Swanley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Swanley | |
  Swanley shown within Kent |
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| Population | 20,986 (2001) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| Parish | Swanley |
| District | Sevenoaks |
| Shire county | Kent |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SWANLEY |
| Postcode district | BR8 |
| Dialling code | 01322 |
| Police | Kent |
| Fire | Kent |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Sevenoaks |
| List of places: UK • England • Kent | |
Swanley is a town and civil parish in the Sevenoaks District of Kent, England. It is located on the south-eastern outskirts of London, north of Sevenoaks town. The town boundaries encompass the settlements of Swanley itself, Hextable (Hextable recently voted to become an independent parish council) and Swanley Village. Swanley has a population of 20,986 (2001 census).
The ancient parish and village of Swanley began life as three houses before the advent of the railway in 1861. The newer settlement grew up around the railway junction and was originally named Swanley Junction; it became Swanley, and the original Swanley became Swanley Village, in the 1920s.
Swanley was renowned as a horticultural centre and became known as the "Home of Flowers", a designation recently revived by its Town Council in connection with a major initiative to beautify the town with flowers. Today Swanley is essentially a commuter and distribution centre, trading on its excellent rail links to London and its proximity to the M25 motorway. Its 1960s shopping centre was remodelled in the 1990s when the ASDA supermarket was extended.
Swanley was historically a health "resort" and housed an important care home for sufferers of tuberculosis; a number of hospitals were built there in the 1880s and 1890s. The painter James Dickson Innes died there in 1914, aged 27.
In Swanley Park is the Swanley New Barn Railway.
Moose International meets as the Swanley Invicta Lodge and Circle at the Five Wents Hall, as do several other organisations such as the Royal British Legion and the Swanley Light Opera Group.
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[edit] Sport
Alma Swanley F.C. were a popular local side but went bankrupt. Swanley Furness F.C. are the town's new team, though many support nearby Crockenhill F.C. as they are more successful. Cricket is also a very popular sport, with many playing it on the village green in summer. Swimming is also popular as there is white oak lesire centre and white oak swimming club training there
Hexley Rangers F.C. is a FA Charter Standard (Hextable/Swanley) community based junior football club that play at Downsview Primary School.
Sidcup and District Motor Cycle Club owns the spectacular Canada Heights International Motocross Circuit at Button Street, Swanley. The venue was first used in 1948 and was purchased by the Club in the 1980s. The Club became a Limited Company in 2007, but all Directors are unpaid and all profits go to improving facilities at Canada Heights. A round of the British Motocross Championship is run each year as well as Open Motocross, Enduro and Trials events for all types of motorcycles.
[edit] Notable residents
- Alan Knott, the Kent and England cricketer, spent his childhood in Swanley.
- Mark Steel, a socialist columnist and comedian was born and grew up in Swanley.
- Mike Stock, songwriter and record producer, came from Swanley.
Crispian St Peters [singer/guitarist]born as Robin Peter Smith in Swanley 5th April 1944.Two major hits in 1966; You Were on my Mind reached no.2 and Pied Piper reached no.5 in UK Charts
[edit] Twin Cities
Verrières-le-Buisson in France
[edit] External links
- Swanley Town Council
- Notes on Swanley Village
- Swanley History
- Swanley Park
- Hexley Rangers F.C.
- Sidcup and District Motor Cycle Club Ltd.
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