ref>
| area_total_km2            = 13.22
| official_name             = Beckenham
| static_image_name         = File:West Face of the Church of Saint George, Beckenham (01).jpg
| static_image_caption      = The west face of [[St George's Church, Beckenham]]
| london_borough            = Bromley
| constituency_westminster  = [[Beckenham and Penge (UK Parliament constituency)|Beckenham and Penge]]
| post_town                 = BECKENHAM
| post_town1                = LONDON
| postcode_area             = BR
| postcode_area1            = SE
| postcode_district         = BR3
| postcode_district1        = SE20
| dial_code                 = 020
| os_grid_reference         = TQ3769
| coordinates               = {{coord|51.408|-0.022|display=inline,title}}
}}

'''Beckenham''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɛ|k|ən|ə|m}}) is a town in [[Greater London]], England, within the [[London Borough of Bromley]]. Prior to 1965, it was part of [[Kent]]. It is situated north of [[Elmers End]] and [[Eden Park, London|Eden Park]], east of [[Penge]], south of [[Lower Sydenham]] and [[Bellingham, London|Bellingham]], and west of [[Bromley]] and [[Shortlands]], and {{convert|8.4|miles|km}} south-east of [[Charing Cross]]. Its population at the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 Census]] was 46,844.<ref>{{cite web |title=2011 Census Ward Population Estimates &#124; London DataStore |url=http://data.london.gov.uk/2011-census-ward-pop |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202755/http://data.london.gov.uk/2011-census-ward-pop |archive-date=22 February 2014 |access-date=9 June 2014 |df=dmy}}</ref>

Beckenham was, until the coming of the railway in 1857, a small village, with most of its land being rural and private parkland. John Barwell Cator and his family began the leasing and selling of land for the building of villas which led to a rapid increase in population, between 1850 and 1900, from 2,000 to 26,000. Housing and population growth has continued at a lesser pace since 1900.

Beckenham has areas of commerce and industry, principally around the curved network of streets featuring its high street, and is served in transport by three main railway stations &mdash; nine within the post town &mdash; plus towards its western periphery two [[Tramlink]] stations. In common with the rest of [[Bromley]], the largest borough of [[London]] by area, Beckenham has several pockets of recreational land which are a mixture of sports grounds, fishing ponds and parks.

==Etymology==
The place-name 'Beckenham' is first attested in a Saxon charter of 862 as ''Biohhahema mearc''.<ref>[[Eilert Ekwall]], ''The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names'', p.33.</ref>
The settlement is referred to as ''Bacheham'' in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086, and in the ''[[Textus Roffensis]]'' as ''Becceham''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53788|title=Parishes: Beckenham|work=british-history.ac.uk}}</ref> The name is thought to derive from ''Beohha'''s homestead (Beohha + ham in [[Old English]]).<ref name=Brewer>Brewer's Britain and Ireland, compiled by John Ayto and Ian Crofton, [[Weidenfeld & Nicolson]], 2005, {{ISBN|0-304-35385-X}}.</ref> The name of the small stream here – the River Beck – is most likely to have been named after the village.<ref name="Willey">{{cite book |last1=Willey |first1=Russ |title=The London Gazetteer |date=2006 |publisher=Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd |pages=28–9}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Beckenham2.jpg|thumb|left|Central Beckenham, flooded in 1878.]]

