Swanley Information & Swanley Links at HealthHaven.com

**Swanley**
	Swanley
	; Swanley ; Swanley shown within Kent
Population	20,986 (2001)
OS grid reference	TQ515685
Parish	Swanley
District	Sevenoaks
Shire county	Kent
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	SWANLEY
Postcode district	BR8
Dialling code	01322
Police	Kent
Fire	Kent
Ambulance	South East Coast
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Sevenoaks
	List of places: UK • England • Kent

For the village in Cheshire, see Swanley, Cheshire.

Coordinates: 51°24′N 0°11′E / 51.4°N 0.18°E / 51.4; 0.18

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

[edit] History

Swanley sign

Swanley is a town within Sevenoaks district in Kent with its earliest mention in the Doomsday book.

The name Swanley developed from the Saxon term Swine-ley, "Ley" Meaning a clearing in the woods and Swine meaning Pigs. So originally it was a Saxon pig farm. This later developed into what we now know as Swanley Village. These farming roots stuck and Swanley became a major flower nursery and orchard farms. Many properties in Swanley still have apple and pear trees in their gardens from the original orchards.

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 Sevenoaks Junction, it became Swanley, and the original Swanley became Swanley Village, in the 1920s. Its 1960s shopping centre was remodeled in the 1990s when the Asda supermarket was extended which is one of the Larger Asda stores.

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.

Swanley boasts excellent transport links with easy access to the M25, M20, A20, A2 and has very good train links to London or the Coast. The train journey from Swanley to Victoria Takes about 25 mins and trains go as Bedford via St Pancras international Eurostar station. It is a 15 minute drive to Bluewater shopping centre and Ebbsfleet international Eurostar station. Today Swanley is essentially a commuter and distribution centre, home to a significant lower middle and working class population, trading on its excellent rail links to London and its proximity to the M25 motorway.

Swanley’s location is ideal for those who like the countryside, minutes down the road is the picturesque village of Eynsford with its ford and idyllic village scenary. Swanley is also only a few minutes from the North Downs and is surrounded by farms and golf courses and country walks.

Swanley also prides itself as being a winner of the South east in bloom contest as can be seen on the sign above. Ideal places to live in Swanley are either the Pinks Hill estate, Heathwood\Woodview estate, Birchwood Road, Selah Drive and Archer Way.

Swanley Park which was previously known as New Barn park consists of a large field, a model railway and boating lake. In the summer classical music and firework events can be enjoyed as part of Swanley Gala celebrations.

[edit] Facilities

In Swanley Park (New Barn Park) is the Swanley New Barn Railway and boating lake.
Swanley Bowling Club
Whiteoak sports centre - With flumes and large swimming pool, gym, squash courts.
Several Schools - 3 Primary and 1 College (Swanley Technology College).
Woodlands
The Swanley Recreation ground - otherwise known as the Rec which has a skate park and football pitches as well as tennis courts.
As well as the large Asda supermarket there are also several other shops including Superdrug, Pie & Mash shop, Boots, Aldi, Peacocks, Needlework Shop, Bakers. Banks inlcude two Barclays branches and a NatWest. There is also a post office/sorting office.
Fire station
Police station
Two Health Centres (The Cedars and The Oaks)
Birchwood Golf Club
Albert Vinson Fresh Farm food shop
Tourist Information Centre/Cafe
Library

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.

[edit] Education

Swanley Technology College is the local secondary school. It is a technology college, a status achieved in January 2005. The vocational centre was opened in September 2006. The school has a partnership with Hextable Secondary School and Wilmington Enterprise College.

[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 people

Alan Knott, the Kent and England cricketer, spent his childhood in Swanley.
Crispian St. Peters, [singer/guitarist] born as Robin Peter Smith in Swanley 5 April 1939. Two major hits in 1966; You Were on my Mind reached no.2 and Pied Piper reached no.5 in UK Charts.
Mark Steel, a socialist columnist and comedian was born and grew up in Swanley.
Mike Stock, songwriter and record producer, came from Swanley.
Various UK Hip-Hop and Grime artists originate from Swanley, such as Sway DaSafo who lived in the town during his teens and all three members of the Boy Better Know team were born in Swanley.

[edit] Twin city

Verrières-le-Buisson in France

[edit] External links

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