Biggin Hill
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Biggin Hill | |
  Biggin Hill shown within Greater London |
|
| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| London borough | Bromley |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | London |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WESTERHAM |
| Postcode district | TN16 |
| Dialling code | 01959 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| European Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament | Orpington |
| London Assembly | Bexley and Bromley |
| List of places: UK • England • London | |
Biggin Hill is a place and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley in London, England. It lies on the Bromley to Westerham road (A233), some 8 miles (13 km) south of Bromley.
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[edit] RAF Aerodrome
Biggin Hill hosts London Biggin Hill Airport, which uses much of the land formerly used by RAF Biggin Hill Aerodrome. The latter hosted the "Operations Room" for the Operation Crossbow V-1 flying bomb defence during World War II.[1] The aerodrome famously appeared in the novel, The Da Vinci Code.
The old "west camp" of the airport is now owned by Bernie Ecclestone of Formula One fame. A small section remains in the care of the RAF, and the chapel (guarded by replicas of the base gate guardians, a Hawker Hurricane and a Supermarine Spitfire) is open to the public.
The old "south camp" is now occupied by the Biggin Hill Business Park, Airport Industrial Estate and various private flying clubs. There are further commercial premises, hangars, private flying clubs and a helicopter joy-ride and pilot training centre to the east of the main runway.
The term "airport", rather than airfield, is used to describe the present-day facility because Biggin Hill has a terminal building and customs facilities. It is host to a wide range of private/business jet and turbo-prop aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 737. The main airport apron has recently been enlarged, the one remaining hangar on the old south camp has been totally re-clad and a planning application has been posted for further hangars on the eastern side.
Another aviation connection is Biggin Hill's status as the location of a VOR navigational beacon, codenamed "BIG", which anchors the South East Arrival Stack for London Heathrow Airport.
[edit] Education
Charles Darwin School, whose Head of Science recently won the outstanding teacher award for London, is the only secondary school in the immediate area. The science faculty is locally understood to be a hotbed of talent, with the inclusion of the Science AST in the South East Amateur Athletics marathon squad. Other notorieties outside of the science department include the female world public speaking champion, who spoke for 23 hours non-stop. Alumni include Chantelle from the UK Channel 4 TV show, Big Brother, Flavio Mintello (famous for making Orlando Bloom's costume in Pirates of the Caribbean) . There are two main infant and junior schools; Biggin Hill Infant and Junior Schools and Oaklands Infant and Junior Schools. Both have been competing in an intensively fought international pond-dipping contest. However there is also Cudham CE Primary School which is situated near Foal Farm, Tatsfield Primary which is on the outskirts of Biggin Hill and Downe Primary in Downe village.
[edit] Surface transport
Biggin Hill is on the outskirts of the London Borough of Bromley and as such has limited public transport links. The A233 (Bromley – Westerham) is the only main road that runs through the town, from north to south. On the south-west side is Biggin Hill Valley.
There are no rail links to the town, however within recent years there has been an increase in the number of bus routes serving the town. These are (as of May 2007):[2]
- 246 Bromley – Westerham (Chartwell during the summer);
- 320 Bromley – Biggin Hill;
- 464 Tatsfield – New Addington;
- R2 Biggin Hill (Melody Road) – Petts Wood;
- R8 Biggin Hill – Orpington
The nearest rail stations to Biggin Hill are:[3]
- Hayes (6.5 mi/10.5 km; bus 246)
- Orpington (7 mi/11 km; bus R2/R8)
- Bromley South (7.5 mi/12.1 km; bus 246/320)
- Bromley North (8 mi/13 km; bus 246/320)
- Sevenoaks (9 mi/14 km; no direct bus service)
The New Addington terminus of the Croydon Tramlink light rail system is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) away, and linked by bus 464.
[edit] Nearby areas
[edit] Ghosts
Biggin Hill is a place that is believed to be the home of many ghosts. This is commonly attributed to the fact that it is the home of a World War II airbase. Notably the ghost of Big Dave, who had 55 kills in WWII in his Spitfire Mk III in the Battle of Britain. Big Dave, Dave Gormsall, who was originally stationed at RAF Fairford was moved to Biggin Hill originally to protect long range bombers, was tragically killed when his car collided with a cow in Old Tye. [4]
[edit] References
- ^ Collier, Basil [1964] (1976). The Battle of the V-Weapons, 1944-1945. Yorkshire: The Emfield Press, p 96,161. ISBN 0 7057 0070 4.
- ^ Buses from Biggin Hill. Transport for London. Retrieved on 2007-01-21.
- ^ Transport Direct. Transport Direct Consortium. Retrieved on 2008-01-23.
- ^ Bob Ogley, The Ghosts of Biggin Hill , ISBN-13: 978-1872337418
[edit] External links
- Biggin Hill Air Fair
- Illustrated Review of Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2007
- Illustrated Review of Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2006
- Illustrated Review of Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2005
- Illustrated Review of Biggin Hill International Air Fair 2004
- A brief commentary
- A comprehensive history
- Photographs
- Biggin Hill air shows
- The RAF Biggin Hill Mutiny of 1919 on peopleshistory.co.uk
- Charles Darwin School homepage
- Biggin Hill weather, notams & pilot reviews on ukga.com
[edit] See Also
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