Although early written history tells little of the area we have the entry in the Domesday Book of 1086 and various records in Court Rolls, Feet of Fines and other historical documents. Thomas Philipott recorded it in his Villare Cantianum in 1659 based on the research of his father John Philipott. Hasted wrote about it in 1778 in his History and Topography of Kent based on Philipott's material. Others like Lysons and Ireland continued to record Beckenham Manor, Foxgrove Manor, Kelsey and Langley estates and Kent House Farm. Several other local historians updated the account based on more recent events and developments of Beckenham. Revisiting the history and collating the historical documentary evidence has revealed a more detailed early history showing how the manors and estates changed hands through families such as Rokele, Bruyn, Bardolf, Langley, Style, Kelshulle, Brograve, Raymond, Leigh, Burrell, Cator and various yeoman property owners like Kempsall, King, Batt  etc. Archaeological evidence at nearby Holwood Park, where [[Stone Age]] and [[Bronze Age]] artefacts have been found, reveals some evidence of early settlers.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Beresford |first1=Frank |title=The Palaeolithic Sites in the Upper Ravensbourne Area, Bromley, Kent |journal=Lithics, the Journal of the Lithics Studies Society 35, 54-58 |date=1 February 2015 |url=https://www.academia.edu/11179036}}</ref><ref>{{citation |last1=Beresford |first1=Frank R. |date=2015 |title=A re-examination of Late Nineteenth-Cenyury Palaeolithic Finds in the Upper Ravensbourne Area, Bromley |url=https://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/sites/default/files/archcant/2%20A%20Re-Examination%20of%20the%20Late%20Nineteenth%20Century%20Palaeolithic%20Finds%20in%20the%20Upper%20Ravensbourne%20Area%2C%20Bromley.pdf |access-date=26 January 2023}}</ref> A [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] camp was sited here, and a [[Roman roads in Britain|Roman road]], the [[London to Lewes Way (Roman road)|London to Lewes Way]] passed through the district.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.beckenhamplaceparkfriends.org.uk/index.html|title = Home Page Friends of Beckenham Place Park - Beckenham Place - History}}</ref>{{Better source needed|reason=Self published|date=January 2023}}

By the time of the arrival of the [[Normans]], the manor of Beckenham encompassed much of what is modern Beckenham, with other areas covered by the estates of Foxgrove Manor, Kelsey and Langley. Although William the Conqueror's half brother, Bishop Odo, was overlord of all of Kent the manor of Beckenham was held or enfeoffed to Anschil of Rochester.<ref name="Lysons1811">{{cite book |last1=Lysons |first1=Daniel |title=The Environs of London: pt. 2. Hornsey-Wilsdon |date=1811 |publisher=T. Cadell and W. Davies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CSkGAAAAQAAJ&dq=Manor+of+Beckenham&pg=PA409 |language=en}}{{rp|409}}</ref>  The manor became divided but eventually rejoined under the St. John family until Frederick St. John, 3rd Viscount Bolingbroke sold most of the manor to John Cator the younger in 1773. The manor house  and its grounds had been exchanged with [[Peter Burrell, 1st Baron Gwydyr|Peter Burrell, Lord Gwydir]] in 1757.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} 

Beckenham remained a small village until well into the 19th century. The beginning of its growth began after 1825 when the estates of [[John Barwell Cator]] and Lord Gwydir began to be developed.{{r|Lysons1811}}{{rp|411}} if  In 1760 John Cator the younger built Beckenham Place and became lord of the manor in 1773 after purchasing the manor of Beckenham from Frederick St. John, Viscount Bolingbroke.<ref name="Friends">{{cite web|title=Beckenham Place Park|url=http://www.beckenhamplaceparkfriends.org.uk/about.htm|website=Friends of Beckenham Place Park|access-date=2 April 2016}}</ref> After Cator died in 1806, his heirs under his nephew John Barwell Cator became aware that an area in such relative 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.<ref name="Willey"/> Wide roads and large gardens epitomised these properties, often built by developers who acquired land from the Cators. Lord Gwydir died in 1820 and his estates were split up, sold and developed.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} 

The manor of Foxgrove was owned by the Leigh family for some generations but purchased into the ownership of Lancelot Tolson circa 1716, his heirs divided it and it was acquired in part by John Cator and Jones Raymond. Raymond's part passed on to the Burrells and a land exchange in 1793 made the northern parts of the manor John Cator's and the southern parts absorbed into the Burrells Langley and Kelsey estates.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} What is now Beckenham Place Park is almost entirely parts of Foxgrove manor. Now it is part of the London Borough of Lewisham after boundary changes in the 1990s.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

