Biggin Hill

infobox UK place
country = England
region= London
official_name= Biggin Hill
latitude= 51.3121
longitude= 0.0327
os_grid_reference= TQ418590
london_borough= Bromley
post_town= WESTERHAM
postcode_district = TN16
postcode_area= TN
dial_code= 01959
constituency_westminster=Orpington

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 convert|8|mi|km|lk=on south of Bromley.

Airport

Biggin Hill hosts London Biggin Hill Airport, which uses much of the land formerly used by RAF Biggin Hill Aerodrome. The latter hosted the "Operations Room" for the Operation Crossbow V-1 flying bomb defence during World War II.cite book |last=Collier|first=Basil|title=The Battle of the V-Weapons, 1944-1945 |origyear=1964 |year=1976|publisher=The Emfield Press|location=Yorkshire|language= |isbn=0 7057 0070 4 |pages=p 96,161] The aerodrome famously appeared in the novel, The Da Vinci Code.

The old "west camp" of the airport is now owned by Bernie Ecclestone of Formula One fame. A small section remains in the care of the RAF, and the chapel (guarded by replicas of the base gate guardians, a Hawker Hurricane and a Supermarine Spitfire) is open to the public.

The old "south camp" is now occupied by the Biggin Hill Business Park, Airport Industrial Estate and various private flying clubs. There are further commercial premises, hangars, private flying clubs and a helicopter joy-ride and pilot training centre to the east of the main runway.

The term "airport", rather than airfield, is used to describe the present-day facility because Biggin Hill has a terminal building and customs facilities. It is host to a wide range of private/business jet and turbo-prop aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 737. The main airport apron has recently been enlarged; the one remaining hangar on the old south camp has been totally re-clad and a planning application has been posted for further hangars on the eastern side.

Another aviation connection is Biggin Hill's status as the location of a VOR navigational beacon, codenamed "BIG", which anchors the South East Arrival Stack for London Heathrow Airport.

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 infant and junior schools; Biggin Hill Primary School and Oaklands Infant and Junior Schools. Both are one form entry. Oaklands narrowly edged Ashburton Juniors in the South East pond dipping play-offs. 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.

urface transport

Biggin Hill is on the outskirts of the London Borough of Bromley and as such has limited public transport links. 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. A new radical high speed electro-magnetic levitation train will soon be available from Biggin Hill Valley to the centre of Bromley from the summer of 2011. The new 'Hyper Link' hopes to cut the current 320 bus times by over 2 minutes. Boris Johnson, the Mayor of London 2008 - .... Said " Heck if this in not investing in the local people then I'm a singapore fried rice". The residents look forward to the new transport installation.

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 May 2007):cite web | title = Buses from Biggin Hill | publisher = Transport for London | url = http://www.tfl.gov.uk/tfl/gettingaround/maps/buses/pdf/bigginhill-11010.pdf | accessdate = 2007-01-21]

* 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

The nearest rail stations to Biggin Hill are:cite web | title = Transport Direct | url = http://www.transportdirect.info/TransportDirect/en/ | publisher = Transport Direct Consortium | accessdate = 2008-01-23]

* Hayes (convert|6.5|mi|km|disp=/|abbr=on; bus 246)
* Orpington (convert|7|mi|km|disp=/|abbr=on; bus R2/R8)
* Bromley South (convert|7.5|mi|km|disp=/|abbr=on; bus 246/320)
* Bromley North (convert|8|mi|km|disp=/|abbr=on; bus 246/320)
* Sevenoaks (convert|9|mi|km|disp=/|abbr=on; no direct bus service)

The New Addington terminus of the Tramlink light rail system is convert|3.5|mi|km away, and linked by bus 464.

Nearby areas

* Cudham
* Downe
* Leaves Green
* Orpington
* Bromley
* New Addington
* Addington
* Westerham

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. Notably the ghost of Big Dave, who had 55 kills in WWII in his Spitfire Mk III in the Battle of Britain. Big Dave, Dave Gormsall, who was originally stationed at RAF Fairford was moved to Biggin Hill originally to protect long range bombers, was tragically killed when his car collided with a cow in Old Tye. [Bob Ogley, "The Ghosts of Biggin Hill" , ISBN-13: 978-1872337418]

References

External links

* [http://www.bigginhillairfair.co.uk Biggin Hill Air Fair]
* [http://www.biggin-hill.co.uk Biggin Hill Local News, Information and Forum]
* [http://www.airshows.org.uk/2007/airshows/biggin/review.html Illustrated Review of Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2007]
* [http://www.airshows.org.uk/2006/airshows/bigginhill/review.html Illustrated Review of Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2006]
* [http://www.airshows.org.uk/2005/airshows/bigginhill/review.html Illustrated Review of Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2005]
* [http://www.ukairshows.info/2004/airshows/bigginhill/review.html Illustrated Review of Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2004]
* [http://www.hidden-london.com/bigginhill.html A brief commentary]
* [http://www.bigginhill.co.uk/hst_contents.htm A comprehensive history]
* [http://www.bigginhill-history.co.uk/ Photographs]
* [http://www.militaryairshows.co.uk/ven10.htm Biggin Hill air shows]
* [http://www.libcom.org/history/articles/raf-biggin-hill-mutiny-1919/ The RAF Biggin Hill Mutiny of 1919] on peopleshistory.co.uk
* [http://www.cdarwin.com/ Charles Darwin School homepage]
* [http://ukga.com/airfield/biggin-hill Biggin Hill weather, notams & pilot reviews on ukga.com]

ee also

*2008 Farnborough plane crash