Blackfen

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type = Greater London
region= London
population=
official_name= Blackfen
constituency_westminster= Old Bexley & Sidcup
post_town= SIDCUP
postcode_area= DA
postcode_district= DA15
london_borough= Bexley
dial_code= 020
os_grid_reference= TQ455745
latitude= 51.45080
longitude= 0.09255

Blackfen is a largely residential area of Sidcup in the London Borough of Bexley; and makes part of the electoral ward of "Blackfen and Lamorbey Ward" along with Lamorbey. It is situated 10.2 miles (16.4 km) east south-east of Charing Cross. The word "Blackfen" means a black, marshy area. The soil is dark and fertile and the area around Blackfen Road and Wellington Avenue is prone to flooding in extreme conditions.

The housing stock is almost exclusively owner-occupied houses of conventional British design. The sale of the Danson Estate in 1922 marked the beginning of a major period of house building in the area and most of the houses date from the 1930s.

Local services

Churches

The [http://www.rosary.freeuk.com Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rosary] near the top end of Burnt Oak Lane was built in 1936. Originally part of the parish of St Stephen's, Welling, it became a parish Church in its own right in 1945.

The Anglican [http://www.users.dircon.co.uk/~nik/redeemer/ Church of the Holy Redeemer] in Days Lane was dedicated on 21 October 1933, built entirely of steel and concrete. The Church is part of "Affirming Catholicism" and describes itself as a "forward-looking, average Anglican congregation". The Good Shepherd Church on Blackfen Road is part of the parish of Holy Redeemer.

Pubs

At the junction of Blackfen Road and Westwood Lane, is the George Staples (formerly known as The Woodman). The original Woodman pub dates from 1845; the present building was completed in 1931.The pub has undergone several changes of character, including being promoted as a "Sports Bar".

The new landlords have transformed the pub into the George Staples in order to counter the increasingly bad reputation The Woodman had developed, including drugs, violence and what is commonly classed as "yob culture". Now being promoted as a family friendly pub, it appears that the boozer has turned a corner and is on its way back to being a respectable place for all of the local community to share and enjoy.

Planning permission is currently underway to develop the area to the front of the George Staples in order to provide a better beer garden-style environment for use in the summer months.

Half a mile west along the Blackfen Road, on the south side is the "Jolly Fenman", built in the 1930s. The Fenman was refurbished in February 2006 and offers table service for meals.

Library

The [http://www.bexley.gov.uk/service/lib-blackfen.html Blackfen Library] moved from Cedar Avenue to newly refurbished premises on Blackfen Road in March 2005. There was some local controversy because of the character of the old library building and uncertainty as to whether the premises would be put to any use. The new library has computer facilities which are used extensively by local children.

hopping

There are two principal shopping parades, on Blackfen Road and at The Oval.

At the Oval, there are three restaurants and a number of other small shops and businesses. There has been a considerable, and successful struggle, against graffiti, vandalism and anti-social behaviour with the aid of the local police and community services. The crescent-shaped parade of shops includes flats above and fronts an oval-shaped unfenced public garden with paths, flower beds and ornamental trees. Both the parade, with Tudoresque details to the frontage, and this small municipal garden are included in a designated Conservation Area.

The larger shopping centre of Blackfen lacks greenery or architectural finesse, but includes a large foodstore with free parking space next to a prominent flyover that carries the modern A2 Trunk Road. The Blackfen Road shops include Woolworths, several car sales showrooms and many small local businesses including several cafés and fast food outlets, banks, jewellers, clothing shops, hairdressers, building suppliers, cycle store and an independent funeral director. It benefits from direct bus links to larger shopping centres at Bexleyheath, Eltham, Sidcup, Welling and Woolwich.

Greenery

The River Shuttle flows eastward through Blackfen; along the river in this area are four parks/open spaces. In the order they appear on the coarse of the river, they are: Parish Wood, Holly Oak Wood Park, Willersley Park, and Marlborough Park. Wyncham Stream flowing north joins the River Shuttle at Holly Oak Wood Park; there is a small wood on this stream called Beverley Wood.

Education

:"For education in Blackfen see the main London Borough of Bexley article"

[http://www.bexley.gov.uk/service/schools/secondary/blackfengirls.html Blackfen School for Girls] is at the western end of Blackfen Road. [http://www.ourlady.bexley.sch.uk/ Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School] is in Holbeach Gardens. Days Lane Primary School is the largest primary school in the borough of Bexley and takes roughly 650 pupils per year. [http://www.sherwood.bexley.sch.uk/welcome.htm Sherwood Park Primary School] is located off Sherwood Park Avenue and Ramillies Road.

Transport and locale

Nearest places

*Sidcup
*Falconwood
*Welling
*Lamorbey

Nearest stations

* Falconwood railway station
* New Eltham railway station
* Sidcup railway station
* Welling railway station

Buses

*51 - Woolwich Shopping Centre and Orpington station
*132 - Bexleyheath Shopping Centre and Eltham station
*B13 - Bexleyheath Shopping Centre and New Eltham station
*N21 - Foots Cray Tesco and Trafalgar Square

External links

* [http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/bexley/blackfen.html Ideal Homes, suburbia in focus: Blackfen]
* [http://blackfen.moonfruit.com/ Blackfen Website]
* [http://www.bexley.gov.uk/service/lib-blackfen.html Blackfen Public Library]