The Kelsey Estate, named from a manorial estate, Kelsies, recorded in 1479. The estate was granted to William Kelshulle in 1408.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mills |first1=Anthony David |title=A Dictionary of London Place-names |date=2010 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-956678-5 |language=en}}</ref> Peter Burrell the first bought Kelsey in 1688 and a house which had belonged to John Brograve was on the site.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} In the mid 18th Century a mansion was built overlooking the lake in Kelsey Park. This was later rebuilt, extended or altered circa 1835 to replace an earlier structure, though it was itself demolished in 1921 and the grounds turned into [[Kelsey Park]].<ref name=beck>{{cite web|url=http://www.beckenhamhistory.co.uk/kelseyestate.html|title=Kelsey Estate|publisher=Beckenham History|access-date=3 February 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bromleytimes.co.uk/news/beckenham_s_kelsey_park_prepares_to_mark_100_years_of_opening_to_the_public_1_2214063|title=Beckenham's Kelsey Park prepares to mark 100 years of opening to the public|publisher=Bromley Times|date=29 May 2013|access-date=3 February 2014}}</ref> The only surviving buildings are the two Grade II listed lodge cottages at the entrance, which are over 200 years old.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-358444-two-lodges-to-beckenham-place-bromley|title=Two Lodges to Beckenham Place - Bromley - Greater London - England - British Listed Buildings|author=Good Stuff|work=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}</ref>

In 1876 [[Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery|Beckenham Cemetery]] opened (originally Crystal Palace District Cemetery), located south of the town in Elmers End.<ref name="Dignity">{{Cite web|url=http://www.dignityfunerals.co.uk/crematoria/index.asp?pageid=26&fd=602|title=Beckenham Cemetery|date=2016|website=dignityfunerals.co.uk|access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref>

===Modern Beckenham===
[[File:Kelsey Lodge (I).jpg|thumb|right|The late nineteenth-century Kelsey Lodge in Beckenham, now a Grade II listed building]]
Today Beckenham is an outer London suburb, though it has maintained its own identity and forms a town in its own right. It is centred on its non-pedestrianised curving high street. Further rows of shops run east from the town centre along Bromley Road, south along Croydon Road, and west along Beckenham Road around Clock House station, where the town's library can be found.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.better.org.uk/articles|title=Beckenham Library|website=www.better.org.uk|language=en|access-date=2020-02-20}}</ref> To the north lies the New Beckenham area, essentially a residential suburb of Beckenham proper.

==Governance==
[[File:The Studio, Beckenham (04).jpg|left|thumb|The Studio, a Grade II listed building in Beckenham]]
The [[Municipal Borough of Beckenham]] came into being in 1935.<ref>[http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/makepdf.asp?fn=E:\ZYIMAGE\DATA\HISTDIR\TIF\LUL501~1\0000CZG9.TIF ''Kelly's Directory of Kent 1903'', p.48 (Historical Directories), accessed January 31, 2008]</ref> It took over from what had been, since 1894, Beckenham [[Urban district (England and Wales)|Urban District Council]] and included parts of [[Hayes, Kent|Hayes]] and [[West Wickham]], previously part of Bromley [[Rural District Council]]. The new Borough status reflected the growth of Beckenham in less than fifty years.<ref>In 1861 its population was 2,100; by 1921 this had increased to 33,300, and to 77,300 by 1961. ''Kent History Illustrated''
Frank W Jessup, 1966 Kent County Council</ref>

Prior to 1965, Beckenham was part of the administrative county of Kent.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Admin|first=Bromley|title=History of the Bromley area|url=https://www.bromley.gov.uk/info/200064/local_history_and_heritage/379/history_of_the_bromley_area/2|access-date=2021-03-07|website=www.bromley.gov.uk|language=en|archive-date=31 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331172101/https://www.bromley.gov.uk/info/200064/local_history_and_heritage/379/history_of_the_bromley_area/2|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 Borough of Beckenham. Beckenham Town Centre Management coordinates business interests in the town.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bromley.gov.uk/business/towncentres/beckenham_town_centre.htm |title=Beckenham Town Centre Management |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119234908/http://www.bromley.gov.uk/business/towncentres/beckenham_town_centre.htm |archive-date=19 November 2008 |url-status = dead|df=dmy-all }}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Bowie Bandstand, Croydon Road Recreation Ground (11).jpg|thumb|right|The "Bowie Bandstand" in Croydon Road Recreation Ground, site of one of musician [[David Bowie]]'s earliest public performances; it is now Grade II listed.]]
Beckenham lies {{convert|1.7|mi|km}} west of [[Bromley]] and {{convert|3.8|mi|km}} north-east of [[Croydon]].

The original village of Beckenham was a cluster of development surrounded by the lands of a series of manorial estates: Beckenham, Foxgrove, Kelsey, Langley and Kent House Farm with their mansions, halls and Parks.
The parish boundary has changed over time but extended from Crystal Palace Park to Bromley and Lewisham to West Wickham.

