Sydenham
| Sydenham | |
|---|---|
 Sydenham Avenue |
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 Sydenham
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| Sydenham shown within Greater London | |
| Population | 28,378 (SE26 postcode area) |
| OS grid reference | TQ352714 |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | SE26 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | |
| London Assembly | |
| Website | http://sydenham.org.uk/ |
Sydenham (/ˈsɪdnəm/) is a suburban district of south-east London in the London Boroughs of Lewisham, Bromley and Southwark. Located in Kent until 1889, when the County of London was created, Sydenham was historically a very affluent town and the Crystal Palace from the Great Exhibition was relocated to Sydenham Hill in 1854. Bordering Forest Hill, Dulwich, Crystal Palace, Penge, Beckenham, Catford and Bellingham; Sydenham today is a diverse area with a 2011 population of 28,378.
Originally known as Shippenham, Sydenham began as a small settlement, a few cottages among the woods, whose inhabitants grazed their animals and collected wood. In the 1640s, springs of water in what is now Wells Park were discovered to have medicinal properties, attracting crowds of people to the area. Sydenham grew rapidly in the 19th century after the introduction of the Croydon Canal in 1809 which linked the Grand Surrey Canal to Croydon and a reservoir was constructed in Sydenham. However, the canal was never successful and closed in 1836 resulting in it being the first canal to be abandoned by an Act of Parliament. The London & Croydon Railway purchased the canal for £40,250 and quickly converted the alignment for a railway from London Bridge to West Croydon, opening in 1839. After the railway opened potential gas companies began to consider the Sydenham area with the Crystal Palace and District Gas Company having works at Bell Green, which continued production until 1969; a retail park now occupies most of the site.
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Wikipedia