Kidbrooke
Encyclopedia
Kidbrooke is a district of South East London
, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich
.
The district takes its name from the Kyd Brook, a watercourse which runs from Orpington
to Lewisham
, by which point it is part of the River Quaggy
. It is a tributary to the River Ravensbourne
.
Kidbrooke is also home to the Ferrier Estate
, one of the largest and most deprived council housing developments in London. The housing estate is due to be redeveloped, and consultations with residents are on-going.
Rochester Way, a road which was built along much of the course of the old country lane Kidbrooke Lane, was intended as a bypass for Shooters Hill to the north. Rochester Way has itself now been bypassed by a dual carriageway – part of the A2 road
– built in the 1980s over most of Kidbrooke Green. A small remaining piece of this open land, alongside the road, is now Kidbrooke Green Park, and adjacent to that, a small nature reserve
managed by Greenwich Council. The nature reserve is visible, but not open to the public.
Some of the land encroached on by the dual carriageway, adjacent to the railway line serving Kidbrooke railway station
, was formerly a Royal Air Force
equipment store. Some of the buildings remain, beyond the houses of Nelson Mandela Way, but the site is now little used. The nearby Thomas Tallis School
is built on the former site of an RAF aerodrome, formerly a barrage balloon
centre. (There are several other military facilities in the general vicinity, which is also close to a surviving base in Woolwich
, long home to the Royal Artillery
and now to other parts of the British Army
.)
gives the area rapid access to the London Inner Ring Road
, the South Circular Road, London and the M25 London Orbital Motorway.
The area falls within Transport for London
's "Zone 3".
Nearest railway stations:
, who grew up in Holburne Road; interior designer Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen, who lived in a bungalow on Kidbrooke Park Road until 2004; and singer Sandie Shaw
. English West Ham United player Junior Stanislas
.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich
London Borough of Greenwich
The London Borough of Greenwich is an Inner London borough in south-east London, England. Taking its name from the historic town of Greenwich, the present borough was formed in 1965 by the amalgamation of the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of Greenwich with part of the Metropolitan...
.
The district takes its name from the Kyd Brook, a watercourse which runs from Orpington
Orpington
Orpington is a suburban town and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley. It forms the southeastern edge of London's urban sprawl and is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
to Lewisham
Lewisham
Lewisham is a district in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated south-east of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, by which point it is part of the River Quaggy
River Quaggy
The River Quaggy is an urban river, 17 km in length, passing through the south-east London boroughs of Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham; it is known as the Kyd Brook, in its upper reaches...
. It is a tributary to the River Ravensbourne
River Ravensbourne
The River Ravensbourne is a tributary of the River Thames in South London, England. It flows into the River Thames on the Tideway at Deptford, where its tidal reach is known as Deptford Creek.- Geography :...
.
Housing
The area contains a large amount of 1920s and 1930s domestic housing, developed partly as the Kidbrooke Park Estate, between Shooters Hill and Rochester Way.Kidbrooke is also home to the Ferrier Estate
Ferrier Estate
The Ferrier Estate is a large housing estate located in Kidbrooke, Greenwich, south London.The estate is a typical example of system built social housing in the United Kingdom from the 1950s to the 1970s...
, one of the largest and most deprived council housing developments in London. The housing estate is due to be redeveloped, and consultations with residents are on-going.
Features
Immediately south of the Ferrier Estate is Sutcliffe park which includes a lake, acting as a flood defence, and created by partly releasing the Kyd Brook from concrete conduits underground in which it had run until 2006.Rochester Way, a road which was built along much of the course of the old country lane Kidbrooke Lane, was intended as a bypass for Shooters Hill to the north. Rochester Way has itself now been bypassed by a dual carriageway – part of the A2 road
A2 road (Great Britain)
The A2 is a major road in southern England, connecting London with the English Channel port of Dover in Kent. This route has always been of importance as a connection between the British capital of London and sea trade routes to Continental Europe...
– built in the 1980s over most of Kidbrooke Green. A small remaining piece of this open land, alongside the road, is now Kidbrooke Green Park, and adjacent to that, a small nature reserve
Nature reserve
A nature reserve is a protected area of importance for wildlife, flora, fauna or features of geological or other special interest, which is reserved and managed for conservation and to provide special opportunities for study or research...
managed by Greenwich Council. The nature reserve is visible, but not open to the public.
