insideKENT Magazine Issue 29 - August 2014 | Page 113

DAYSOUT

Visualisation of how Sidcup High Street could look after public realm and
shop front works are complete by the In Store For Sidcup scheme

Lamorbey House

The best of both worlds

SIDCUP
Having originated as a tiny hamlet on the road from London to Maidstone, Sidcup
is only around 11 miles south east of Charing Cross, making it one of Kent’s closest
towns to London. Drive about the same distance in the other direction and you’ll
find yourself amongst rolling hills and countryside – making Sidcup the perfect
location to get an equal fix of city and country life.
The name of Sidcup is thought to be derived
from Cetecopp meaning ‘seat-shaped or flattopped hill’. Edward Hasted – author of 18thcentury book The History and Topographical
Survey of the County of Kent – described Sidcup
as “a small street of houses, among which is an
inn of much resort,” referring to the former Black
Horse pub on the high street.

With a range of shopping, great restaurants and
leisure activities, plus an exciting £1.8mil
regeneration scheme in the works
(www.instoreforsidcup.org), Sidcup is not only a
great place to live in Kent to experience the ‘best
of both worlds’, but it’s also a great place to visit.

A number of the homes on the “small street of
houses” remain, including Frognal House (the
birthplace and residence of Thomas Townshend,
1s Viscount Sydney, after whom Sydney, Australia
was named); Sidcup Place (now a Brewers Fayre);
Lamorbey House; and The Hollies.

INTERESTING FACT

In 1934, the urban dis trict and parish of Sidcup
were abolished and combined with Chislehurst
to form the Chislehurst and Sidcup civil parish
and urban district. This district and parish were
also abolished (in 1965), and Sidcup went on to
form part of the London Borough of Bexley.

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It is reputed that it was on the platform of
Sidcup Railway Station that Mick Jagger and
Keith Richards had a conversation about music,
an event that eventually led to the forming of
The Rolling Stones.