Editing Sydenham, London

{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country                  = England
| map_type                 = Greater London
| region                   = London
| population               = 28,378
| population_ref           = (SE26 postcode area)<ref name="Sydenham population 2"/>
| official_name            = Sydenham
| london_borough           = Lewisham
| london_borough1          = Bromley
| constituency_westminster = [[Lewisham West and East Dulwich (UK Parliament constituency)|Lewisham West and East Dulwich]]
| post_town                = LONDON
| postcode_area            = SE
| postcode_district        = SE26
| dial_code                = 020
| os_grid_reference        = TQ352714
| coordinates              = {{coord|51.4254|-0.0544|display=inline,title}}
| static_image_name        = Sydenham Avenue SE26.JPG
| static_image_caption     = Sydenham Avenue
| website                  = http://sydenham.org.uk/
}}

'''Sydenham''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɪ|d|ən|ə|m}}) is a district of south-east London, England, which is shared between the [[London borough]]s of [[London Borough of Lewisham|Lewisham]], [[London Borough of Bromley|Bromley]] and [[London Borough of Southwark|Southwark]]. Prior to the creation of the [[County of London]] in 1889, Sydenham was located in [[Kent]], bordering [[Surrey]]. Historically, the area was very affluent, with [[the Crystal Palace]] being relocated to [[Sydenham Hill]] in 1854. Today, Sydenham is a diverse area, with a population of 28,378 (2011 census)<ref name="Sydenham population 2"/> and borders [[Forest Hill, London|Forest Hill]], [[Dulwich]], [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]], [[Penge]], [[Beckenham]], [[Catford]] and [[Bellingham, London|Bellingham]].

==History==
[[File:Lewisham Met. B Ward Map 1916.svg|thumb|A map showing the Sydenham ward of Lewisham Metropolitan Borough as it appeared in 1916.]]
Originally known as '''Sippenham''',<ref>{{cite web|title=History of Sydenham|url=http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/lewisham/assets/histories/sydenham|website=Ideal Homes: A History of South East London Suburbs|access-date=29 June 2014|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402142641/http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/lewisham/assets/histories/sydenham|url-status=dead}}</ref> Sydenham began as a small settlement, a few cottages among the woods, whose inhabitants grazed their animals and collected wood. In the 1640s, springs of water in what is now [[Sydenham Wells Park|Wells Park]] were discovered to have medicinal properties, attracting crowds of people to the area. Sydenham grew rapidly in the 19th century after the introduction of the [[Croydon Canal]] in 1809 which linked the [[Grand Surrey Canal]] to [[Croydon]] and a reservoir was constructed in Sydenham. However, the canal was never successful and closed in 1836<ref name=hadfield374>{{cite book |title=The Canals of South and South East England |first=Charles |last=Hadfield |publisher=David and Charles |isbn=0-7153-4693-8 |year=1969 |page=374}}</ref> resulting in it being the first canal to be abandoned by an Act of Parliament. 

The [[London & Croydon Railway]] purchased the canal for £40,250 and quickly converted the alignment for a railway from [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]] to [[West Croydon station|West Croydon]], opening in 1839. After the railway opened potential gas companies began to consider the Sydenham area with the Crystal Palace and District Gas Company having works at Bell Green, which continued production until 1969; a retail park now occupies most of the site.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

[[File:Crystal Palace General view from Water Temple.jpg|thumb|left|240px|The Crystal Palace]]

In 1851 the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park was housed in an immense glass building, called [[the Crystal Palace]]. In 1854 the building was bought by a private company, dismantled and re-erected at Penge Peak on Sydenham Hill (now [[Crystal Palace Park]]). Exhibitions, concerts, conferences and sporting events were held at the Crystal Palace (until it burned down in 1936), and Sydenham became a fashionable area with many new houses being built. In 1871 the French [[Impressionism|impressionist]] painter [[Camille Pissarro]] produced ''The Avenue, Sydenham'', a largely still recognisable view on today's Lawrie Park Avenue; the painting is now owned by the [[National Gallery, London|National Gallery]].{{cn|date=May 2025}}

In 1860 the [[Walter Cobb (department store)|Walter Cobb]] department store at Lawrie Place, Kirkdale (now known as Cobbs Corner) opened, lasting until the 1980s. In 1872, the Children's Hospital, Sydenham opened. It closed in 1991, its services being now part of the [[University Hospital Lewisham]].<ref>http://www.ezits.myzen.co.uk/childrensydenham.html {{Dead link|date=March 2022}}</ref> In 1884, [[Upper Sydenham railway station]] opened on the [[Crystal Palace and South London Junction Railway]] linking Crystal Palace to London Victoria via Peckham Rye.<ref>{{cite book |last=Butt |first=R.V.J. |title=The Directory of Railway Stations |year=1995 |publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd |location=Yeovil |isbn=978-1-85260-508-7 |id=R508 |page=237 }}</ref> The station and the line were poorly used despite new houses being built in the area, as passengers preferred to use other stations near-by, [[Sydenham Hill railway station|Sydenham Hill]] (opening in 1863), [[Crystal Palace railway station|Crystal Palace (Lower Level)]] and Sydenham which were on more direct routes. The ill fate of the Crystal Palace in 1936 saw patronage reduced and the route finally closed in 1954.