Some of the land encroached on by the dual carriageway, adjacent to the railway line serving Kidbrooke railway station
Kidbrooke railway station
Kidbrooke railway station serves Kidbrooke in the London Borough of Greenwich, south-east London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southeastern....
, was formerly a Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
equipment store. Some of the buildings remain, beyond the houses of Nelson Mandela Way, but the site is now little used. The nearby Thomas Tallis School
Thomas Tallis School
Thomas Tallis School is a large mixed comprehensive school for pupils aged 11-19, located in Kidbrooke in the Borough of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom. The school is a specialist Arts College, Leading Edge School and national School of Creativity....
is built on the former site of an RAF aerodrome, formerly a barrage balloon
Barrage balloon
A barrage balloon is a large balloon tethered with metal cables, used to defend against low-level aircraft attack by damaging the aircraft on collision with the cables, or at least making the attacker's approach more difficult. Some versions carried small explosive charges that would be pulled up...
centre. (There are several other military facilities in the general vicinity, which is also close to a surviving base in Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
, long home to the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
and now to other parts of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
.)
Transport links
The A2 roadA2 road (Great Britain)
The A2 is a major road in southern England, connecting London with the English Channel port of Dover in Kent. This route has always been of importance as a connection between the British capital of London and sea trade routes to Continental Europe...
gives the area rapid access to the London Inner Ring Road
London Inner Ring Road
The London Inner Ring Road is the name commonly given to a route formed from a number of major roads that encircle the centremost part of London...
, the South Circular Road, London and the M25 London Orbital Motorway.
The area falls within Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
's "Zone 3".
Nearest railway stations:
- Blackheath railway stationBlackheath railway stationBlackheath railway station is situated in the heart of Blackheath village in London at . The track passes through the village and is crossed by a road overbridge on which the station buildings stand....
- Eltham railway stationEltham railway stationEltham railway station is a railway station in Eltham, in the London Borough of Greenwich and on the Bexleyheath Line. The station and all trains serving it, are operated by Southeastern...
- Kidbrooke railway stationKidbrooke railway stationKidbrooke railway station serves Kidbrooke in the London Borough of Greenwich, south-east London. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southeastern....
Education
- For more on education in Kidbrooke see the main London Borough of Greenwich article.
Secondary Schools
- Kidbrooke SchoolKidbrooke SchoolKidbrooke School opened in 1954 as the first purpose-built comprehensive school in Britain. The school is located on Corelli road and near the Kidbrooke area of the London Borough of Greenwich...
— opened in 1954; the first purpose-built comprehensive schoolComprehensive schoolA comprehensive school is a state school that does not select its intake on the basis of academic achievement or aptitude. This is in contrast to the selective school system, where admission is restricted on the basis of a selection criteria. The term is commonly used in relation to the United...
in Britain - Thomas Tallis SchoolThomas Tallis SchoolThomas Tallis School is a large mixed comprehensive school for pupils aged 11-19, located in Kidbrooke in the Borough of Greenwich, London, United Kingdom. The school is a specialist Arts College, Leading Edge School and national School of Creativity....
— opened in 1971
Notable inhabitants
Famous residents have included comedian Jim DavidsonJim Davidson (comedian)
Jim Davidson OBE is a British comedian, actor and television presenter. He has been made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to entertainment, particularly of British service personnel in conflict zones.- Biography :The son of a Glaswegian father, Davidson was born in...
, who grew up in Holburne Road; interior designer Lawrence Llewelyn Bowen, who lived in a bungalow on Kidbrooke Park Road until 2004; and singer Sandie Shaw
Sandie Shaw
Sandie Shaw is an English pop singer, who was one of the most successful British female singers of the 1960s. In 1967 she was the first UK act to win the Eurovision Song Contest...
. English West Ham United player Junior Stanislas
Junior Stanislas
Felix Junior Stanislas , more commonly known as Junior Stanislas is an English footballer who plays for Burnley as a winger in the Championship. He was previously with West Ham United.-West Ham United:...
.
Nearby places
- BlackheathBlackheath, LondonBlackheath is a district of South London, England. It is named from the large open public grassland which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west...
- Charlton
- Eltham
- Greenwich
- Woolwich