Shortlands
Encyclopedia
Shortlands is a ward of the London Borough of Bromley
, located less than a mile from Bromley
town centre. Historically, Shortlands was known as Clay Hill. It became known as Shortlands around 1800, after the fields which, at this point of the Ravensbourne river, ran at right angles up the slopes on either side. Suburban development began in 1863 with the sale of the Shortands House estate, making full advantage of the railway station opened in May 1858.
The village has good transport links to central London, mainly to London Blackfriars and London Victoria from Shortlands railway station
.
Shortlands is most famous for Enid Blyton
having lived there in the later stages of her life. Other famous residents have included the novelist Mrs Craik, for whom Norman Shaw built a house on Shortlands Road, and the electrical engineer Alexander Muirhead
, credited with recording the first human electrocardiogram
. George Grote
, the eminent historian of Greece, was born here when it was known as Clay Hill. Lord Stamp of Shortlands, first Charter Mayor of Beckenham and Chairman of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway lived in Shortlands and died with his family when his house was bombed in 1941. Actor Brian Murphy
lives in the village. Adele Atiyah, (a famous vegetarian rights activist), also lived in Shortlands but has now moved to Kuwait.
The main schools in Shortlands are Valley Primary School
, Clare House Primary School and Bishop Challoner School
. On top of Shortlands hill towards the Chinese Garage
is the Shortlands library, linked with other libraries of the Bromley
borough.
Situated near both Shortlands and Ravensbourne stations is the Shortlands Golf Club, formed in 1894. On the hill looking over the valley is Bromley Reform Synagogue. The river Ravensbourne runs beneath the heart of Shortlands and can be seen from the recreation ground nearby.
On the border of Shortlands and the London Borough of Lewisham
is the Millwall FC training ground where the football team regularly train.
In Shortlands village you can also find a kebab house voted number one in London by the people living in Shortlands.
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
, located less than a mile from Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
town centre. Historically, Shortlands was known as Clay Hill. It became known as Shortlands around 1800, after the fields which, at this point of the Ravensbourne river, ran at right angles up the slopes on either side. Suburban development began in 1863 with the sale of the Shortands House estate, making full advantage of the railway station opened in May 1858.
The village has good transport links to central London, mainly to London Blackfriars and London Victoria from Shortlands railway station
Shortlands railway station
Shortlands railway station is in Shortlands, in the London Borough of Bromley in south London. It serves the southwest part of Bromley, and is 10 miles from London Victoria....
.
Shortlands is most famous for Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton
Enid Blyton was an English children's writer also known as Mary Pollock.Noted for numerous series of books based on recurring characters and designed for different age groups,her books have enjoyed huge success in many parts of the world, and have sold over 600 million copies.One of Blyton's most...
having lived there in the later stages of her life. Other famous residents have included the novelist Mrs Craik, for whom Norman Shaw built a house on Shortlands Road, and the electrical engineer Alexander Muirhead
Alexander Muirhead
Alexander Muirhead, FRS, born in East Saltoun, East Lothian, Scotland was an electrical engineer specialising in wireless telegraphy.-Biography:...
, credited with recording the first human electrocardiogram
Electrocardiogram
Electrocardiography is a transthoracic interpretation of the electrical activity of the heart over a period of time, as detected by electrodes attached to the outer surface of the skin and recorded by a device external to the body...
. George Grote
George Grote
George Grote was an English classical historian, best known in the field for a major work, the voluminous History of Greece, still read.-Early life:He was born at Clay Hill near Beckenham in Kent...
, the eminent historian of Greece, was born here when it was known as Clay Hill. Lord Stamp of Shortlands, first Charter Mayor of Beckenham and Chairman of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway lived in Shortlands and died with his family when his house was bombed in 1941. Actor Brian Murphy
Brian Murphy (actor)
Brian Murphy is a British actor.Murphy was born in Ventnor, Isle of Wight. Although a prolific actor in many films and theatre productions for almost half a century, Murphy's most famous role was as the henpecked husband George Roper in the sitcom Man About the House and spin-off George and...
lives in the village. Adele Atiyah, (a famous vegetarian rights activist), also lived in Shortlands but has now moved to Kuwait.
The main schools in Shortlands are Valley Primary School
Valley Primary School
Valley Primary School is a primary government school in Bromley, London, United Kingdom. The head teacher is Mrs Susan Head. The school was the sixth best school in Bromley according to The Times newspaper annual school rankings....
, Clare House Primary School and Bishop Challoner School
Bishop Challoner School
Bishop Challoner School is an independent coeducational Catholic-Christian day school in Shortlands, south east London, for children aged two and a half to eighteen years....
. On top of Shortlands hill towards the Chinese Garage
Chinese Garage
The Chinese Garage is a garage and former petrol station situated in Beckenham in the London Borough of Bromley, on a roundabout linking Beckenham, Eden Park and Shortlands.-History:...
is the Shortlands library, linked with other libraries of the Bromley
Bromley
Bromley is a large suburban town in south east London, England and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Bromley. It was historically a market town, and prior to 1963 was in the county of Kent and formed the administrative centre of the Municipal Borough of Bromley...
borough.
Situated near both Shortlands and Ravensbourne stations is the Shortlands Golf Club, formed in 1894. On the hill looking over the valley is Bromley Reform Synagogue. The river Ravensbourne runs beneath the heart of Shortlands and can be seen from the recreation ground nearby.
On the border of Shortlands and the London Borough of Lewisham
London Borough of Lewisham
The London Borough of Lewisham is a London borough in south-east London, England and forms part of Inner London. The principal settlement of the borough is Lewisham...
is the Millwall FC training ground where the football team regularly train.
In Shortlands village you can also find a kebab house voted number one in London by the people living in Shortlands.