Sydenham was attacked by enemies during the [[Second World War]]. The gas works were a target, but were never damaged. The railway which ran through Upper Sydenham station was damaged, and some homes in the area were destroyed.

==Local area==
Sydenham is divided into several localities:
[[File:Sydenham Hill Apartments.JPG|thumb|right|200px|Apartment building on Sydenham Hill]]
'''[[Sydenham Hill]]''' in the Boroughs of Lewisham and Southwark runs alongside Dulwich and Sydenham Woods on one of the highest points of Greater London being 112 metres above sea level.<ref>[http://www.hill-bagging.co.uk/LondonBoroughs.php Hill Bagging: Tallest Hills of London] Retrieved 9 June 2013</ref> From here, the City of London skyline is visible. Sydenham Hill has an abandoned railway tunnel from the [[Crystal Palace and South London Junction Railway]] located within the Woods. Another railway tunnel (one of the longest in Britain at 1,958 metres) goes beneath on the [[Chatham Main Line]] with {{rws|Sydenham Hill}} station at the London end serving both Sydenham Hill and the College area of Dulwich.

'''Upper Sydenham''' is also located on Sydenham Hill and is a part of the Parish of [[St Bartholomew]]. It is diverse both racially and in terms of income; the central section of Kirkdale was Sydenham's original High Street. Renamed "Kirkdale" in 1936, the area now has a small range of shops including [[Tesco Express]], local pubs and off-licences. Sydenham School is located on Dartmouth Road with Forest Hill Library and Forest Hill Pools alongside Thorpewood Avenue. Green Flag awarded [[Sydenham Wells Park]], the location of the once famous Springs is one of the largest parks within the postcode.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

[[File:SER-1965-50.jpg|thumb|left|240px|Charleville Circus in Upper Sydenham]] 

In the area where West Hill (later renamed Westwood Hill) and Crystal Palace Park Road raise in elevation and eventually meet, many fine villas were built in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Designed in revival architectural styles, fashionable at the time, most of the properties were three or four stories high and large enough to attract more affluent residents. [[Census in the United Kingdom|UK Census]] records suggest that many employed one or more live-in domestic staff. One of the more unusual residential streets, due to its circular arrangement is Charleville Circus,<ref>[https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Space:Charleville_Circus%2C_Sydenham%2C_Kent_One_Place_Study WikiTree: One-Place Study of Charleville Circus] Retrieved 21 March 2024</ref> subject of an in-depth [[One-place study]]. Upper Sydenham is also the location of the Sydenham Park allotments, the Sydenham electricity sub station which had a major fire in 2008<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7443326.stm|title=Blaze at sub-station investigated|date=9 June 2008|work=BBC News}}</ref> and the Sydenham Hill estate.

'''Lower Sydenham & Bell Green''' is the location of the Sydenham Community Library, formerly run and funded by the local council. Alongside to the library is Home Park and the Home Park estate. The Bridge Leisure Centre is located on Kangley Bridge Road, near to {{rws|Lower Sydenham}} railway station and an industrial estate home to Clarkes coach company, many other businesses and the Beckenham and Sydenham Cricket Ground. Bell Green retail park houses the Sydenham Gas Works and a large [[Sainsbury's]] superstore, formally part of the [[Savacentre]] brand. Other retailers include [[B&Q]], [[Currys|Currys PC World]], [[Next plc|Next]] (with [[Costa Coffee]]), [[Aldi]] and [[McDonald's]] among others. The section of Kangley Bridge Road that runs south of Lower Sydenham Station is in the [[London Borough of Bromley]] and provides land for local employment.<ref>{{cite web |date=December 18, 2020 |title=Lower Sydenham and Bell Green Vision Study – Baseline Appraisal |url=https://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/documents/s76825/A2%20We%20Made%20That%20LSBG%20Vision%20Study%20Baseline%20analysis.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127235605/https://councilmeetings.lewisham.gov.uk/documents/s76825/A2%20We%20Made%20That%20LSBG%20Vision%20Study%20Baseline%20analysis.pdf |archive-date=2022-01-27 |url-status=live |publisher=[[Lewisham London Borough Council]] |page=11 |access-date=October 3, 2022}}</ref>

===Commercial area===
Sydenham's main commercial area begins on Kirkdale around Cobbs Corner, continuing onto Sydenham Road, often known as "Sydenham High Street". It houses many independent shops, including a bakery, bookshop and several restaurants and chains stores. Furthermore, Sydenham is noted for the number of independent coffee shops.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Bloomfield|first1=Ruth|title=Where to buy in London 2017: south-east London is the place to invest, says report that links house price growth with coffee shop openings|url=http://www.homesandproperty.co.uk/property-news/london-s-homes-hotspots-2017-southeast-london-is-the-place-to-invest-says-new-report-that-links-a109031.html#gallery|access-date=31 May 2017|agency=Evening Standard, Homes & Property|newspaper=London Evening Standard|date=23 March 2017}}</ref> There is a [[Post Office Ltd|Post Office]] branch and many estate agents. After recent closures, [[National Westminster Bank|Natwest]] remains the only bank with a branch in the High Street. The first ever location of the [[Morley's]] chicken chain opened in Sydenham in 1985, and remains in operation today.<ref>{{Cite web |title=OUR STORY |url=https://www.morleyschicken.com/our-story |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Morley's Chicken |language=en}}</ref>

