Where I Live at Beckenham in Kent
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I was born in Beckenham in 1941 and have lived within its borders ever since. It is a pleasant town and has been very convenient for commuting to my places of work
both in London and later
Croydon. I have lived in five different properties in the town starting with
the family home that went with my fathers job as a supervisor at the old
swimming baths (now the new Spa sports centre) and currently in a spacious
modern flat in Copers Cope.Beckenham (postcode BR3) is a small London suburb within the greater London Borough of Bromley and is referred to as being in Kent. Located approximately 10 miles from London it is also midway between Bromley and Croydon Town centres.
Beckenham Manor was held by the Rokele family at the time of the Domesday Book
and also covered much of what is now Shortlands, the River Beck
that runs through the area took its name from the Town. An Anglo Saxon
settlement existed in Beckenham, possibly under the leadership of Beohha, who
lent his name to the village it wasn't until about 1850 when the railway was
built and the Crystal Palace constructed, that the village expanded into a
substantial new town.There are two railway stations, Beckenham Junction for London Victoria and New Beckenham for London Charing Cross. A new Tram service has recently been completed which connects Beckenham Junction with Croydon and Wimbledon.
For a small Town Beckenham has a
popular nightlife, with a few clubs, many bars, and restaurants catering for
every taste. There are two pubs remaining which date back to at least 1662, the
George Inn and the Three Tuns (now ridiculously renamed the Rat and
Parrot).Beckenham has more than its fair share of green open spaces, including the picturesque Kelsey Park with its lakes and wildfowl and the large Beckenham Place park with its wooded areas and municipal golf course, there is also a large proliferation of sports grounds, the whole being enhanced by many wide tree lined roads.
All of the above contributes to Beckenham being very popular with the young upwardly mobile generation who want fast commuting into London. This has made property in the area very expensive with flats averaging between £150,000-£350,000 and houses from £250,000-£500,000.
Beckenham High street is relatively short and comprises mainly independent shops, bars and restaurants, but it does boast two supermarkets Waitrose and Sainsburies. More sophisticated shopping is well catered for by the Bromley Glades shopping mall and the large Croydon shopping centre including the Whitgift centre which is just a 20 minute tram ride away.
| Old photographs of Beckenham | |
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