The [[River Ravensbourne]] flows northwards at the eastern side of the town, towards its confluence with the [[River Thames]] forming an eastern boundary with Bromley. A small stream, the River Beck (sometimes referred to as the Hawkesbrook), passes through the town before joining the Ravensbourne via the Pool River further north near Catfod.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=53788&strquery=Beckenham|title=Parishes: Beckenham|work=british-history.ac.uk}}</ref>

The area is part of an outcrop of [[London Clay]] which were the basis for several brickworks during the development period{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} with areas of Harwich Formation and consists of many small hills. Several gravel pits extracted parts of the Blackheath Beds which are now included in the Harwich Formation <ref>''The Rural Landscape of Kent'' S.G.McRae & C.P.Burnham, published by [[Wye College]], 1973</ref>

==Economy==
[[File:Shops, Beckenham Road, Beckenham - geograph.org.uk - 1581947.jpg|thumb|left|Victorian commercial buildings along Beckenham Road]]
Beckenham was the headquarters to [[Capita]] Registrars Limited who provides share registration services for more than half of the UK's quoted companies, they have since moved from Beckenham.{{cn|date=September 2024}} [[Proper Records]], the UK's biggest independent music distributor, was originally based in Beckenham<ref name="bbc">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10089363|title=How to sell music the Proper way|last=Plummer|first=Robert|date=29 April 2010|publisher=BBC News|access-date=12 June 2011}}</ref> but relocated to [[Surrey Quays]] in 2017.<ref name="Paine-06Dec2022">{{cite news |last1=Paine |first1=Andre |title=Proper Music Group quadruples capacity at new warehouse |url=https://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/proper-music-group-quadruples-capacity-at-new-warehouse/070753 |access-date=6 December 2022 |work=Music Week |date=6 December 2017}}</ref>

==Transport==
===Rail===
Beckenham town centre is served by [[Beckenham Junction railway station|Beckenham Junction station]], with further stations ([[Clock House railway station|Clock House]], [[New Beckenham railway station|New Beckenham]], [[Ravensbourne railway station|Ravensbourne]], [[Beckenham Hill railway station|Beckenham Hill]] and [[Kent House railway station|Kent House]]) serving the surrounding area.

Beckenham Junction and Kent House have services into central London every 15 minutes, taking 13 minutes to [[Brixton railway station|Brixton]] and 21 minutes to [[London Victoria railway station|London Victoria]].

[[File:Beckenham Junction stn main entrance.jpg|thumb|[[Beckenham Junction railway station|Beckenham Junction]] main entrance]]
Beckenham Junction also provides services into [[London Bridge railway station|London Bridge]] every 30 minutes, taking 35 minutes, and to [[Orpington railway station|Orpington]] every 15 minutes, taking 7 minutes to [[Bromley South railway station|Bromley South]] and 17 minutes to Orpington.

Ravensbourne and Beckenham Hill stations provide direct access to central London and the City every 30 minutes - [[Peckham Rye railway station|Peckham Rye]] in 12 minutes, [[Elephant & Castle railway station|Elephant & Castle]] in 23 minutes, [[Blackfriars railway station|London Blackfriars]] in 27 minutes, [[City Thameslink railway station|City Thameslink]] in 29 minutes, [[Farringdon railway station|Farringdon]] in 33 minutes and [[St Pancras railway station|London St Pancras]] in 37 minutes.

New Beckenham and Clock House have services to [[Charing Cross railway station|London Charing Cross]], London Bridge, [[Waterloo East railway station|Waterloo East]], [[Cannon Street railway station|London Cannon Street]] and [[Hayes railway station|Hayes]].

===Tram===
[[Tramlink]] serves Beckenham with services from Beckenham Junction and [[Beckenham Road tram stop|Beckenham Road]] to [[Wimbledon tram stop|Wimbledon]] via [[East Croydon tram stop|East Croydon]].

===Buses===
Beckenham is served by several [[Transport for London]] buses that link the town with other areas including [[Bromley]], [[Catford]], [[Chislehurst]], [[Croydon]], [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]], [[Eltham]], [[Lewisham]], [[Orpington]], [[Penge]], [[West Wickham]] and [[Woolwich]].

