Chislehurst Information & Chislehurst Links at HealthHaven.com

**Chislehurst**
	Chislehurst
	; Chislehurst ; Chislehurst shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ445705
London borough	Bromley
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	CHISLEHURST
Postcode district	BR7
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Bromley & Chislehurst
London Assembly	Bexley and Bromley
	List of places: UK • England • London

Coordinates: 51°24′54″N 0°04′44″E / 51.4150°N 0.0789°E / 51.4150; 0.0789

Chislehurst (pronounced /ˈtʃɪzəlhɜrst/) is a suburban settlement in south east London, England and an electoral ward of the London Borough of Bromley.

[edit] Toponymy

The name "Chislehurst" is derived from the Saxon words "cisel" which means gravel and "hyrst" which means wooded hill.

[edit] History

Camden Place (now Chislehurst Golf Club) is where the French Emperor Napoleon III died in exile in 1873. His body and that of the Prince Imperial were buried originally in St Mary's Church, before they were removed to St Michael's Abbey, Farnborough. There is a memorial to Napoléon Eugène in the woods, and the area's connections with the imperial family are found in many road names and in the local telephone code, 467, which in its earlier format corresponded to the letters IMP (for imperial).

A local attraction is Chislehurst Caves. The caves are considered to be of very ancient origin. They were originally used to mine flint and chalk. During World War II, thousands of people used them nightly as an air raid shelter. There is even a chapel. One child was born in the caves during World War II, and was given a middle name of 'Cavina'.^[1] The caves have also been used as a venue for live music; Jimi Hendrix, The Who and The Rolling Stones have all played there. The caves are reputedly haunted, and Druids are said to have made grisly human sacrifices in their depths. A number of television programmes and films, including episodes of Doctor Who, have been filmed there. Tours are available most days, and on Sundays there used to be an extended tour, lasting approximately one and a half hours, although this no longer takes place. Tours are normally on the hour. There is a licenced bar and cafe at the caves.

The Chislehurst civil parish formed an urban district of Kent from 1894 to 1934.^[2] In 1934 it became part of the Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District,^[3] which was split in 1965 between the London boroughs of Bromley and Bexley.

Chislehurst is home to the Derwent House, designed by William Willett.

[edit] Chislehurst today

Chislehurst West may be found by going towards Mottingham, and this area includes the biggest of the ponds, and the High Street, which has many pubs and restaurants. Chislehurst West was previously known as 'Pricking' and 'Prickend'.

Chislehurst is one of the starting points for the Green Chain Walk, linking to places such as Crystal Palace, Erith, the Thames Barrier and Thamesmead.

[edit] Education

Bullers Wood School (all-girls')
Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication
Coopers Technology College

[edit] Famous residents

Chislehurst Caves entrance

Malcolm Campbell, former land and water speed record holder, was born in Chislehurst and is buried in St. Nicholas Parish Church next to his parents.
Richmal Crompton, author of the Just William series of books for children of all ages.
Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, President of France 1848-52, Emperor of the French 1854-70.
Alan Watts, philosopher, born and raised in Chislehurst, moved to the US in 1938.
William Willett, a campaigner for daylight saving time, lived most of his adult life in Chislehurst.
Sir Francis Walsingham, spy master to Elizabeth I, and his son, Sir Thomas Walsingham.
Siouxsie Sioux, singer, most famous for being in the band Siouxsie and the Banshees
Gianfranco Zola - Former Italy and Chelsea footballer, and current manager of West Ham United.
George Somers Leigh Clarke (1822-1882, eminent architect lived at Walpole, Manor Park and number a important local houses. He is buried in the St Nicholas' churchyard.
E.J. May (1853-1941), architect, lived locally and designed a number of local buildings.

[edit] Places of worship

St Patrick's Catholic Church, Redhill, Chislehurst
Christ Church, Lubbock Road^[4]
Elmstead Baptist Church, Elmstead Lane^[5]
Chislehurst Methodist Church^[6]
The Annuncation, High Street, Chislehurst^[7]
St. Nicholas, Church Lane, Chislehurst^[8]
Darul Uloom Mosque and School

[edit] Transport and locale

[edit] Nearest places

[edit] Nearest railway stations

[edit] References

^ The baby was christened Rose Cavena Wakeman according to the official guides. Birth records show that a baby called Rose L C Wakeman was born in Chislehurst in 1946, which is consistent with the story.
^ Vision of Britain - Chilsehurst UD (historic map)
^ Vision of Britain - Chislehurst and Sidcup UD (historic map)
^ East Kent IT Solutions Web Server
^ Elmstead Baptist Church, Chislehurst
^ Chislehurst
^ Chislehurst, Chislehurst: The Annunciation Church - Kent | Diocese of Rochester
^ Chislehurst, Chislehurst: St Nicholas Church - Kent | Diocese of Rochester

[edit] External links

[0] The baby was christened Rose Cavena Wakeman according to the official guides. Birth records show that a baby called Rose L C Wakeman was born in Chislehurst in 1946, which is consistent with the story.

[vision_ud-1] Vision of Britain - Chilsehurst UD (historic map)

[vision_cas-2] Vision of Britain - Chislehurst and Sidcup UD (historic map)

[3] East Kent IT Solutions Web Server

[4] Elmstead Baptist Church, Chislehurst

[5] Chislehurst

[6] Chislehurst, Chislehurst: The Annunciation Church - Kent | Diocese of Rochester

[7] Chislehurst, Chislehurst: St Nicholas Church - Kent | Diocese of Rochester

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