Falconwood

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type = Greater London
region= London
population=
official_name= Falconwood
london_borough= Bexley
post_town= ELTHAM, WELLING
postcode_area= London
postcode_district= SE9, DA16
dial_code= 0208
os_grid_reference= TQ455755
latitude= 51.4596
longitude= 0.0953
constituency_westminster=

Falconwood is an area of South East London, situated just over 9 miles south east of Charing Cross, forming part of the London Borough of Bexley, and the London Borough of Greenwich.

History

Situated between Welling and Eltham is Falconwood. The central part of Falconwood, named the Falconwood Park Estate when first built in the late 1930s - occupies the site of former farmland. The western part of Sutherland Avenue (cut by Hook Lane, and working clockwise becoming Northumberland Avenue), the northern part of Yorkland Avenue (cut by Hook Lane) and the lower part of Hook Lane serves as the loop road for the estate, with the roads inside the loop forming the main part of the estate. The roads within the estate bear the names of counties and other places in England, for example, Cornwall, Cumberland, Westmoreland, Buckingham, Cambridge and Dorset. Built in the 1930s by Ideal Homesteads, with around 1300 dwellings, made it the largest housing estate in the area at the times. Falconwood is also a main part of the Green Chain Walk.
Falconwood railway station was opened in 1936 to serve the estate.

The Community Centre was built for use by everyone living locally in 1954, and used by the Falconwood and District Horticultural Society for the Annual Fruit Flower and Vegetable Show on the third Saturday in August.

Falconwood has 2 postcode areas. The area surrounding the train station comes under SE9 and the area surrounding Falconwood Park (and Parade) comes under DA16.

Located in the centre of the estate is the somewhat reputable Westwood College, occupying the original buildings of the senior school and the old junior School buildings. Bishop Ridley C of E Primary School, formerly Westwood Infant and Junior schools, has dramatically improved since merging into a Primary school, with major revamps and renovations taking place and is now one of the best performing primaries in the London Borough of Bexley.

Still in Falconwood, but a little further towards Avery Hill is Crown Woods School. The school was built in a style typical of concrete based architecture. It was a cheap form of building, so government funds were restricted for building projects. Crown Woods School is located near two public housing estates in the area. This attracts students of various ethnic, cultural and economic backgrounds resulting in a rich learning environment. Linked with the school was a boarding facility and before the reduction in the British armed forces worldwide in the 1980’s there was a boarding school attached for children whose parents were serving overseas. This later became a centre for children with behavioural problems who could not be accommodated within the main school.

Education

See also London Borough of Bexley education services.

* Westwood College
* Bishop Ridley C of E Primary School
* Crown Woods School

Transport and locale

Nearest places

*Blackfen, DA15
*Eltham, SE9
*Shooter's Hill, SE18
*Welling, SE9/DA16

Facilities and Shops

* Lingfield Crescent (Falconwood railway station shop parade). Consisting of the train station, the Harvester pub/restaurant, a newsagents, a double glazing business, Indian and Chinese take-aways, a kitchen shop, a small Italian cafe, Breeze bar, an off-licence, a pizza/kebab take-out and a dry cleaners.

* Falconwood Parade (surrounding Falconwood Park).

Consisting of a plumbers/construction business, a medical centre, a pharmacy, a bookshop, two newsagents, two sit-in Indian restaurants, two Chinese take-aways, an Indian take-away, a bakery, two beauty salons, a hairdressers, a sanitaryware showroom, a cafe, an off-licence and a Co-Op with a cashpoint. Taking the place of former shops next to the Co-Op, DSS council flats and very limited terraced accommodation.

Nearest railway stations

*Falconwood railway station, situated just off the A2 (East Rochester Way) and on Lingfield Crescent
*Eltham railway station, situated on the A208 (Well Hall Road), and is also an alighting point for TfL buses.
*Welling railway station situated just off the A207 (Bellegrove Road).

Trains from these three stations runs to London Charing Cross and London Victoria via Lewisham to the west. In peak hours there is also a Cannon Street station service. To the east the trains go to Dartford and some services further into Kent; Strood, Rochester, Gillingham etc.

Roads

Falconwood is a junction on the A2 which connects westbound to the A102 (Blackwall Tunnel Approach), and the Blackwall Tunnel under the Thames to East London. Driving eastbound allows access to Kent, and the Dartford Crossing, leaving the A2 at Darenth (M25).

Westbound on Rochester Way leads to Well Hall and Welling via the A209 (Welling Way). Eastbound on Rochester Way leads to Avery Hill via Riefield Road, Blackfen also via Riefield Road and then the A210 (Bexley Road), and the southern part of the London Borough of Bexley; Blendon, Bexleyheath and Crayford via the A2 (East Rochester Way).

During the morning and evening rush hours many of these routes become extremely congested, and travel times are less predictable.

Transport for London Bus Routes

*B15 - Eltham station and Joydens Wood.
*B16 - Kidbrooke station and Bexleyheath Bus Garage/Shopping Centre.

Natural areas

* Oxleas Wood
* Eltham Park
* Falconwood Field