==Religious sites==
[[File:Christ Church, Beckenham - geograph.org.uk - 35351.jpg|thumb|right|260px|Christ Church, Beckenham]]
The town has a number of places of worship.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bccn.org.uk/churches.html |title=Beckenham churches |access-date=4 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028210239/http://www.bccn.org.uk/churches.html |archive-date=28 October 2008 |url-status = usurped|df=dmy-all }}</ref> [[St George's Church, Beckenham|St. George's Church]] is the principal parish church, and is in the centre of Beckenham.<ref>{{Cite web|title=St George's Church {{!}} At The Heart Of The Beckenham Community|url=https://stgeorgesbeckenham.co.uk/|access-date=2020-07-26|website=St George's Church|language=en}}</ref> 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 [[England]].<ref name=Brewer/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beckenham.net/articles.asp?option=sp&item=1510|title=Business Category -Beckenham Community|work=beckenham.net|access-date=4 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010215129/http://www.beckenham.net/articles.asp?option=sp&item=1510|archive-date=10 October 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> The almshouses next to the church go back to 1694. There are also three other [[Church of England|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]] [[St Edmund's Church, Beckenham|St Edmund of Canterbury Church]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://directory.rcsouthwark.co.uk/beckenham_stedmundcant.html|title=Southwark Parish Directory|work=rcsouthwark.co.uk}}</ref>

Town churches include:
[[St George's Church, Beckenham|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).<ref>John Newman. West Kent and the Weald. The "Buildings of England" Series, First Edition, Sir [[Nikolaus Pevsner]] and Judy Nairn, eds. (London: Penguin, 1969), p.142</ref>

Close to the [[Movie theater|Cinema]] a [[Christian Science Reading Room]] existed close to the site occupied by the postal sorting site in the 1980s. The site is now occupied by Kingsway church at 18 Rectory Rd. While the postal office site is now occupied by Citygate Church.

==Demography==
Strictly defined to its historic [[civil parishes in England|parish area]] translated to today's modern [[wards of the United Kingdom]], Beckenham covers four such wards, however as a [[post town]] it contains more than 82,000 people as at the 2011 census.{{cn|date=December 2024}}
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ '''2011 Published Statistics: Population<ref name=ons>{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/|title=Check Browser Settings|work=statistics.gov.uk|access-date=3 February 2015|archive-date=11 February 2003|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030211201309/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref>'''
|-
!Ward||Usual residents||km<sup>2</sup>
|- align=center
|Clock House||15,560||2.27
|- align=center
|Copers Cope||15,392||3.29
|- align=center
|Kelsey and Eden Park||15,892||	5.20
|- align=center
|Shortlands||9,824||2.46
|}

==Culture and leisure==
[[File:The George Inn, Beckenham (02).jpg|thumb|right|The George Inn, an 18th-century listed pub on the High Street<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1359323|desc=The George Inn|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>]]
Like most towns of its size, Beckenham has several leisure organisations and societies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beckenham.net/Leisure.asp?page=Leisure&type='Club/Society'|title=Business Category -Beckenham Community|work=beckenham.net|access-date=14 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170128044825/http://www.beckenham.net/Leisure.asp?page=Leisure&type=%27Club%2FSociety%27|archive-date=28 January 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The local Odeon cinema has six screens and is a grade II listed building.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-469028-abc-cinema-and-regal-ballroom-296-becken|title=Abc Cinema and Regal Ballroom - Bromley - Greater London - England - British Listed Buildings|author=Good Stuff|work=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}</ref> The Beckenham Festival of Music and Dancing takes place every November.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beckenham-festival.org.uk/|title=Home|work=beckenham-festival.org.uk}}</ref> Beckenham Theatre puts on amateur productions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beckenhamtheatre.co.uk/|title=Beckenham Theatre Centre - home page|work=beckenhamtheatre.co.uk|access-date=30 September 2009|archive-date=12 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090812133803/http://www.beckenhamtheatre.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Beckenham Concert Band  is a community wind band which has, over the last 35 years, raised thousands of pounds for local and national charities.<ref name="beckenhamconcertband.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.beckenhamconcertband.com|title=Home|work=beckenhamconcertband.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name="beckenhamconcertband.com"/>

The [[South East London Green Chain]], a [[long-distance trail|long-distance footpath]], crosses through Beckenham. Both [[Cator Park]] and [[Beckenham Place Park]] form part of the Chain. There are other open spaces in the town, including [[Croydon Road Recreation Ground]] and [[Kelsey Park]]. 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. Beckenham Green, in the town centre, hosts regular markets and activities throughout the year.

