Belvedere, London
Encyclopedia
Wards of the United Kingdom
A ward in the United Kingdom is an electoral district at sub-national level represented by one or more councillors. It is the primary unit of British administrative and electoral geography .-England:...
in the London Borough of Bexley
London Borough of Bexley
The London Borough of Bexley lies in south east Greater London, and is a borough referred to as part of Outer London. It has common borders with the London Borough of Bromley to the south, the London Borough of Greenwich to the west, across the River Thames to the north it borders the London...
in Southeast London.
History
The area which is today known as Belvedere was originally part of Lesness Heath, which originally stretched from the area of Lesnes AbbeyLesnes Abbey
Lesnes Abbey is a former abbey, now ruined, in Abbey Wood, in the London Borough of Bexley. It is a scheduled ancient monument and the adjacent park and heath are a Site of Special Scientific Interest...
to Erith and constituted the estate of Sir Culling Eardley. Eardley constructed a large wooden tower (see Belvedere (structure)
Belvedere (structure)
Belvedere is an architectural term adopted from Italian , which refers to any architectural structure sited to take advantage of such a view. A belvedere may be built in the upper part of a building so as to command a fine view...
) on the heath
Heath
-Habitats:* Heath or heathland, low-growing woody vegetation, mostly consisting of heathers and related species* Heaths in the British National Vegetation Classification system...
to gain views over his estate to the river Thames, giving the area its name.
Eardley was persuaded to allow the construction on his property, of a dissenter
Dissenter
The term dissenter , labels one who disagrees in matters of opinion, belief, etc. In the social and religious history of England and Wales, however, it refers particularly to a member of a religious body who has, for one reason or another, separated from the Established Church.Originally, the term...
's chapel, which was built so that the original wooden belvedere became its tower. In order that the public were able to attend this chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, he constructed paths to it across Lesness Heath. At some point, the original chapel and Belvedere was burned down and the present All Saints
All Saints
All Saints' Day , often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honour of all the saints, known and unknown...
' Church was constructed in its place on the original site. At the same time Eardley constructed Villa Houses and fortified the heath path into what is now Erith Road. The Village of Belvedere soon grew up along the path which became Nuxley Road as Eardley gradually sold off the land.
Districts
Within the nearby area are the following: Erith Marshes, Abbey WoodAbbey Wood
Abbey Wood is a district of South-East London, England, located mostly in the London Borough of Greenwich, and partly within the London Borough of Bexley. It is situated east of Charing Cross.-Development:...
, Bostall Heath and Woods
Bostall Heath and Woods
Bostall Heath and Woods is an area of 159.1 hectares of woodland with areas of heathland located in the London Borough of Greenwich ward of Abbey Wood and adjacent to Lesnes Abbey Woods. The area to the south of the A206 is Bostall Woods and to the north is Bostall Heath...
, Lesnes Abbey
Lesnes Abbey
Lesnes Abbey is a former abbey, now ruined, in Abbey Wood, in the London Borough of Bexley. It is a scheduled ancient monument and the adjacent park and heath are a Site of Special Scientific Interest...
, Thamesmead
Thamesmead
Thamesmead is a district of south-east London, England, located in the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley. It is situated east of Charing Cross....
, and West Heath
West Heath
West Heath may refer to various places in England:*The New School at West Heath, in Sevenoaks, Kent*West Heath, Cheshire, in Congleton*West Heath, Hampshire*West Heath, London, in Bexley, London*West Heath, West Midlands, in Birmingham...
. Belvedere formed part of the Municipal Borough of Erith
Municipal Borough of Erith
Erith was a local government district in north west Kent from 1894 to 1965 around the town of Erith. It also included the generally suburban areas of Northumberland Heath, Belvedere, and parts of Barnehurst, BexleyheathCrayford and the SE2 London Postal District of Abbey Wood.It was created an...
before 1965. It resides under London transport Zone 5.
