Editing Chislehurst

{{Short description|Settlement in South East England}}
{{for|the former house and school in Sydney, Australia|Chislehurst, Chatswood}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2019}}

{{More citations needed|date=December 2019}}

{{Infobox UK place
 | official_name            = Chislehurst
 | static_image_name        = File:Southwest View of the Church of Saint Nicholas, Chislehurst (01).jpg
 | static_image_caption     = The medieval Church of Saint Nicholas, the oldest standing building in Chislehurst
 | coordinates              = {{coord|51.412|0.075|display=inline,title}}
 | population               = 15,600
 | population_ref           = (2021 census)
 | os_grid_reference        = TQ445705
 | charingX_distance_mi     = 10
 | charingX_direction       = NW
 | london_borough           = Bromley
 | region                   = London
 | country                  = England
 | post_town                = Chislehurst
 | postcode_area            = BR
 | postcode_district        = BR7
 | dial_code                = 020
 | constituency_westminster = [[Eltham and Chislehurst (UK Parliament constituency)|Eltham & Chislehurst]]
}}
[[File:Royal Parade - geograph.org.uk - 1530906.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|Royal Parade]]

'''Chislehurst''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|tʃ|ɪ|z|əl|ˌ|h|ɜr|s|t}}) is a suburban district of south-east [[London]], England, in the [[London Borough of Bromley]]. It lies east of [[Bromley]], south-west of [[Sidcup]] and north-west of [[Orpington]], {{convert|10|mi|km|0}} south-east of [[Charing Cross]]. Before the creation of [[Greater London]] in 1965, it was in [[Kent]]. According to the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]], Chislehurst has a population of 15,600 (rounded to the nearest 100).<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Build a custom area profile - Census 2021, ONS |url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/customprofiles/draw/ |access-date=2024-03-20 |website=www.ons.gov.uk |language=en}}</ref>

==History==

The name "Chislehurst" is derived from the [[Old English language|Saxon]] words ''cisel'', "gravel", and ''hyrst'', "wooded hill".

The Walsingham family, including [[Christopher Marlowe]]'s patron, [[Thomas Walsingham (literary patron)|Sir Thomas Walsingham]] and [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth I's]] spymaster, [[Francis Walsingham]], had a home in [[Scadbury Park]], now a nature reserve in which the ruins of the house can still be seen.<ref>[http://www.scadbury.net/index.html Friends of Scadbury Park]</ref>

A water tower used to straddle the road from Chislehurst to Bromley until it was demolished in 1963 as one of the last acts of the Chislehurst and Sidcup UDC. It marked the entrance to the Wythes Estate in [[Bickley]], but its narrow archway meant that [[double-decker bus]]es were not able to be used on the route.

==Governance==
The Chislehurst civil parish formed an [[Urban district (Great Britain and Ireland)|urban district]] of [[Kent]] from 1894 to 1934.<ref name=vision_ud>Vision of Britain - [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit_page.jsp?u_id=10074113 Chilsehurst UD] ([http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10074113/boundary historic map])</ref> In 1934 it became part of the [[Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District]],<ref name=vision_cas>Vision of Britain - [https://archive.today/20121224064915/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10087820 Chislehurst and Sidcup UD] ([http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10087820&c_id=10001043 historic map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930230347/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10087820&c_id=10001043 |date=30 September 2007 }})</ref> which was split in 1965 between the London boroughs of [[London Borough of Bromley|Bromley]] and [[London Borough of Bexley|Bexley]]. Chislehurst Ward has three councillors on Bromley Council: the first non-Conservative party candidates returned for the ward were Chislehurst Matters members elected in 2022.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://cds.bromley.gov.uk/mgElectionAreaResults.aspx?XXR=0&ID=41&RPID=549606455 | title=London Borough of Bromley online information Council and democracy | date=5 May 2022 }}</ref>

