Coordinates: 51°18′44″N 0°01′58″E / 51.3121°N 0.0327°E
| Biggin Hill | |
  Biggin Hill
Biggin Hill shown within Greater London |
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| Population | 9,888 (Biggin Hill ward 2007)[1] |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| London borough | Bromley |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WESTERHAM |
| Postcode district | TN16 |
| Dialling code | 01959 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Orpington |
| London Assembly | Bexley and Bromley |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
Biggin Hill is a place and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley in London, England. It lies on the Bromley to Westerham road (A233), some 8 miles (13 km) south of Bromley.
Contents |
History
Historically the settlement was known as Aperfield and formed part of the parish of Cudham. It took the name Biggin Hill after the Second World War in recognition of the historic role played by the adjoining Biggin Hill Aerodrome.
The most architecturally noteworthy building within Biggin Hill is St Mark's Church, Church Road - 'the moving church'.[2] - designed by Richard Gilbert Scott. It was erected in the 1950s using the dismantled materials from All Saints Church, North Peckham. Much of the work was undertaken by volunteers led by Rev Vivian Symons who undertook much of the decorative work himself.
Education
Charles Darwin School is the only secondary school in the immediate area. The school consists of 1250 secondary and sixth form students. Currently the head teacher is Mr Robert Higgins. The school has recently received good with outstanding features (OFSTED 2008. Charles Darwin Science faculty received particular praise for the massive increase in GCSE results 2008. In addition the faculty has been nationally recognised for its achievements in teacher of the year nominations with 2 members of staff in the national finals for the first time. (Head of dept. of the year and AST of the year). Charles Darwin has been subject to a number of local newspaper reports regarding the building of a swimming pool in the ward. There is currently an ongoing debate surrounding the site for the public amenity, the school or Biggin Hill High St. There are two main primary schools; Oaklands Primary School and Biggin Hill Primary School. On the outskirts of Biggin Hill there is also Cudham CoE Primary School which is situated near Foal Farm, Tatsfield Primary and Downe Primary in Downe village.
Surface transport
Biggin Hill is on the outskirts of the London Borough of Bromley. The A233 (Bromley – Westerham) is the only main road that runs through the town, from north to south. On the south-west side is Biggin Hill Valley.
There are no rail links to the town, however within recent years there has been an increase in the number of bus routes serving the town. These are (as of September 2009)
- 246 Bromley – Westerham (Chartwell during the summer);
- 320 Bromley – Biggin Hill;
- 464 Tatsfield – New Addington;
- R2 Biggin Hill (Melody Road) – Petts Wood;
- R8 Biggin Hill – Orpington
- Surrey Route 594 Biggin Hill - Oxted (Chalkpit Wood) SDO journeys only
The nearest rail stations to Biggin Hill are:[3]
- Hayes (6.5 mi/10.5 km; bus 246)
- Orpington (7 mi/11 km; bus R2/R8)
- Bromley South (7.5 mi/12.1 km; bus 246/320)
- Bromley North (8 mi/13 km; bus 246/320)
- Sevenoaks (9 mi/14 km; no direct bus service)
The New Addington terminus of the Tramlink light rail system is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) away, and linked by bus 464.
Nearby areas
Ghosts
Biggin Hill is a place that is believed to be the home of many ghosts. This is commonly attributed to the fact that it is the home of a World War II airbase.[4]
See also
References
- ^ "Mid-2007 Population Estimates for 2007 Wards in England". Office for National Statistics. 2009. http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Product.asp?vlnk=13893. Retrieved 2009-11-04.
- ^ Symons, Vivian. The Moving Church. London: Herbert Jenkins.
- ^ "Transport Direct". Transport Direct Consortium. http://www.transportdirect.info/TransportDirect/en/. Retrieved 2008-01-23.
- ^ Bob Ogley, The Ghosts of Biggin Hill, 2001, ISBN 978-1872337418
External links
- Biggin Hill Air Fair
- Biggin Hill Local News, Information and Forum
- Illustrated Review of Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2008
- Illustrated Review of Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2007
- Illustrated Review of Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2006
- Illustrated Review of Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2005
- Illustrated Review of Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2004
- A brief commentary
- A comprehensive history
- Photographs
- Biggin Hill air shows
- The RAF Biggin Hill Mutiny of 1919 on peopleshistory.co.uk
- Charles Darwin School homepage
- Biggin Hill weather, notams & pilot reviews on ukga.com
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