Upper Belvedere features a fine church and some modest brick villas. It has a number of fine pubs - notably "The Eardley Arms" on Woolwich Road, "The Vic" on Victoria Street and "The Fox" in Belvedere Village. Upper Belvedere is also home to a large park and a library that was in danger of being shut down due to the government's cuts. Fortunately closure threats have been averted thanks to the efforts of the local community led by the inimitable Tony Fairbairn.
Lower Belvedere is better known for a Methodist chapel, a Sikh
Sikh
A Sikh is a follower of Sikhism. It primarily originated in the 15th century in the Punjab region of South Asia. The term "Sikh" has its origin in Sanskrit term शिष्य , meaning "disciple, student" or शिक्ष , meaning "instruction"...
Temple and a high technology sludge incinerator
Belvedere Incinerator
The Belvedere Incinerator is an incineration facility under construction in Bexley managing waste from the Western Riverside Waste Authority and other local authorities in London with a capacity of 575,000 tonnes waste per annum. A plant processing twice the waste capacity was initially proposed 15...
, which is an unexpected landmark on the south bank of the river Thames. Britain's largest waste incinerator is also due to be built here.
The area code to the west and north of Belvedere Station is 020 and to the east and south of the station it is 01322.
Sport
Erith and Belvedere Football ClubErith & Belvedere F.C.
Erith & Belvedere F.C., established 1922, is a football club representing Erith, in the London Borough of Bexley. They are currently members of the Kent League Premier Division after being relegated from the Southern League Division One East in 2005.They were also founder members of the Corinthian...
recently moved to Welling
Welling
Welling is a district in the London Borough of Bexley, South East London. It is a suburban development situated between Shooter's Hill and Bexleyheath north of the A2 road and 10.5 miles east south-east of Charing Cross.-History:...
in a ground-sharing arrangement. Belvedere Football Club play at Memorial Sports Ground, Woolwich Road, Abbey Wood
Abbey Wood
Abbey Wood is a district of South-East London, England, located mostly in the London Borough of Greenwich, and partly within the London Borough of Bexley. It is situated east of Charing Cross.-Development:...
and compete in the Kent County League
Kent County League
The Kent County League, currently known as the haart of Kent County League for sponsorship reasons, is a football competition based in Kent, England. The league has four senior divisions - a Premier Division, Division One Division Two East and West, plus reserve divisions...
Division One (West).
Politics
Councillors for the Belvedere Ward of Bexley London Borough Council are Kerry Allon (Conservative), Gill MacDonald (Labour) and Seán Newman (Labour). Belvedere lies within the Erith and Thamesmead constituency (MPMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Teresa Pearce
Teresa Pearce
Teresa Pearce is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Erith and Thamesmead since 2010.-Early life:...
, Labour), and is in the Bexley and Bromley
Bexley and Bromley (London Assembly constituency)
Bexley and Bromley is a constituency represented in the London Assembly.It consists of the combined area of the London Borough of Bexley and the London Borough of Bromley...
London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
constituency, represented by James Cleverly
James Cleverly
James Spencer Cleverly is Leader of the Conservative group on the London Assembly, the Chairman of the London Waste and Recycling Board and until February 2010 was the Mayor of London's Ambassador for Youth. He was elected for the Bexley and Bromley constituency in May 2008 as a candidate of the...
(Conservative).
Education
- For education in Belvedere, London see the main London Borough of Bexley article
Transport and locale
Belvedere railway stationBelvedere railway station
Belvedere railway station is a railway station in South East London between Abbey Wood and Erith. It is served by Southeastern. A level crossing beyond the platforms' western limits was closed prior to the westerly extension of platforms circa 1994 and the ticket office and passenger shelters were...
, opened in 1859, is in Lower Belvedere and is served by the North Kent Line
North Kent Line
The North Kent Line is a railway line which connects central and south east London with Dartford and Medway.-Construction:The North Kent Line was the means by which the South Eastern Railway were able to connect its system to London at London Bridge...
which runs from Cannon Street (London) to Dartford/Gravesend/Gillingham (Kent).
Nearest places
- Abbey WoodAbbey WoodAbbey Wood is a district of South-East London, England, located mostly in the London Borough of Greenwich, and partly within the London Borough of Bexley. It is situated east of Charing Cross.-Development:...
