Northumberland Heath
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Northumberland Heath | |
|---|---|
 Bexley Road | |
  Northumberland Heath Location within Greater London | |
| Population | 10,598 (2011 Census. Ward)[1] |
| OS grid reference | TQ505771 |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ERITH |
| Postcode district | DA8 |
| Dialling code | 01322 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| UK Parliament | |
| London Assembly | |
Northumberland Heath is an area of South East London, England within the London Borough of Bexley. It is located south of Erith and north of Bexleyheath.
The area was once known as Spike Island after the workhouse that was situated there,[2] spike being the slang term for a workhouse at the time, taking the name from the implement used to unravel rope offcuts to be used for boat caulking, a chore undertaken by the able bodied inmates.[3][4] The area is mainly residential although there is a large industrial bakery in Belmont Road. Much of the housing stock is Victorian with some 1940s council developments and a Cottage estate built for local Vickers armaments workers in 1916. Nearest Railway stations are Erith and Barnehurst. There is a large Catholic church in Bexley Road, Our Lady of the Angels with a Capuchin friary attached, and a Church of England (St Paul's) in Mill Road. A conservation area on Brook Street safeguards some terraces that represent early examples of municipal housing.
Amenities
Northumberland Heath has a Community Forum (a kind of Parish Council).[5]
The Erith Rugby Club is based in Northumberland Heath.[6]
The European SF Society (Eurocon) Award-winning webzine, the Science Fact & Science Fiction Concatenation [7] was founded by former locals of Northumberland Heath, some of whom have established a local SF group.[8]
Northumberland Heath has an active community library which serves as one of the main foci of community activities.[9]
Politics
Northumberland Heath is within Northumberland Heath ward (local Councillors are John Fuller (Conservative, Cabinet Member for Education) and Wendy Perfect (Labour, Deputy Leader of the Labour Group and Shadow Cabinet Member for Education).