==Education==
{{Main|List of schools in the London Borough of Bromley}}
The principal secondary schools in Beckenham are [[Harris Academy Beckenham]] (formerly Kelsey Park Sports College), [[Harris Academy Bromley]] (formerly Cator Park School),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harrisbromley.org.uk/|title=Harris Academy Bromley - Harris Girls' Academy Bromley|work=harrisbromley.org.uk}}</ref> the two Langley Park schools, [[Langley Park School for Boys|for boys]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lpbs.org.uk/|title=Langley Park School For Boys - Home|work=lpbs.org.uk|access-date=4 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924051243/http://www.lpbs.org.uk/|archive-date=24 September 2008|url-status = dead}}</ref> and [[Langley Park School for Girls|for girls]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lpgs.bromley.sch.uk/|title=Home - Langley Park School for Girls|work=lpgs.bromley.sch.uk}}</ref> and Orion Eden Park (formerly Eden Park High School).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edenparkhigh.com/|title=Eden Park High School|website=edenparkhigh.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first= |title=Eden Park High School |url=https://www.bromley.gov.uk/directory_record/1214273/eden_park_high_school |website=www.bromley.gov.uk}}</ref> 

There are also a large number of schools catering for primary education, including the independent Roman Catholic school, [[Bishop Challoner School|Bishop Challoner]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bishopchallonerschool.com/index.asp?thepage=history_of_school.asp&title=History%20of%20School |title=Bishop Challoner School |access-date=3 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209114141/http://www.bishopchallonerschool.com/index.asp?thepage=history_of_school.asp&title=History%20of%20School |archive-date=9 February 2012 |url-status = dead|df=dmy-all }}</ref> St Mary's Catholic Primary School,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.st-marys-catholic.bromley.sch.uk/|title=Default - St. Mary's Catholic Primary School|work=st-marys-catholic.bromley.sch.uk}}</ref> Marian Vian Primary School, Balgowan Primary School,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.balgowan.bromley.sch.uk/|title=Balgowan Primary School - Primary School|work=balgowan.bromley.sch.uk|access-date=16 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150302120755/http://www.balgowan.bromley.sch.uk/|archive-date=2 March 2015|url-status = dead}}</ref> Worsley Bridge Primary School, Harris Primary Academy Beckenham (formerly Bromley Road Infants School), Clare House Primary School and Churchfields Primary School.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.churchfields.bromley.sch.uk/|title=Home Page|work=churchfields.bromley.sch.uk}}</ref>

==Health==
Beckenham Hospital, now called Beckenham Beacon,<ref>[http://www.bromley.nhs.uk/content.php?page=45 Beckenham Beacon] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070611033444/http://www.bromley.nhs.uk/content.php?page=45 |date=11 June 2007 }}</ref> following redevelopment in 2009, 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.

==Sport==
[[File:Midland bank.jpg|thumb|right|The HSBC Sports Pavilion in New Beckenham, home ground of New Beccehamian Hockey Club]]
Beckenham has a [[non-League football]] club [[Beckenham Town F.C.]], which plays at Eden Park Avenue, and a Sunday league team, Beckenham Manor Football Club, which plays at Langley Sports Club.

[[File:Beckenham War Memorial and Odeon Cinema.jpg|thumb|left|The war memorial and Odeon cinema, both Grade II listed]]

Beckenham Cricket Club plays at [[Foxgrove Road]], a former [[first-class cricket]] ground. It has been the breeding ground of England internationals [[Derek Underwood]] and [[Richard Ellison (cricketer)|Richard Ellison]], and most recently{{when|date=August 2023}} [[Kent County Cricket Club|Kent County]] captain [[Rob Key]].

