Editing Cudham

{{Short description|Area in London, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| region                   = London
| official_name            = Cudham
| london_borough           = Bromley
| constituency_westminster = [[Orpington (UK Parliament constituency)|Orpington]]
| post_town                = SEVENOAKS
| postcode_district        = TN14
| postcode_area            = TN
| dial_code                = 01959
| os_grid_reference        = TQ445595
| coordinates              = {{coord|51.3193|0.07106|display=inline,title}}
| charingX_distance_mi     = 15.5
| charingX_direction       = NNW
| static_image_name        = Cudham Church, Kent, England, 20 September 2010.jpg
| static_image_caption     = Cudham Church
| population               =
| population_ref           =  
}}

'''Cudham''' is an area in [[Greater London]], [[England]], located within the [[London Borough of Bromley]] and beyond [[London]]'s [[urban sprawl]]. It is located on the Greater London border with [[Kent]], bordering the [[Sevenoaks District]]. Cudham lies south of [[Orpington]] and north west of [[Sevenoaks]]. It is located {{convert|15.9|mi}} south-southeast of [[Charing Cross]].

==History==
Cudham church, dedicated to [[St Peter]] and [[St Paul]], is mentioned in the [[Domesday Book]].<ref name=church>{{cite web|publisher=The united benefice of Cudham & Downe|url=http://www.pcd.org.uk/history.asp|title=History of the Parishes|access-date=8 November 2009|archive-date=5 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305065633/http://pcd.org.uk/history.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Lord Simon de [[Manning]], a former Lord of the Manor for [[Kevington, London]], and holder of the land which now includes Cudham,  was a Grandson of Rudolph de Manning, [[Count Palatine]], (who, married Elgida, aunt to King [[Harold I]], (Harold Harefoot), of England); he was the royal [[Standard Bearer]] to King [[Richard the Lionheart]], who carried the royal Standard to Jerusalem in 1190, during the [[First Crusade]]. In England, the forms Earl [[Palatine]] and Palatine Earldom are preferred.

The ''Blacksmith's Arms'', originally a 17th-century farmhouse, has memorabilia relating to the [[music hall]] artiste known as "[[Little Tich]]". Cudham was part of [[Bromley Rural District]] from 1894 and [[Orpington Urban District]] from 1934 to 1965. The village was therefore part of [[Kent]] (and  administered by [[Kent County Council]]) until the creation of [[Greater London]] on 1 April 1965. Cudham Recreation Ground, behind the church and pub, is home to Cudham Wyse Cricket Club, which was formed in 1965.

==Transport==
Cudham, being in the county of Greater London, is still under the [[Transport for London]] remit and is served by a [[London Buses]] bus service, with the R5/R10 connecting the area with [[Orpington]] via [[Green Street Green]], and also to [[Knockholt]] in [[Kent]]. The closest rail links to the area are [[Chelsfield station]] and [[Knockholt station]], in [[Travelcard Zone 6]].

==Events==
Cudham hosts one of the oldest village shows and fetes, dating back to Victorian times. It is held annually on the August [[Bank holiday|Bank Holiday]] Monday.

Cudham also hosts the famous annual Cudham [[Craic]] music festival, a popular two day music event in Cudham's recreation ground.

==Local politics==

Cudham is part of the largest ward in Greater London, [[Darwin (ward)]], covering a rural area including [[Downe]], [[Leaves Green]], [[Berry's Green]], [[Single Street]], and [[Westerham]] Hill.

Since 2019, the local Member of Parliament is [[Gareth Bacon]], elected with 30,882 votes or  63.4% of the vote share. Previously, the local Member of Parliament has been [[Jo Johnson]] of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservatives]] who is brother of the former Prime Minister, [[Boris Johnson]]. 

By a numerical majority of 22,378 votes (45.9%), [[Orpington (UK Parliament constituency)|Orpington]] is the safest Conservative Parliamentary seat in London.

One councillor is elected every four years to [[Bromley London Borough Council]]. To date, the Darwin ward has only been represented by representatives from the Conservative Party.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Cudham}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20041208024904/http://www.cudhamanddowne.org/chistory.htm Church history]
*[http://www.cudhamwyse.co.uk Cudham Wyse Cricket Club]

{{LB Bromley}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in the London Borough of Bromley]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Bromley]]
[[Category:Former civil parishes in the London Borough of Bromley]]