== Demographics ==
As of 2021, Chislehurst is recorded as having a population of roughly 15,600. 35.3% of people in Chislehurst were recorded as being between the ages of 35 and 59, below the borough average of 36.4%. The largest religious group is Christian at 51.5%, above the borough average of 48.3%, with the second largest group being No religion at 33.8%, below the borough average of 37.3%. The largest ethnic group in Chislehurst is White, comprising 81.4% of the population, above the borough average of 76.5%, with the second largest being Asian/Asian British who make up 7.9% of the population, below the borough average of 8.3%.<ref name=":0" />

==Geography==
Chislehurst is largely a residential area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/bromley/assets/histories/LB-bromley|title=Name: History of London Borough of Bromley|publisher= Ideal Homes|access-date=24 June 2019}}</ref> Chislehurst West, previously known as "Pricking" or "Prickend", includes the biggest of the ponds and the High Street.

Chislehurst is one of the starting points for the [[South East London Green Chain|Green Chain Walk]], linking to places such as [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]], [[Erith]], the [[Thames Barrier]] and [[Thamesmead]].

[[Chislehurst Common]] (and nearby St Paul's Cray Common) were saved from development in 1888 following campaigns by local residents. They were a popular destination for bank holiday trips in the early 20th century, and now provide a valuable green space. Nearby [[Petts Wood#The woods|Petts Wood]], Hawkwood and Scadbury have also been preserved as open spaces following local campaigns.

===Chislehurst Conservation Area===
{{Further|List of conservation areas in England}}
A 2017 list shows there have been {{convert|596.4|ha}} in Chislehurst designated as conservation areas since 1971.<ref>{{cite web|title=A New Inventory of English Conservation Areas (2017)|last=Hall|first=Leo |url=http://www.bedfordpark.net/leo/planning/A%20new%20inventory%20of%20English%20Conservation%20Areas.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728125802/http://www.bedfordpark.net/leo/planning/A%20new%20inventory%20of%20English%20Conservation%20Areas.pdf |archive-date=2020-07-28 |url-status=live |access-date=2019-06-27 }}</ref> The designation of conservation areas is one of the many [[Town and country planning in the United Kingdom|planning tactics]] used in the United Kingdom that includes [[Local planning authority|local planning authorities]] (LPA's), with plans working in conjunction such as the [[Listed building|listing of buildings]] and [[scheduled monument]]s, [[metropolitan Green Belt]]s, [[National Trust]]s, and "Tree Preservation Orders". These give stringent policies against development with statues and non-statutory orders. The destruction of many trees and [[Victorian architecture|Victorian style]] buildings caused by bombing during [[WWII]], as well as the ensuing building boom, made protection even more critical. The result is the protection of areas by preventing arbitrary destruction from large as well as small-scale development that can cause a creeping effect into side spaces and back gardens.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chislehurst Conservation Area|last=Holt|first=Laurie |url=http://www.chislehurst-society.org.uk/PDFs/Chislehurst%20Conservation%20document.pdf |date= February 2008|access-date=2019-06-28 }}</ref>

===Nearby areas===
Chislehurst borders [[New Eltham]] to the north, [[Sidcup]] to the north east and east, [[St Paul's Cray]] to the south east, [[Petts Wood]] to the south, [[Bickley]] to the south west, [[Elmstead, London|Elmstead]] to the west and [[Mottingham]] to the north west.

==Landmarks==

===Chislehurst Caves===
[[File:Entrancetochislehurstcaves.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|[[Chislehurst Caves]] entrance]]
A local attraction is [[Chislehurst Caves]]. They were originally used to mine [[flint]] and [[chalk]]. During [[World War II]], they were used nightly as an air-raid shelter. There is a chapel inside. A child was born in the caves during World War II and was given a middle name of 'Cavena'.<ref>The baby was christened Rose Cavena Wakeman according to the official guides. Birth records show that a baby called Rose L.C. Wakeman was born in Chislehurst in 1946, which is consistent with the story.</ref>  The caves have also been used as a venue for live music; [[Jimi Hendrix]], [[the Who]], [[the Rolling Stones]], [[David Bowie]], [[Pink Floyd]] and [[Led Zeppelin]] have all played there.