Since the [[Transport for London]] and [[London Borough of Lewisham|Lewisham Council]] funded high street upgrade in 2012–13, there is now a monthly market located within the pocket squares, known as "Queensthorpe Square" and "Venner Square". The 18th century Greyhound pub, demolished by a developer without council permission in 2013,<ref>{{cite news |title=Lewisham Council prosecutes developer over Sydenham Greyhound pub demolition |url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/10302397.lewisham-council-prosecutes-developer-over-sydenham-greyhound-pub-demolition/ |access-date=17 January 2023 |work=News Shopper |date=20 March 2013 |language=en}}</ref> was rebuilt and reopened in 2017.<ref name="sn"/> Several new businesses such as a Sainsbury's Local opened in 2016 and Kinleigh Folkard & Hayward Estate Agents in 2021/22.<ref name="sn">{{cite web|title=Sydenham Newsletter, Spring 2017|url=http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/neighbourhoods/sydenham/Documents/SydenhamNewsletterSpring2017.pdf|website=London Borough of Lewisham|publisher=Sydenham Assembly|access-date=31 May 2017|archive-date=1 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901145824/https://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/neighbourhoods/sydenham/Documents/SydenhamNewsletterSpring2017.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=January 2023}}

===Community===
Sydenham has a very active community, with several groups concerning the local area. Sydenham Town is the local website for the area, where residents can also voice their opinions in an on-line form.<ref>[http://sydenham.org.uk/ Sydenham Town: The Community Website For SE26] Accessed 30 July 2013</ref> The Sydenham Society is a [[Civil society]] formed in 1972 to represent the local community. It holds local events, works with organisations and authorities as well as campaigning for improvements to the area.<ref>[http://www.sydenhamsociety.com/about/ Sydenham Society: About Us] Accessed 30 July 2013</ref> Green Flag and Mayor of London Award winner, Sydenham Garden, was formed in 2002. It is a charity which is involved in improving the health of residents in the boroughs of Bromley and Lewisham.<ref>[http://www.sydenhamgarden.org.uk/about-us Sydenham Garden: About Us] Accessed 30 July 2013</ref>

Sydenham with [[Forest Hill, London|Forest Hill]] won a bid for the national ''[[Mary Portas|Portas Pilot]]'' competition which provided a grant to improve high streets; extra money was provided from Lewisham Council and private developers.<ref>[http://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/9837203.Sydenham_and_Forest_Hill_win_Portas_Pilot_funding/ News Shopper: Sydenham and Forest Hill win Portas Pilot funding] 25 July 2012, Accessed 30 July 2013</ref> Annually every summer since 2009, the Sydenham Arts Festival is held, where there are workshops, music, family activities etc.<ref>[http://www.sydenhamartsfestival.co.uk/ Sydenham Arts Festival] Accessed 30 July 2013</ref>

===Conservation areas===
[[File:Mayow Park - geograph.org.uk - 840960.jpg|thumb|right|240px|Mayow Park was originally known as Sydenham Recreational Ground]]
Sydenham has seven [[Conservation Area (United Kingdom)|Conservation Areas]]: Cobbs Corner, Dulwich Village (covering Crescent Wood Road),<ref>[http://maps.southwark.gov.uk/connect/southwark.jsp?mapcfg=DesignConservation London Borough of Southwark: Map of Conservation Areas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402130446/http://maps.southwark.gov.uk/connect/southwark.jsp?mapcfg=DesignConservation |date=2 April 2015 }} Accessed 30 July 2013</ref> Halifax Street, Sydenham Hill/Kirkdale, Sydenham Park and Sydenham Thorpes. Sydenham has the highest concentration of conservation areas in the London Borough of Lewisham<ref>[http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/ConservationAreas.pdf LB Lewisham: Map of Lewishams' conservation areas] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228160627/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/SiteCollectionDocuments/ConservationAreas.pdf |date=28 December 2013 }} Accessed 30 July 2013</ref>

