AREA INFORMATION

BLACKHEATH

Blackheath, in south east London, is one of the capital's most attractive suburbs. The residential area hugs the Heath, some 270 acres of open grassland which lie adjacent to Greenwich Royal Park. Together they form one of the finest open spaces in London.

Blackheath was developed as a prosperous residential suburb from the late 17th Century although its character is largely late Georgian and early to mid-Victorian. Residents have long been tenacious about protecting Blackheath's semi-rural qualities since the 19th Century and powerful environmental protection groups have ensured that it has retained its style and attractiveness. Blackheath is blessed with many fine examples of domestic architecture from the 1690s to the present day. Despite being split between the London boroughs of Greenwich and Lewisham, Blackheath retains its integrity and unique identity.

The people of Blackheath can enjoy its environmental qualities, the bustling village life with its fine restaurants, boutiques and shops, together with fast access to central London, the City and an established motorway network. Blackheath and the surrounding area plays host to a heady assortment of markets, shops, pubs, restaurants and artistic activities. Greenwich hosts music and film festivals and the Blackheath Halls present some of the newest music and drama. There are many local places to visit including the Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum, as well as Greenwich Park- London's oldest royal park, with tree lined avenues, a café, deer enclosure and spectacular views of the Thames and London. Sporting facilities abound in the area, including the Royal Blackheath Golf Club and the Blackheath Rugby Club - reputedly the oldest in the world. There are also a number of leisure and fitness centres in the Blackheath area.

There are excellent primary and secondary state schools in the area, whilst the private sector offers Pointers Primary School, Blackheath High School for Girls and at nearby Lee there is Colfes School for Boys and Girls.

Blackheath is situated geographically in an enviable commuter location within close proximity to the A2 and the A20 both linking with the M25 giving main road access to Canary Wharf, Bluewater Shopping Centre and the Channel Tunnel. By rail, London Bridge (about 10 mins), Victoria, Cannon Street, Waterloo and Charing Cross can be easily reached from Blackheath and Westcombe Park train stations whilst the Docklands Light Railway from Greenwich and Lewisham provides an excellent alternative route into the City. London City Airport can be reached via the Silverlink Metro/Jubilee Line, the DLR, Blackwall Tunnel and the Woolwich free ferry.

LEE

LEE in South East London lies only a mile from Blackheath Village and is bordered by Hither Green to the west, Eltham to the east and Grove Park and Mottingham to the south.

Like many peripheral London areas the greater part of Lee was formally farmland, with riverside watercress beds and extensive orchards. Lee remained a rural village until the early 19th Century, with a village green of some two acres. An 1833 map still shows open fields and country lanes. However by the mid 19th century, many of the grander houses in the area had been demolished and their grounds built over with streets of smaller houses.

Even though the village green no longer exists, the Lee area still retains vestiges of it's rural past, exemplified by its leafy environment and open spaces.

Most of the street names within the favoured Lee Manor Conservation Area derive from the Baring family, who owned much of the surrounding land, until it was split up for housing purposes in the last half of the 19th century. In 1899, the family sold the Manor House to Lewisham Borough Council, and this still remains an architectural centrepiece, currently housing the local library. The grounds of the Manor House became a delightful public park with a large wildfowl pond and formal gardens. Recent restoration work has opened up to the public the original 'Ice House'.

Although much altered, Lee Railway Station, which opened in 1866 on the Dartford Loop line, still retains some of its rural character. There are no steam trains of course but daily commuter services run from here and nearby Hither Green into the City and West End with London Bridge about 15 minutes away. The recently extended Docklands Light Railway from Lewisham has greatly improved transport links to Canary Wharf, The City and London City Airport

Lee is also geographically well located for the A205 South Circular road, the A20 and the A2 for Blackwall Tunnel, both the latter connecting with the M25. There are good local shopping facilities including a Sainsbury’s food store at Lee Green and bus routes to the larger shopping centres of Lewisham, Eltham and Bromley. Educationally there is an excellent range of primary and secondary schools, both in the public and private sectors.

Modern day Lee and its environs provide South East London homeowners with a pleasant, convenient and affordable place to live with an infinite variety of house styles from older Victorian terraces and Edwardian villas to pre-war semi-detached and town houses. There is a home to suit most needs and budgets, including purpose built and conversion flats for the first time buyer.

The Conservation Area lies about half a mile south of Blackheath Village embracing a number of attractive tree lined roads of Victorian and Edwardian houses ranging from smaller cottages to substantial detached period homes of considerable charm and character including some interesting listed buildings. Redevelopment within the area has been slight and very localised leaving an almost unspoilt environment.

There is an active “Lee Manor Society” formed in 1975 which was largely responsible for the designation of the Conservation Area in 1976. In 1989 this was extended to include Lee Railway Station and the Royal Mail Sorting Office in Woodyates Road.