===Camden Place===
[[File:Camden Place, Chislehurst Geograph-2518030-by-Ian-Capper.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|Camden Place in 2011]]
Camden Place (now Chislehurst Golf Club, 51° 24′ 40.05″N 0° 3′ 55.69″E ) takes its name from the [[antiquarian|antiquary]] [[William Camden]], who lived in the former house on the site from {{Circa|1609}} until his death in 1623. The present house was built shortly before 1717, and it was given a number of additions in the late 18th and very early 19th centuries by the architect [[George Dance the younger]].<ref>Bridget Cherry and Nikolaus Pevsner, ''London 2: South'', Buildings of England (Harmondsworth, 1983), p. 180.</ref>

In about 1760, the house and estate were bought by [[Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden|Charles Pratt]], the [[Attorney General for England and Wales|Attorney General]], and later [[Lord Chancellor]]. Pratt was ennobled in 1765, taking the title Baron Camden, of Camden Place; in 1786, he was created [[Marquess Camden|Earl Camden]]. The house is a [[Grade II* listed building]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1064325|title=Name: CAMDEN PLACE List entry Number: 1064325|publisher= English Heritage|access-date=25 January 2018}}</ref>

A later occupant of the house, from 1871 until his death there in 1873, was the exiled French Emperor, [[Napoleon III]]. His body and that of his son, the [[Napoléon, Prince Imperial|Prince Imperial]], were originally buried in [[St Mary's Church, Chislehurst|St Mary's Catholic Church]], before being removed to [[St Michael's Abbey, Farnborough]].<ref name=EB1911>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Chislehurst|volume=6|page=247}}</ref> The Emperor's widow, the Empress [[Eugénie de Montijo|Eugénie]], remained at Camden Place until 1885.

There is a memorial to the Prince Imperial on Chislehurst Common, and the area's connections with the imperial family are found in many road names and in the local telephone code, 467, which in its earlier format corresponded to the letters IMP (for ''imperial'').

===War Memorial===
[[File:Chislehurst War Memorial (02).jpg|thumb|Chislehurst War Memorial]]
The Chislehurst War Memorial was dedicated on 17 October 1920. It commemorates the fallen of [[World War I]] and [[World War II]].<ref>[https://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/3845 Chislehurst] [[Imperial War Museum]]</ref><ref>[https://www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk/memorial/160574/ Chislehurst] War Memorials Online</ref>

==Transport==
===Rail===
[[Chislehurst station]], operated by [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern Railway]], provides [[National Rail]] services to [[Charing Cross railway station|London Charing Cross]], [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]] and [[Cannon Street railway station|London Cannon Street]] via [[Lewisham station|Lewisham]].

===Bus===
Chislehurst is served by [[London Buses]] routes [[London Buses route 61|61]], [[London Buses route 160|160]], [[London Buses route 161|161]], [[London Buses route 162|162]], [[London Buses route 269|269]], [[London Buses route 279|273]], [[London Buses route R7|R7]], [[London Buses route SL3|SL3]] and [[London Buses route N136|N136]] (with [https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/625/ 625], [https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/638/ 638] and [https://tfl.gov.uk/bus/route/661/ 661] passing through the historical town). These connect it with areas including [[Beckenham]], [[Bexleyheath]], [[Bromley]], [[Catford]], [[Eltham, London|Eltham]], [[Plumstead]], [[Grove Park, Lewisham|Grove Park]], [[Lewisham bus station|Lewisham]], [[North Greenwich bus station|North Greenwich]], [[Orpington]], [[Sidcup]], [[Coney Hall]] and [[Woolwich]].