===Recreation===

A number of parks are within the Sydenham postcode. [[Mayow Park]], Lewisham's oldest municipal park<ref>[http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/Pages/mayow-park.aspx LB Lewisham] Accessed 12 June 2013</ref> and [[Sydenham Wells Park]]<ref>[http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/Pages/sydenham-wells-park.aspx LB Lewisham: Sydenham Wells Park] Accessed 12 June 2013</ref> are both Green Flag Awarded. Other open spaces in Sydenham include Alexandra Recreation Ground,<ref>[http://www.bromley.gov.uk/directory_record/1074454/alexandra_recreation_ground LB Bromley: Alexandra Rec Ground] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130727145431/http://www.bromley.gov.uk/directory_record/1074454/alexandra_recreation_ground |date=27 July 2013 }} Accessed 27 July 2013</ref> Baxters Field,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/baxters-field|title=Baxters Field|website=Lewisham Council}}</ref> Home Park<ref>[http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/Pages/home-park.aspx LB Lewisham: Home Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719095944/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/Pages/home-park.aspx |date=19 July 2013 }} Accessed 12 June 2013</ref> and Kirkdale Green.<ref>[https://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/Pages/kirkdale-green.aspx LB: Lewisham Kirkdale Green] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719095126/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/Pages/kirkdale-green.aspx |date=19 July 2013 }} Accessed 27 July 2013</ref> Riverview Walk is a nature conservation area<ref>[http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/Pages/riverview-walk-and-river-pool-linear-park.aspx London Borough of Lewisham: Riverview Park & River Pool] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130524164058/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/Pages/riverview-walk-and-river-pool-linear-park.aspx |date=24 May 2013 }} Accessed 12 June 2013</ref> which runs along the [[River Pool (London)|River Pool]] from Catford. Additionally, located along the borders of Sydenham, there are [[Crystal Palace Park]], [[Dulwich Wood]]s, Southend Park<ref>[http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/Pages/southend-park.aspx LB Lewisham: Southend Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719094953/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/openspaces/parks/Pages/southend-park.aspx |date=19 July 2013 }} Accessed 12 June 2013</ref> and [[Sydenham Hill Wood]]s.

Alongside Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Woods is the Dulwich and Sydenham Golf course, dating back to 1893.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.dulwichgolf.co.uk/course/history_3/|website=Dulwich and Sydenham Golf Club|access-date=31 May 2017}}</ref> Located on Lawrie Park Road, there is the Sydenham Tennis Club, while the Beckenham and Sydenham Cricket Ground and the Lewisham Indoor Bowls Centre are both located in the Lower Sydenham industrial estate.

===Sydenham Arts===

Sydenham Arts is a local charitable organisation,<ref>[http://volunteerteam.london.gov.uk/organizations/index.php?org_id=308 Team London on Sydenham Arts] Accessed 14 March 2016</ref> promoting the arts for the local community, which provides free and ticketed cultural events at several festivals through the year.<ref>[http://www.sydenhamarts.co.uk/ Sydenham Arts] Accessed 11 March 2016</ref><ref>[http://sydenhamartists.co.uk Sydenham Visual Art Trail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160507000124/http://sydenhamartists.co.uk/ |date=7 May 2016 }} Accessed 11 March 2016</ref><ref>[http://www.theartsdesk.com/new-music/kathryn-williams-sydenham-st-bartholemews-church Event Reviewed by The Arts Desk] Accessed 18 April 2016</ref>

===Notable buildings and structures===

[[File:Queen Victoria and Elizabeth II memorial Kirkdale Sydenham 7 Dec 2021.jpg|thumb|right|240px|Drinking fountain erected to commemorate the 1897 [[Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria]] and restored for the [[Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II]] in 1977]]

* St Bartholomew's church, (1827–1832), at the end of Lawrie Park Avenue, featured in [[Camille Pissarro]]'s painting of 1871: "The Avenue, Sydenham". The building was designed by [[Lewis Vulliamy]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://barts.sydenham.org.uk/ |title=St Bartholomew's, Sydenham |access-date=30 December 2008 |archive-date=27 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081027193753/http://barts.sydenham.org.uk/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Park Court, (1936), by [[Frederick Gibberd]],  pioneering modernist development of residential flats on the estate on Lawrie Park Road adjacent to the famous [[Crystal Palace Park]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parkcourtsydenham.org.uk|title=Park Court|access-date=12 February 2022|archive-date=19 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151019105028/http://parkcourtsydenham.org.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Six Pillars House|Six Pillars]], (1934–35), by [[Berthold Lubetkin]], on Crescent Wood Road,  a villa strongly in the spirit of [[Le Corbusier]] with eponymous six pillars at street level.
* Cobbs Corner, takes its name from a draper's shop at 291–307 Kirkdale run by Walter Cobb. The shop grew into a large department store catering to the gentry of the area. Interesting imposing dome where you can find the date on the building.
* 180 and 182 Kirkdale, built in the 1850s in Gothic style, with Tudor doorcases.
* 168–178 Kirkdale, three pairs of Italianate houses built around 1862. Number 174 was briefly the home of the conductor [[August Manns]].
* Memorial to Queen Victoria (1897), baroque-style memorial celebrating Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Restored for Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee and designed by Alexander Hennell, a Sydenham resident and architect.
* Jews Walk, it is believed that a wealthy Jewish resident planted a row of trees to define the boundary of his walk from the Common. Numbers 2,4 and 6 are classical villas dating from the 1840s. [[Karl Marx]]'s daughter [[Eleanor Marx|Eleanor]] lived on Jews Walk. On 9 September 2008 a blue English Heritage plaque was placed on the house to commemorate this fact.
* Halifax Street, beautifully preserved street with houses dating from the 1840s. Of notice are in particular the closeness of the houses, the length of the street and the size of the gardens.
* The Kirkdale Building, previously the Sydenham Public Lecture Hall, was built in 1861 by Sydenham resident Henry Dawson.
* Sydenham Community Library is a [[Carnegie Library]] built in 1904.