On the Northern edge of the Conservation Area are situated the delightful Manor House Gardens with its ornamental lake, home to many species of wild fowl, together with tennis courts, formal gardens and Manor House Public Library.

Brindishe Primary School is also located with the Conservation Area whilst local shops including a Sainsbury’s Superstore are close by.

John Payne are pleased to have been associated with the Lee Manor Society in the production of a highly informative booklet about the Conservation Area which is available free from our offices.

WESTCOMBE PARK & CHARLTON

Westcombe Park lies to the east of Greenwich Royal Park and borders onto the 270 acres of Blackheath. It is a highly sought after leafy location, predominantly of fine Victorian and Edwardian properties, with some large 1930's semi's and sympathetic developments both of conversion and purpose built flats and apartments. Some of the properties in Vanbrugh Hill overlook the park.

The area fully benefits from all the amenities enjoyed by both Blackheath and Greenwich and is further enhanced by comprehensive shopping facilities at the Blackheath Standard where there is a large supermarket and a wide variety of shops.

Beyond 'The Standard' as it is known locally, lies the Charlton Slopes, an area of period properties much sought after by younger buyers with families. Just south of Charlton Slopes is the Rectory Fields Conservation Area which again predominately features mid and late Victorian terraced houses, with some three storey cottages.

There are excellent local schools. These include state primary schools at Invicta and Sherrington with secondary schools at Blackheath Bluecoat and John Roan. In the private sector, the Pointer primary school is situated in Stratheden Road with Blackheath High School for girls just the other side of the heath.

Apart from the grandeur of Greenwich Park, there are a number of smaller parks and open spaces, including the delightful Maryon Wilson Park and Charlton Park, which boasts excellent sporting facilities. Charlton is of course home to the Valley Football Ground.

On the Charlton/Woolwich borders lies the Queen Elizabeth Hospital with its A & E department.

Mainline stations at Maze Hill, Westcombe Park and Charlton all provide regular services into the City and West End (London Bridge approximately 15-20 minutes). There are local bus services to the North Greenwich Jubilee line and the DLR at Greenwich (Cutty Sark) for Canary Wharf, the City of London and City airport. An extension of the DLR as far as Woolwich is being planned. The area is conveniently located for road transport with both the A2 (Blackwall Tunnel) and the A20 within close proximity.

GREENWICH

Only four miles downstream of the Tower of London , Greenwich should need no introduction. Birthplace of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and Mary Tudor, as well as home to Greenwich Mean Time, the Prime Meridian, National Maritime Museum and the Cutty Sark Tea Clipper.

The architecture of Greenwich is quite exceptional and is designated a World Heritage site by UNESCO. There are many listed buildings including Inigo Jones Queens House, Christopher Wrens Royal Navel College and the Royal Observatory. These, and many other notable landmarks, are overlooked by Britain’s highest building, The Canary Wharf Tower.

Greenwich Royal Park is one of London’s loveliest parks with a grand avenue, wide open spaces and magnificent views over the Thames. It also marks, along with the adjoining 270 acres of Blackheath, the start of the London Marathon.

Amidst the Georgian town centre, the covered marketplace, which was granted a Royal Charter in 1849, along with the arts and crafts market, historic Inns, the Cutty Sark tea clipper, restaurants and a variety of shops, all contribute in promoting a bustling waterfront atmosphere.

To the west of the Royal Park, the residential areas adjoining Crooms Hill, reputedly one of the oldest roads in London, Hyde Vale and Royal Hill, are predominantly of period style property with many fine Georgian houses and unspoilt terraces. Large period family houses can be found here but in smaller numbers and there are a few 1930’s properties. The Ashburnham Triangle Conservation Area, has become a much sought after location, especially with commuters. It mostly comprises Victorian Town houses which are conveniently situated for both the mainline train station and the DLR.

To the East of Greenwich, there are many quiet backwaters of older houses and converted riverside buildings. Beyond them, lies the Greenwich Peninsula, host to the Millennium Dome and now benefiting from a progressive regeneration programme, including the development of the Millennium Village, possibly the largest of its type in the UK. Many new homes are being created, together with shopping facilities and retail parks.

Today Greenwich has become a most desirable and convenient place to live. The close proximity of Canary Wharf, easily reached in 10 minutes via the DLR, has added to the attraction. By train, Greenwich Station is just 15 minutes from Charring Cross or Cannon Street, with connections at London Bridge to the underground or Thames Link and Eurostar or SouthWest Trains at Waterloo. The Jubilee Line provides access to the City airport. The area also benefits from good road communications to the A2 (Blackwall Tunnel) the A20 and the South Circular (A205), but perhaps one of the most relaxing ways of travelling to and from London is by boat, with services from Greenwich Pier.