Bellingham: A diverse and quiet suburb with a strong sense of community

Bellingham is a London suburb located in South-East London. It forms part of Lewisham and is quite close to Catford. 

It is also one of the few parts of the city that has managed to retain a strong sense of community. For this reason, it has a large appeal for both families, professional couples and elderly residents.

The locality also benefits from having a wide selection of local amenities and resources. In Bellingham and the wider area of Catford there are plenty of local libraries, food shops and grocery stores.

It is also a multicultural part of London, and here you will find no shortage of Asian shops and restaurants, Afro-Caribbean food stalls and Turkish shops. Despite having so many diverse groups of people living there, it still has a strong community feel.

Bellingham is also a convenient location, in that it is close to some of the bigger shopping areas in South-East London, including Lewisham and Catford. However, locally, it has Randlesdown Road, which serves as a mini 'High Street'. Along this road, you can find plenty of hairdressers, a supermarket, gyms, post office, takeaways, off licences and convenience stores.

It also benefits from having some excellent restaurants and cafés, in addition to its share of traditional, English pubs.

Transport

One of the main advantages of living in Bellingham is that the transportation links are excellent. It is served by an underground Tube station and a rail station.

Bellingham station serves the area with services to Kentish Town via Catford and to Sevenoaks via Swanley. There are also a number of buses in the area, connecting to destinations all over the city.

You can find regular buses to Central London, Peckham, Woolwich, Catford, Lewisham, Green Cross, and Bromley, to name but a few.

History

Bellingham, like many areas of London has a rich and varied history. It was formerly part the County of Kent, until the London County Council was created.

Major redevelopment of the area took place in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Before then, it was comprised mainly of farmland and fields, with no houses - apart from some of the farm manors - or other amenities.

The name Bellingham is derived from the medieval mansion in this area, based upon Bellingham farm.

It literally translates as meaning: "the water-meadow belonging to Beora's people”. 

Between 1920 and 1936, over 2,000 houses were built, and many of the former farms and fields were redeveloped.

More estates began to be constructed in the area after the First World War, and this helped to ease some of the housing shortages and clear the slums.

At the time, properties were mainly comprised of two-storey houses with gardens (rather than flats).

In addition, churches, parks, shops and schools were also built. 

Regeneration

One of the most interesting things about Bellingham is that it is constantly undergoing a process of continuous change.

This has led to a number of exciting developments, thanks to the Neighborhood Renewal Unit and Lewisham Strategic Partnership.

This collaboration has been responsible for the development of many projects in the area.

It includes, initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of young people living there, and schemes to tackle crime.

There have also been projects aimed at improving the environment and boosting employment.

Property

Rental prices in Bellingham are fairly reasonable and start from £136 a week for a studio flat.

You can also purchase a two bedroom maisonette from £288 per week, or an average two bedroom property for around £1,000 per calendar month, depending on location and preferences.

Notable people

Bellingham has had its fair share of famous people who have come to live there in the past. This includes politician and actress Glenda Jackson, as well as comedian and writer Spike Milligan.

Broadcaster Danny Baker has also lived in Bellingham, as has the footballer Ian Wright.

Published 21st November, 2014

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