==Education==

There are five non-religious primary schools in Sydenham (Alexandra, Adamsrill, Eliot Bank, Haseltine and Kelvin Grove) and three religious schools (St. Michael's, St Philip Neri and St. Bartholomew's Church of England). Sydenham contains two secondary schools, the private [[Sydenham High School]] and the state [[Sydenham School]]. Both of these schools are exclusively  for girls. [[Forest Hill School|Forest Hill]] (for boys) is just outside Sydenham across from Mayow Park. Other secondary schools close by include [[Harris Federation|Harris Bromley]] (for girls), Harris Crystal Palace, [[Sedgehill School|Sedgehill]] and the private [[Dulwich College]]. There are no colleges in Sydenham, but Sydenham and Forest Hill schools have a joint sixth form.

==Population==
According to the 2011 census, the SE26 postcode area had a population of 28,378, with 13,714 males and 14,664 females.<ref name="Sydenham population 2">{{cite web|title=Population for every postcode in England & Wales|url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/search/index.html?pageSize=50&sortBy=none&sortDirection=none&newquery=POSTCODE+SE26|website=ONS|publisher=Office of National Statistics|access-date=18 August 2014}}</ref>

===Famous residents===
[[File:Sir GEORGE GROVE 1820-1900 Promoter of Musical Knowledge lived here.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Sir George Grove English Heritage Blue Plaque at Westwood Hill]]
[[File:Ernest Shackleton Plaque.jpg|thumb|Blue plaque marking the home of [[Ernest Shackleton]] at 12 Westwood Hill, Sydenham]]
[[File:Burnage Court, Lawrie Park Avenue, SE26 (1888) 5 Feb 2022.jpg|thumb|right|Burnage Court, Lawrie Park Avenue, Sydenham, complete with 1888 [[datestone]]]]
*[[A-ha]] – Norwegian pop band lived in Sydenham and recorded early demos at Rendezvous studios on Kirkdale with [[John Ratcliff (producer)|John Ratcliff]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=A-ha 'Take On Me' |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/ha-take-me |access-date=6 November 2022 |website=Sound on Sound}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Take On Me — a-ha's evergreen hit has been covered often, most recently by the band themselves |url=https://ig.ft.com/life-of-a-song/take-on-me.html |access-date=6 November 2022 |website=Financial Times}}</ref>
* [[John Arnott (English footballer)|John Arnott]] &mdash; footballer<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club|last=Triggs|first=Roger|publisher=Tempus Publishing Ltd|year=2001|isbn=9780752422435|pages=44–45}}</ref>
* [[Edward Aveling]] &mdash; biologist and social activist, partner of [[Eleanor Marx]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 April 2018 |title=The Jewess of Jew Walk |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/all/the-jewess-of-jews-walk-1.462556 |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=[[The Jewish Chronicle]]}}</ref>
*[[John Logie Baird]] &mdash; inventor of both the first publicly demonstrated colour television system, and the first purely electronic [[colour television]] picture tube<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/baird-john-logie-1888-1946-47|title=BAIRD, John Logie (1888–1946) {{!}} English Heritage|website=www.english-heritage.org.uk|access-date=2017-01-11}}</ref>
*[[George Baxter (printer)|George Baxter]] &mdash; inventor of [[Color printing|colour printing]], lived on Peak Hill from 1860 till his death in 1867. There is a memorial at former Christ Church, [[Forest Hill, London|Forest Hill]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Lewis |first=C.T. Courtney |title=George Baxter (colour printer) his life and work |page=72}} https://archive.org/stream/georgebaxtercol00lewigoog#page/n212/mode/2up</ref>
*[[Dietrich Bonhoeffer]].{{cn|date=May 2025}}
*[[David Bowie]] &mdash; spent five years living in Sydenham in his early adult life.{{cn|date=May 2025}}
*[[Bill Bradley (cricketer)|Bill Bradley]] &mdash; cricketer<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/9195.html|title=Bill Bradley|website=Cricinfo|access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref>
*[[Kelly Brook]] &mdash; the model and actress once shared a home with then boyfriend Billy Zane in Lawrie Park Road<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=SYDENHAM: Kelly Brook and Billy Zane's former home for sale|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/5078068.sydenham-kelly-brook-and-billy-zanes-former-home-for-sale/|access-date=2020-10-19|website=News Shopper|date=23 March 2010 |language=en}}</ref>
*[[Thomas Campbell (poet)|Thomas Campbell]] &mdash; poet<ref>{{Cite book|title=The Complete Poetical Works of Thomas Campbell|last=Campbell|first=Thomas|publisher=Haskell House|year=1907|isbn=9781410224156|pages=xiv}}</ref>
*[[Louise Creighton]] &mdash; social activist and writer, born in Sydenham<ref>{{Cite ODNB |title=Creighton [née von Glehn], Louise Hume (1850–1936), social activist and writer of popular history and biography |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-38640 |access-date=2023-06-04 |year=2004 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/38640 }}</ref>
*[[Connie Fisher]] &mdash; singer and actress, winner of the [[BBC]] TV program ''[[How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?]]''<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/starinterviews/londons-alive-with-the-sound-of-marias-success-7169150.html|title=London's alive with the sound of Maria's success|date=2006-11-17|newspaper=Evening Standard|language=en-GB|access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref>
*[[Bud Flanagan]] &mdash; [[music hall]] singer/entertainer, died in Sydenham<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.eastlondonadvertiser.co.uk/entertainment/music/pub_plans_musical_tribute_to_bud_flanagan_1_666865|title=Pub plans musical tribute to Bud Flanagan|newspaper=East London Advertiser|access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref>