==Education==
* [[Bullers Wood School]] 
* [[Bullers Wood School for Boys]] (part of Chislehurst and [[Bickley]]) 
* [[Chislehurst School for Girls]]
* [[Coopers School]]
* Saint Nicholas Church of England Primary School
* [https://babingtonhouse.com Babington House School]
* [https://farringtons.org.uk Farringtons School]
* Chislehurst C of E Primary School
* [https://edgebury.bromley.sch.uk Edgebury Primary School]
* [https://redhill.bromley.sch.uk Red Hill Primary School]
* [https://meadroadinfantschool.co.uk/ Mead Road Infant School]
* [https://www.marjoriemcclure.co.uk/ Marjorie McClure Special School]

==Religious sites==
[[File:St Nicholas' Church and the Charles A Janson Memorial Drinking Fountain - geograph.org.uk - 1716004.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|St Nicholas' Church and the Charles A Janson Memorial Drinking Fountain]]
* Chislehurst Baptist Church
* St Patrick's Catholic Church
* Christ Church Chislehurst
* Elmstead Baptist Church
* Chislehurst Methodist Church
* The Annuncation
* St. Nicholas
* Darul Uloom Mosque and School
* Ichthus Christian Fellowship
* [[St Mary's Church, Chislehurst|St Mary's Catholic Church]], original burial place of Napoleon III and his son, the Prince Imperial

==Notable people==
[[File:Napoleon III and the imperial family in exile.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|[[Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte]] with his wife [[Eugénie de Montijo]] and [[Napoléon, Prince Imperial|their son]] in exile in Chislehurst, 1872.]]
* [[Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte]], President of France and Emperor of the French, lived in exile (1871–1873) in Camden Place, with his wife [[Eugénie de Montijo]] (remained in the area until 1885) and son [[Louis-Napoléon, Prince Imperial]] (died 1879).
* [[William Camden]] (1551–1623), [[Clarenceux King of Arms]], lived in the house later known as Camden Place from {{Circa|1609}} until 1623
* [[Malcolm Campbell]], former land and water speed record holder, was born in Chislehurst and is buried in St. Nicholas Parish Church
* [[George Somers Leigh Clarke]] (1822–1882), architect who lived at Walpole, Manor Park and is buried in the St Nicholas' churchyard.
* [[Richmal Crompton]], author of the ''[[Just William]]'' series of books.
*[[Craig Fairbrass]], actor<ref>{{Cite web|title=Guardian interview with Craig Fairbrass|website=[[TheGuardian.com]] |date=27 November 2020 |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/nov/27/it-took-me-three-days-to-get-over-the-orgy-scene-muscle-star-craig-fairbrass-star-of-muscle}}</ref>
* [[Tilly Keeper]], who plays Louise Mitchell in BBC One soap opera ''[[EastEnders]]''.
* [[E. J. May]] (1853–1941), architect, lived locally and designed a number of local buildings.
* [[Eugénie de Montijo]], Countess of Teba and Empress of France.
* [[Jozef Michal Poniatowski]], Polish nobleman, composer.
* [[Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden|Charles Pratt]] (1714–1794), Earl Camden, a British politician and judge, who lived at Camden Place
* [[Peter Redpath]], Canadian businessman
* [[Brian Sibley]], writer and biographer, best known for books on [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and [[C.S. Lewis]]
* [[Siouxsie Sioux]], singer, best known for being in the band [[Siouxsie and the Banshees]]
* [[Thomas Townshend, 1st Viscount Sydney]]; the city of [[Sydney, Australia]] is named after him.
* [[Francis Walsingham]], spymaster to [[Elizabeth I]].
* [[Alan Watts]], philosopher, born and raised in Chislehurst, moved to the United States in 1938.
* [[William Willett]], a campaigner for [[daylight saving time]], lived most of his adult life in Chislehurst.
* [[Ted Willis]], creator of ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]''.
* [[William Hyde Wollaston]], chemist and physicist who discovered [[rhodium]] and [[palladium]].

==References==
{{Commons category|Chislehurst}}
{{Reflist}}

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

[[Category:Chislehurst| ]]
[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Bromley]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in the London Borough of Bromley]]