- ErithErithErith is a district of southeast London on the River Thames. Erith's town centre has undergone a series of modernisations since 1961.-Pre-medieval:...
- Northumberland HeathNorthumberland HeathNorthumberland Heath is a neighbourhood and electoral ward within the London Borough of Bexley, south east London, England. Northumberland Heath is often referred to locally as "North' Heath" and is often considered to be part of upper Erith.-History:...
- ThamesmeadThamesmeadThamesmead is a district of south-east London, England, located in the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley. It is situated east of Charing Cross....
- West HeathWest Heath, LondonWest Heath is a district located within the electoral wards of Lesnes Abbey in the London Borough of Bexley. It is located east of Charing Cross, and is on the A206 road, which is called Woolwich road in the area.-Education:-Nearest places:*Abbey Wood*Belvedere*Lessness Heath*Plumstead...
- WellingWellingWelling is a district in the London Borough of Bexley, South East London. It is a suburban development situated between Shooter's Hill and Bexleyheath north of the A2 road and 10.5 miles east south-east of Charing Cross.-History:...
Places of worship
- Belvedere Baptist Church, Nuxley Road
- Belvedere Congregational Church, Picardy Road
- Belvedere Pentecostal Church, Michell Close
- Church of St Augustine, St Augustine's Road, Belvedere
- Guru Nanak Darbar, Sikh Temple, Mitchell Close
Rail
The nearest railway stations in the area are Belvedere railway stationBelvedere railway station
Belvedere railway station is a railway station in South East London between Abbey Wood and Erith. It is served by Southeastern. A level crossing beyond the platforms' western limits was closed prior to the westerly extension of platforms circa 1994 and the ticket office and passenger shelters were...
. Trains from this station runs to London Charing Cross and London Cannon Street via Woolwich and Greenwich to the west. To the east the trains go to Dartford and a limited service to Crayford or Gravesend and Gillingham.
Nearest railway stations
- Belvedere railway stationBelvedere railway stationBelvedere railway station is a railway station in South East London between Abbey Wood and Erith. It is served by Southeastern. A level crossing beyond the platforms' western limits was closed prior to the westerly extension of platforms circa 1994 and the ticket office and passenger shelters were...
- Erith railway stationErith railway stationErith station serves Erith in the London Borough of Bexley, southeast London.The station stands between Belvedere and Slade Green on the North Kent line...
- Abbey Wood railway stationAbbey Wood railway stationAbbey Wood railway station serves the suburb of Abbey Wood in South East London. It is served by Southeastern, and is between and stations on the North Kent Line....
- Bexleyheath railway stationBexleyheath railway stationBexleyheath railway station is in the London Borough of Bexley in south east London, and is in Travelcard Zone 5. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by Southeastern...
Buses
- 99 - WoolwichWoolwichWoolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
Town Centre and BexleyheathBexleyheathBexleyheath is a main suburban district of Southeast London, England, in the London Borough of Bexley with a small percentage of the district itself being in the London Borough of Greenwich. Bexleyheath is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is east south-east of Charing Cross...
Shopping Centre - 401 - ThamesmeadThamesmeadThamesmead is a district of south-east London, England, located in the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley. It is situated east of Charing Cross....
Town Centre and BexleyheathBexleyheathBexleyheath is a main suburban district of Southeast London, England, in the London Borough of Bexley with a small percentage of the district itself being in the London Borough of Greenwich. Bexleyheath is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is east south-east of Charing Cross...
Shopping Centre - 469 - BexleyheathBexleyheathBexleyheath is a main suburban district of Southeast London, England, in the London Borough of Bexley with a small percentage of the district itself being in the London Borough of Greenwich. Bexleyheath is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is east south-east of Charing Cross...
Shopping Centre and Woolwich CommonWoolwich CommonWoolwich Common is an area of military land located to the south of the town centre of Woolwich in South East London England.It is bounded on the south side by the A207 Shooter's Hill Road, and on the east by Academy Road that the former Royal Military Academy fronts. Situated to the west is the...
Queen Elizabeth Hospital