*[[Denis Gifford]] &mdash; comics and film historian<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2000/may/26/guardianobituaries|title=Denis Gifford|last=Holland|first=Steve|date=2000-05-25|newspaper=The Guardian|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077|access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref>
*[[Wilfrid de Glehn]] &mdash; painter, was born in Sydenham<ref>{{Cite book|title=Oscar Wilde's Elegant Republic: Transformation, Dislocation and Fantasy in fin-de-siècle Paris|last=David Charles|first=Rose|publisher=Cambridge Scholars|year=2016|isbn=978-1443887632|pages=39}}</ref>
*[[W. G. Grace]] &mdash; England's greatest cricketer<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/grace-w.g.-1848-1915|title=GRACE, W.G. (1848-1915) |website=www.english-heritage.org.uk|access-date=2017-01-11}}</ref> 
*[[George Grove]] &mdash; of [[The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians|musical dictionary]] fame<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/grove-sir-george-1820-1900|title=GROVE, Sir George (1820–1900) {|website=www.english-heritage.org.uk|access-date=2017-01-11}}</ref>
*[[Rolf Harris]] &mdash; musician, television personality, painter and actor, was a key figure in the Sydenham Society<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/rolf-harris-home-raided-months-3819188|title=Rolf Harris home raided months before arrest after plumber found stash of child porn under floorboards|last=Penrose|first=Justin|date=2014-07-06|newspaper=Mirror|access-date=2017-01-12}}</ref> 
*[[Norman Hunter (author)|Norman Hunter]]  &mdash; writer and creator of ''[[Professor Branestawm]]''
*[[Richard Jefferies]] &mdash; the naturalist and author, lived at 20 Sydenham Park (a [[blue plaque]] indicates the house)
*[[Flora Klickmann]] &mdash; editor of ''[[The Girl's Own Paper|The Girls Own Paper]]'' from 1908 to 1931.{{cn|date=May 2025}}
*[[René Lalique]] &mdash; according to [[Henri Vever]], Lalique studied at Sydenham Art College between 1878 and 1880
*[[E. A. Letts|Prof Edmund Albert Letts]] [[FRSE]] &mdash; chemist, born in Sydenham
*[[Margaret Lockwood]] &mdash; star of [[Alfred Hitchcock]]'s ''[[The Lady Vanishes]]'' (1938)
*[[Lionel Logue]] CVO &mdash; Australian speech therapist and stage actor who successfully treated, among others, [[King George VI]]. He lived in a villa named Beechgrove from 1933 to 1940
*[[Linda Ludgrove]] &mdash; [[Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth]] gold medallist swimmer
*[[Joseph Marryat (1757–1824)|Joseph Marryat]] &mdash; merchant, banker, MP and father of the author [[Frederick Marryat]]
*[[Eleanor Marx]] &mdash; daughter of [[Karl Marx]], lived and died in Sydenham<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/marx-eleanor-1855-1898|title=MARX, Eleanor (1855–1898) {{!}} English Heritage|website=www.english-heritage.org.uk|access-date=2017-01-11}}</ref>
*[[John Dudley North]] &ndash; aircraft designer, born at Sydenham<ref>{{Cite ODNB|url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-35255|title=North, John Dudley (1893–1968), aircraft designer|year=2004|doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/35255}}</ref>
*[[Sandy Powell (costume designer)|Sandy Powell]] &mdash; three-time [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] winning costume designer
*[[John Scott Russell]] &mdash; naval architect who built the [[SS Great Eastern]]
*[[Cicely Saunders|Dame Cicely Saunders]] &mdash; founder of the modern [[hospice]] movement<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2016-12-25|title=Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement, dies|url=http://www.bmj.com/content/suppl/2005/07/18/331.7509.DC1|journal=BMJ|language=en|issn=1756-1833}}</ref> 
*[[Ernest Shackleton]] &mdash; the Antarctic explorer<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/shackleton-sir-ernest-1874-1922|title=SHACKLETON, Sir Ernest (1874–1922) {{!}} English Heritage|website=www.english-heritage.org.uk|access-date=2017-01-11}}</ref>
*[[Francis Pettit Smith]] &mdash; one of the inventors of the [[screw propeller]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/blue-plaques/smith-sir-francis-pettit-1808-1874|title=SMITH, Sir Francis Pettit (1808–1874) {{!}} English Heritage|website=www.english-heritage.org.uk|access-date=2017-01-11}}</ref>
*[[Charlene Soraia]] &mdash; alternative singer-songwriter, born and grew up in Sydenham
*[[Jason Statham]] &mdash; film actor<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/gallery/2013/jul/07/jason-statham-action-film-career-gallery|title=Jason Statham: the career so far – in pictures|last=Whitmore|first=Greg|date=2013-07-06|website=the Guardian|access-date=2017-01-11}}</ref>
*[[David Henry Stone]] &mdash; [[Sheriff of London|Sheriff]] and [[Lord Mayor of London]], lived at 'Fairwood' on Sydenham Hill
*[[Mary Warnock, Baroness Warnock|Baroness Mary Warnock]] – philosopher, writer and [[life peer]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Warnock [née Wilson], (Helen) Mary, Baroness Warnock (1924–2019), philosopher, headmistress, and public servant |url=https://www.oxforddnb.com/display/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-90000380946 |access-date=2023-06-04 |website=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |year=2023 |language=en |doi=10.1093/odnb/9780198614128.013.90000380946 |last1=Wilson |first1=Duncan |isbn=978-0-19-861412-8 }}</ref>
*[[David Wiffen]] &mdash; singer-songwriter, born in Sydenham in 1942
*[[Bill Wyman]] &mdash; member of [[The Rolling Stones]], grew up in Sydenham<ref>{{Cite book|title=Stone Alone|last=Wyman|first=Bill|publisher=Viking.|year=1990|isbn=978-0-670-82894-4|pages=[https://archive.org/details/stonealone00wyma/page/41 41]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/stonealone00wyma/page/41}}</ref>
*[[Billy Zane]] &mdash;  the [[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]] actor once shared a home with then girlfriend Kelly Brook in Lawrie Park Road<ref name=":0" />