From 1886 to 1996, the club also staged the [[Kent Championships]], an international [[tennis]] tournament, which featured many of the world's top players because it opened the [[grass court|grass-court]] season building up to [[The Championships, Wimbledon|The Championships at Wimbledon]]. In June 1968, the club held the world's first "open" grass-court tournament – one month after the sport became open to amateur and professional players – with Australians [[Fred Stolle]] and [[Margaret Court]] winning the singles titles.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} 

[[Beckenham Rugby Football Club]] is a [[rugby union]] club formed originally in 1894. It fields six senior men's teams a successful women's team, and also has one of the largest youth sections in the South East.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/beckenham/|title=Beckenham Rugby Club|work=pitchero.com|access-date=9 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615181714/http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/beckenham|archive-date=15 June 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Beccehamians RFC, a rugby union club founded in 1933, plays competitive rugby at Sparrows Den, near [[West Wickham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beccehamians.co.uk/|title=Beccehamian RFC Home Page|work=beccehamians.co.uk}}</ref>

Beckenham Cricket Club is also the home to [[Bromley and Beckenham Hockey Club]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2020}}

Swimmers from Beckenham Swimming Club, established in 1893, have gained medals in the 21st century at national and international levels.<ref>{{cite web|title=Beckenham Swimming Club|url=http://www.beckenhamswimmingclub.com/|access-date=4 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130212051512/http://www.beckenhamswimmingclub.com/|archive-date=12 February 2013|url-status = dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

New Beccehamian Hockey Club play their home games at the [[HSBC Sports and Social Club]] adjacent to [[New Beckenham railway station]]. They currently have three men's and three ladies hockey teams and play competitive fixtures in the Kent Hockey League.[https://newbeccshc.co.uk/]

The training ground for [[Premier League]] club [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] is located on Copers Cope Road.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}}

==Media==
In [[Simon Brett]]'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.<ref>{{cite web|title=No Commitments|date=25 June 2019|url=https://www.dimsdale.co.uk/no-commitments/|publisher=Dimsdale|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>
Beckenham is also one of the main locations of the novel ''[[The Buddha of Suburbia (novel)|The Buddha of Suburbia]]'' (1990), by [[Hanif Kureishi]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Hanif Kureishi - The Buddha of Suburbia|url=https://www.londonfictions.com/hanif-kureishi-the-buddha-of-suburbia.html|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Beckenham}}
 {{multiple image
 | width = 175
 | footer = The former Three Tuns pub (now a restaurant), with David Bowie plaque
 | image1 = Zizzi,_Beckenham.jpg
 | alt1 = 
 | caption1 = Zizzi pizza restaurant 
 | image2 = Zizzi_plaque.jpg
 | alt2 = 
 | caption2 = Close-up of plaque 
 }}
Numerous prominent personages were born or have lived in Beckenham. In the world of politics and governance, these include the colonial administrator [[George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland]] (1784–1849),{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} politician and diplomat [[William Eden, 1st Baron Auckland]] (1745–1814),{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} Admiral of the Royal Navy Sir [[Peircy Brett]] (1709–1781),{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} [[Colour Sergeant]] [[Frank Bourne]] of [[Rorke's Drift]] (who lived at 16 King's Hall Road, Beckenham and is buried in Beckenham Cemetery),{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} judge [[Wilfred Greene, 1st Baron Greene]] (1883–1952 – born at 8 Fox Grove Road){{citation needed|date=August 2020}} and [[T. Pelham Dale|Fr. Thomas Pelham Dale]], an [[Anglo-Catholic]] clergyman prosecuted for [[Ritualist]] practices in the 1870s.{{citation needed|date=August 2020}} Former British Prime Minister [[John Major]] lived at West Oak in Beckenham with his wife [[Norma Major|Norma]] from 1974 to 1978.<ref>{{cite book|author=John Major|title=John Major: The Autobiography|publisher=Harper Collins|year=1999|page=56}}</ref>

Writers include [[Enid Blyton]] who lived at 95 Chaffinch Road from 1897 to 1903,<ref>{{cite web |title=Plaque: Enid Blyton - Beckenham |url=https://www.londonremembers.com/memorials/enid-blyton-beckenham |website=London Remembers |access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref> [[Walter de la Mare]], who lived at 195 Mackenzie Road,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bromley.gov.uk/directory_record/276622/walter_de_la_mare_1873-1956|title = Walter de la Mare (1873-1956)}}</ref> and [[A.L. Barker]] (1918–2002).

