Sydenham

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type = Greater London
region= London
population=
official_name= Sydenham
london_borough= Lewisham
constituency_westminster= Lewisham West
post_town= LONDON
postcode_area= SE
postcode_district= SE26
dial_code= 020
os_grid_reference= TQ352714
latitude= 51.4254
longitude= -0.0544

Sydenham is a place and electoral ward in the London Borough of Lewisham; although some streets towards Crystal Palace Park and Penge are outside the ward and in the London Borough of Bromley, and some streets off Sydenham Hill are in the London Borough of Southwark. Sydenham was in Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created.

Sydenham is most famous as the location where the Crystal Palace from the Great Exhibition was relocated. Famous people who have lived here include Ernest Shackleton, the Antarctic explorer; George Grove of musical dictionary fame; John Logie Baird, the television inventor; Jason Statham, a gangster actor; and Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement.

Beast of Sydenham

The Beast of Sydenham, as of 25 March 2005, is a large, panther-like black animal which has been spotted around the area, and attacked a man. [cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/4370893.stm |publisher=BBC News |title='Big cat' attacks man in garden |date=2005-03-20 |accessdate=2007-01-28] [cite news |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1443798,00.html |work=The Guardian |publisher=Guardian News and Media |first=Patrick |last=Barkham |title=Fear stalks the streets of Sydenham after resident is attacked by a black cat the size of a labrador |date=2005-03-25 |accessdate=2007-01-28]

Sydenham Children's Hospital

Sydenham Children's Hospital lasted from 1872 until its closure in 1991.

Education

Sydenham contains two secondary schools, Sydenham High School - a private school - and Sydenham School. Both of these schools are exclusively girls schools.

Primary schools in Sydenham are two non-religious schools (Adamsrill Primary School, Hazeltine School) and two religious schools (St. Michael's Primary School, St Philip Neri Roman Catholic Primary School). The former includes children of other faiths.

Nearby to Sydenham are schools which include residents of Sydenham in their catchment area. These include Harris Secondary School, Cator Park School for Girls and Sedgehill Secondary School.

= Famous residents =
*John Logie Baird, the television inventor
*Bill Wyman, member of The Rolling Stones, grew up in Sydenham
*Thomas Campbell poet
*Wilfrid de Glehn (1871-1951), painter, was born in Sydenham
*W G Grace, England's greatest cricketer
*George Grove of musical dictionary fame
*Rolf Harris was a key figure in the Sydenham Society
*Linda Ludgrove Commonwealth gold medallist swimmer
*Eleanor Marx, daughter of Karl Marx. Blue plaque on Jews Walk opened September 9, 2008.
*John Scott Russell, naval architect who built the Great Eastern
*Dame Cicely Saunders, founder of the modern hospice movement
*Ernest Shackleton, the Antarctic explorer
*Jason Statham, famous actor
*Connie Fisher singer and winner of the BBC TV program "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?"
*Norman Hunter writer, creator of "Professor Branestawm"

Sub areas of Sydenham

Sydenhamis the main area of Sydenham which the Sydenham Road or "Sydenham High Street" by locals is the shopping area of Sydenham. Sydenham main railway station is called Sydenham. Sydenham is served by bus routes 75, 122, 176, 194, 197, 202 & 450.

Sydenham Hillis the north of Sydenham and there is a road called Sydenham Hill too. It has the same postcode as the other areas of Sydenham and also as in the London Borough of Southwark and the London Borough of Lewisham. Sydenham Hill has its own railway station, Sydenham Hill, and is served by bus routes 202, 356, 363 and the 450. Local places Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Golf Club and Sydenham Woods.

Upper Sydenhamis North West of Sydenham. It has the same postcode and in the London Borough of Lewisham. Upper Sydenham is served by bus routes 122, 176, 197, 202 & 356. Local Parks are Wells Park and Baxters field.

Lower Sydenhamis East of Sydenham. It has the same postcode and is in the London Borough of Lewisham and the London Borough of Bromley. Lower Sydenham also close to a large Sainsburys called "Savacentre" (as this was its original name) by locals. Lower Sydenham is has its own railway station Lower Sydenham and served by bus routes 181, 194, 202, 352, 356 & 450.

Nearest places

* Penge
* Crystal Palace
* Dulwich
* Bellingham
* Forest Hill
* Brockley
* Catford
* Beckenham
* Bromley

Nearest railway stations

* Penge East railway station
* Sydenham railway station (London)
* Sydenham Hill railway station
* Lower Sydenham railway station
* Upper Sydenham railway station (closed in 1958)
* Penge West railway station
* Forest Hill railway station
* New Beckenham railway station
* Kent House railway station

References

External links

* [http://www.sydenham.org.uk/ Sydenham.org.uk] Community website and forum.
* [http://www.sydenhamsociety.com/ Sydenham Society] Local community group.
* [http://www.virtualsydenham.com/ Virtual Sydenham]
* [http://www.parkcourtsydenham.org.uk/ Park Court Sydenham] Notable residential estate with history and description of neighbourhood.