==Transport==
[[File:Units 378142 and 455821 at Sydenham.JPG|thumb|250px|right|Southern and London Overground trains at Sydenham]]

Sydenham is served by [[National Rail]] and [[London Buses]] for its public transport. Sydenham is located in Travelcard Zones 3 and 4.

===Railway stations===
*'''[[Sydenham railway station (London)|Sydenham]]''' for [[London Overground]] and [[Southern (train operating company)|Southern]] services to [[London Bridge station|London Bridge]], [[London Victoria station|London Victoria]], [[East Croydon station|East]] & [[West Croydon station|West Croydon]], {{rws|Clapham Junction}}, {{rws|Caterham}}, {{rws|Shoreditch High Street}} and [[Highbury & Islington station|Highbury & Islington]]. This is the busiest station, with up to 12 trains per hour off peak and a usage of 4 million passengers in year 2015–16<ref>[http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529 Station Usage, Office Of Rail Regulation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070705115621/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/server/show/nav.1529 |date=5 July 2007 }} Accessed 30 July 2013</ref>
*'''{{rws|Sydenham Hill}}''' and '''{{rws|Penge East}}''' stations for [[Southeastern (train operating company)|Southeastern]] services to London Victoria, {{rws|Brixton}}, {{rws|Bromley South}} and {{rws|Orpington}}.
*'''{{rws|Lower Sydenham}}''' station also is served by Southeastern but with services to [[London Charing Cross station|London Charing Cross]], {{rws|London Waterloo East}}, {{rws|London Cannon Street}}, London Bridge, {{rws|Hayes}} and {{rws|Lewisham}}.

===Buses===
The area is served by routes [[London Buses route 75|75]], 122, [[London Buses route 176|176]], 181, [[London Buses route 194|194]], [[London Buses route 197|197]], 202, 227, 352, [[London Buses route 356|356]], 363, 450 and [[List of night buses in London#N63|N63]] linking Sydenham to Central London, [[Lewisham]], [[Catford]], [[Croydon]],
[[Thornton Heath]], [[Bromley]], [[Shirley, London|Shirley]], [[Peckham]],
[[Camberwell]], [[Elephant & Castle]], [[Blackheath, London|Blackheath]], [[Forest Hill, London|Forest Hill]], [[Penge]], [[South Norwood]] and [[Grove Park, Lewisham|Grove Park]].<ref>[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/sydenham-a4.pdf TfL: Buses from Sydenham] Accessed 30 July 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/sydenham-hill-a4.pdf TfL: Buses from Sydenham Hill] Accessed 30 July 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/lower-sydenham.pdf TfL: Buses from Lower Sydenham] Accessed 30 July 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/upper-sydenham-a4.pdf TfL: Buses from Upper Sydenham] Accessed 30 July 2013</ref>

===Roads===
The [[South Circular Road, London|South Circular]] Road passes close by in Forest Hill. High Street improvements being funded by Transport for London from September 2012 are making the increasingly busy [[A212 road|Sydenham Road (A212)]] more user friendly. So far, Kirkdale to Mayow Road has been completed, with Mayow Road to Kent House Road currently, as of December 2013, being upgraded. The Kent House Road to Bell Green section is still waiting for funding to be found.<ref>[http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/regeneration/sydenham-forest-hill/sydenham-high-street/Pages/sydenham-high-street.aspx London Borough of Lewisham: Sydenham High Street] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212153608/http://www.lewisham.gov.uk/inmyarea/regeneration/sydenham-forest-hill/sydenham-high-street/Pages/sydenham-high-street.aspx |date=12 December 2013 }} Accessed 12 June 2013</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Pool River and National Cycle Route 21 - geograph.org.uk - 96626.jpg|right|thumb|250px|The River Pool at [[Lower Sydenham]]]]
Sydenham is approximately {{convert|7|mi|km|0|abbr=off}} to the south east of [[Charing Cross]]. It is also at the centre of many of south London's major shopping districts being {{convert|3|mi|km|0|abbr=on}} south of Lewisham, {{convert|3.2|mi|km|1|abbr=on}} north west of Bromley and {{convert|3+1/2|mi|km|1|abbr=on}} north of Croydon.