Show business people include [[Bob Monkhouse]] (1928–2003),<ref name="Willey"/> [[Julie Andrews]], who lived on Cromwell Road,<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 Mar 2021|title=Beckenham Heritage Group|url=http://www.beckenhamheritagegroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Julie-Andrews.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315151053/http://www.beckenhamheritagegroup.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/Julie-Andrews.pdf |archive-date=2022-03-15|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Floella Benjamin]] (now Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham), who grew up on Mackenzie Road,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/bromley/8244939.Children_s_TV_presenter_appointed_Baroness_of_Beckenham/|title= Floella Benjamin appointed Baroness of Beckenham|work=News Shopper}}</ref> [[Maurice Denham]] (1909–2002),<ref>{{Cite web|date=2002-07-26|title=Obituary: Maurice Denham|url=http://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/jul/26/broadcasting.filmnews|access-date=2021-03-23|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> [[Simon Ward]] (1941–2012).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/shop?d=hc&id=1800046851&cf=biog&intl=us|title=Simon ward}}</ref> and [[Betty Box]] (1915–1999)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-10-22|title=Obituary: Betty Box|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-betty-box-1074688.html|access-date=2021-03-23|website=The Independent|language=en}}</ref> and her brother [[Sydney Box|Sydney]] (1907–1983),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sydney Box|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9fbc3d26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306090356/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b9fbc3d26|url-status=dead|archive-date=6 March 2016|access-date=2021-03-23|website=BFI|language=en}}</ref> both film producers.

Music artist [[David Bowie]] (1947–2016) lived at 42 Southend Road from 1969 to 1973.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bowiewonderworld.com/faq.htm|title=David Bowie|work=bowiewonderworld.com}}</ref> Others from the area include Rolling Stones bassist [[Bill Wyman]], who went to school in Beckenham, [[Peter Frampton]], who was born in Beckenham,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Peter Frampton - Beckenham|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/490477.peter-frampton-beckenham/|access-date=2021-03-23|website=News Shopper|language=en}}</ref> the musician [[David Sylvian]], who was born in the town but raised in nearby [[Catford]],<ref>{{Cite web|date=2005-03-05|title=David Sylvian: "I'm not too good at small talk but love to get straight to what's real" |url=https://www.musicomh.com/features/interviews/interview-david-sylvian|access-date=2021-03-23|website=musicOMH|language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=O’Connell|first=Alex|title=5 minutes with David Sylvian|newspaper=[[The Times]]|language=en|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/5-minutes-with-david-sylvian-hqjt3ls2w2z|access-date=2021-03-23|issn=0140-0460}}</ref> [[Status Quo (band)|Status Quo]] keyboardist [[Andy Bown]] who was born in Beckenham,{{citation needed|date=October 2022}} and musician [[Anne Dudley]] of the band [[Art of Noise]] who is from the town.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

There are many sports personalities, especially [[cricketers]], plus [[Tom Pettitt]] (1859–1956), [[real tennis]] world champion 1885–90.<ref>{{Cite web|title=International Tennis Hall of Fame|url=https://www.tennisfame.com/hall-of-famers/inductees/tom-pettitt|access-date=2021-03-23|website=www.tennisfame.com}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Beckenham_Technical_institute.jpg|The former Beckenham Technical Institute, dating in 1898 and now listed at grade II<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1390855|desc=THE STUDIO INCLUDING ATTACHED RAILINGS, 28, BECKENHAM ROAD|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>
File:Beckenham War Memorial - geograph.org.uk - 35267.jpg|Beckenham War Memorial,<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1406218|desc=Beckenham War Memorial|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref> with the Odeon cinema in the background<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1031565|desc=Odeon Cinema|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>
File:Kelsey Lodge (II).jpg|Kelsey Lodge<ref>{{NHLE|num= 1186808|desc=Kelsey Lodge|access-date=17 August 2020}}</ref>
File:The_Drive,_Beckenham.jpg|The Drive, a residential street off the High Street, with St Edmund's RC Church in the distance
File:HSBC Sports and Social Club.jpg|HSBC Sports and Social Club in New Beckenham - home to New Beckenham Hockey Club
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[https://newbeccshc.co.uk/ New Beckenham Hockey Club Website]
{{Wikisource-inline|list=
**{{Cite NIE|wstitle=Beckenham|year=1905|short=x |noicon=x}}
**{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Beckenham  |short=x |noicon=x}}
**{{Cite Americana|wstitle=Beckenham |short=x |noicon=x}}
}}

{{LB Bromley}}
{{London Districts}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Bromley]]
[[Category:District centres of London]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in the London Borough of Bromley]]