Bellingham is an area in south east London, in the London Borough of Lewisham. Its neighbouring districts are Catford, Downham and Sydenham. The Ravensbourne River runs through the centre of Bellingham, also to the west and east it is bordered by railway lines working south from Catford.
The true name Bellingham means ‘the water-meadow owned by Beora’s people’, and was the name of the medieval manor in the area. The name was preserved by the farm in the area, Bellingham Railway Station and the Bellingham Estate. Additional historical names have been preserved by the road names of the estate, which are connected with King Alfred, who was simply thought to have already been the lord of the manor of Lewisham, and were taken from the true names of mills, houses and areas in the area.
Bellingham was mainly farmland until the Bellingham Estate was built, between 1920 and 1923. London City Council built about 2600 homes and flats during this time period. Bellingham Estate was one of many large estates constructed by London City Council after the First World War to assist with slum clearance and relieve overcrowding. As there is lots of land available the majority of the dwellings built were two-story houses, and there was plenty of green, open space.
Today, Bellingham is a localised city centre. Its high street is Randlesdown Road, which includes a supermarket, a gym, hairdressers and multiple restaurants and food outlets. It has a sixth form college also, and a church and a library. Bellingham boasts many popular recent and present residents, like the singer/song-writer Kate Bush, the previous Labour Prime Minister James Callaghan, and the footballer Ian Wright.