Upper Sydenham and Sydenham Hill is located on the large [[Norwood Ridge]] formed of [[London Clay|London Claygate beds]] deposits; Sydenham Hill is one of the highest points in London at 367 feet (112 m). [[Sydenham Hill Wood]] is a nine-hectare<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1800721.html | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125191213/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1800721.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 January 2013 | title=Secret London: Sydenham Hill – The view from the bridge | last=Evans | first=Humphrey | newspaper=The Independent on Sunday | date=28 December 2003 |access-date = 19 July 2012}}</ref> nature reserve located west of Sydenham Hill Road, along with Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Golf course. The hill was once covered by the [[Great North Wood]] which covered all of Sydenham, Norwood, [[Woodside, London|Woodside]], [[Gipsy Hill]] etc. In the 19th Century it was home to the spa and health resort of [[Sydenham Wells Park|Sydenham Wells]].

The western parts of Sydenham, from Upper Sydenham and Forest Hill towards Crystal Palace Park is a more leafy, suburban area with some parts like the ''Lawrie Park'' and ''Thorpes'' areas being more affluent than others. Lower Sydenham at the bottom of more gentle slopes being east of Upper Sydenham, south of Forest Hill and west of Bellingham. The [[River Pool (London)|River Pool]], a {{convert|5.1|mi|km|1|abbr=on}} tributary of the [[River Ravensbourne]] straddles the east of Lower Sydenham along the [[Hayes Line|Hayes railway line]].

===Climate===
The nearest Met Office climate station is based in [[Greenwich Park]]:

{{London weatherbox}}

===Location===
{{Geographic location
|title     = '''Districts close to Sydenham'''
|Centre    = Sydenham
|North     = [[Forest Hill, London|Forest Hill]], [[Perry Vale]]
|Northeast = [[Catford]], [[Lewisham]]
|East      = [[Bellingham, London|Bellingham]], [[Southend, London|Southend Village]]
|Southeast = [[Beckenham]], [[Bromley]]
|South     = [[Penge]], [[Croydon]]
|Southwest = [[Upper Norwood]], [[Anerley]]
|West      = [[Crystal Palace, London|Crystal Palace]],  [[Dulwich Wood]]
}}

==Trivia==
The Beast of Sydenham of 2005, was a large, panther-like black animal, which had been spotted around the area, and attacked a man. The beast was said to be 6&nbsp;ft in length and 3&nbsp;ft in height.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4370893.stm |work=BBC News |title='Big cat' attacks man in garden |date=20 March 2005 |access-date=28 January 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk_news/story/0,3604,1443798,00.html |work=The Guardian |location=London |first=Patrick |last=Barkham |title=Fear stalks the streets of Sydenham after resident is attacked by a black cat the size of a labrador |date=25 March 2005 |access-date=28 January 2007}}</ref>

In March 2022, a crested [[Caracara (genus)|caracara]], named Jester, which escaped [[London Zoo]], was spotted in Mayow Park, Sydenham.<ref>{{Cite news |date=30 March 2022 |title=Jester: Exotic bird of prey continues to elude London zookeepers |pages=1 |work=BBC News website |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-60928151 |access-date=31 March 2022}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Sydenham Hill Wood]]
*[[Sydenham, New Zealand|Sydenham, Christchurch]] named after Sydenham, London
*[[Sydenham, New South Wales|Sydenham, Sydney, New South Wales]] also named after Sydenham, London
*[[Sydenham School]]
*[[Sydenham High School]]
*[[The Crystal Palace]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Sydenham, London|Sydenham}}
* [https://sydenham.org.uk/ Sydenham.org.uk] Community Forum for SE26
* [https://sydenham.info/ Sydenham Info] Community information for SE26
* [https://SE26.life SE26.life forum for Sydenham]
* [http://www.see3.co.uk/ SEE3 Town Team] Portas Pilot website for Sydenham/Kirkdale/Forest Hill 
* [http://sydenhamarts.co.uk/ Sydenham Arts] Official website of Sydenham Arts Charity.
* [http://www.sydenhamsociety.com/ Sydenham Society] Local community group.
* [http://www.beckenhamhistory.co.uk/flashNifties/gallery4.html Historical images of Sydenham]
{{LB Lewisham}}
{{LB Bromley}}
{{LB Southwark}}
{{London Districts}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sydenham, London| ]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Lewisham]]
[[Category:Areas of London]]
[[Category:District centres of London]]