Swanley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Swanley |
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 Swanley Library and Information Centre |
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 Swanley
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| Area | 7.15 km2 (2.76 sq mi) |
| Population | 17,825 (2021) |
| • Density | 2,493/km2 (6,460/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TQ515685 |
| • London | 16 mi (26 km) NW |
| Civil parish |
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| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| 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 |
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Swanley is a town in Kent, England. It is about 16 miles (26 km) southeast of central London. Swanley is very close to the edge of Greater London. The M25 motorway also runs nearby. In 2021, about 17,826 people lived in Swanley.
Contents
A Look Back in Time: Swanley's History
Early Days and Name Origins
Long, long ago, in 1066, Swanley was just a few farms. These farms raised cattle. They were surrounded by lots of trees like oak, sycamore, and ash. Because there were so few homes, Swanley was not even mentioned in the Domesday Book. This was a big survey of England made by William the Conqueror.
Some people think the name Swanley comes from an old Saxon word. This word was 'Swine-ley'. 'Ley' meant a clearing in the woods. 'Swine' meant pigs. So, it might have been a Saxon pig farm. Or it could have been a place where pigs rested on their way to market. Over time, 'Swine-ley' changed into 'Swanley'.
How Swanley Grew
In the 600s and 700s, there were probably only two small farms here. After the Norman Conquest, these lands became part of larger estates called manors. Parts of these manors were sometimes given to monks.
The modern town of Swanley grew from a small crossroads. Before 1861, there were only three houses there. But then, the railway arrived! This changed everything. The town grew very quickly. By 2001, over 16,000 people lived there. The new settlement around the railway was first called Swanley Junction. Later, it became just Swanley. The original old Swanley became Swanley Village in the 1920s.
The Railway and Horticulture
The railway brought big changes to Swanley. In 1887, the Swanley Horticultural College opened. This school taught people about growing plants. Because of the college, growing plants became the main business in Swanley. At first, only boys could go to the college. But in the early 1890s, girls were allowed too. Many plant nurseries and flower shops opened. Some houses in Swanley still have apple and pear trees from the old orchards.
Hospitals in Swanley
Swanley became a popular place for doctors from London. They sent sick Londoners there to get better. This was because Swanley had cleaner air away from London's smog. Three hospitals were built here:
- The Kettlewell (or Alexandra) Hospital in 1885.
- Parkwood Hospital in 1893.
- White Oak Hospital in 1897.
The Kettlewell Hospital was for poor patients from London. They went there to recover after big operations. Parkwood Hospital was used in a similar way. White Oak Hospital was first for children with eye problems. During World War I and II, Kettlewell and Parkwood became military hospitals.
After 1948, the National Health Service started. This meant these old hospitals were no longer needed. Kettlewell and White Oak closed in 1959. Parkwood stopped being a hospital in the early 1960s. Today, you can still see the gates of White Oak. The Catholic Church is on the site of Kettlewell's old chapel. Parkwood still exists as Parkwood Hall School, which is a special school.
Town Council and Growth
In 1955, Swanley became its own civil parish. This showed how much the town had grown. In 1974, the parish council became a Town Council. It included Swanley Village and Hextable. But in 1988, Hextable became its own separate parish.
Most of Swanley's houses were built from after World War II until the late 1980s. A new fire station opened in 1962. A new post office opened two years later. Older Victorian houses and shops were taken down to build a new town centre. The shopping centre was updated in the 1990s. The Asda supermarket there is now one of the bigger Asda stores.
Where is Swanley? (Geography)
Swanley is in Kent. It is next to towns like Wilmington, Hextable, Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley, Farningham, Eynsford, and Crockenhill. To the west, it borders parts of London like St Mary Cray and Ruxley.
The closest big towns are Bexleyheath, Dartford, Orpington, and Sidcup.
The villages of Hextable, Hockenden, and Crockenhill are close by. They use a Swanley address. These areas are part of the larger Swanley urban area. This whole area has about 23,489 people.
Swanley is a good place for people who work in London. It is called a "commuter town." This means people live in Swanley and travel to London for work. Swanley still has links to Sevenoaks and Kent. But it is also very connected to southeast London.
Getting Around (Transport)
Roads
Swanley has great access to major roads. The M25 motorway, M20, and A20 are all very close. The A2 is also north of the town.
Trains
Swanley railway station has train services. You can catch trains to:
- London Victoria
- London Charing Cross
- Ashford International
- Gillingham
- London Blackfriars
- Sevenoaks
Buses
Several bus routes serve Swanley:
- Bus 2 goes to Sevenoaks.
- Bus 233 goes to Eltham.
- Bus 429 goes to Dartford or West Kingsdown.
- Bus 477 goes to Dartford or Orpington.
Fun Things to Do (Facilities)
Local businesses help pay for the pretty flower displays in Swanley. The Town Council takes care of the grass and open spaces.
Swanley Park is a large park, about 60 acres big. It used to be a farm called New Barn Farm. The Town Council bought the land to protect the green belt. A "green belt" is an area of open land around a city where building is restricted.
The park still has some old fruit trees from the farm. There are also new paths lined with trees. In the park, you can find:
- A central play park
- A soft play centre
- A café
- A water park
- A boating lake
The Town Council has kept old hedges and trees around the park. They have also made allotments (small plots of land for growing food). Volunteers help manage an environmental area. Swanley Athletics Club is based here. The park also hosts many running events.
A fun model railway runs around one of the large fields. It's called Swanley New Barn Model railway. Volunteers run it during the summer.
Every year, there's a classical music and fireworks event. It's held on the Friday before the August bank holiday. This park is very popular. It gets about 400,000 visitors each year!
Places to Learn (Education)
Orchards Academy is the only secondary school in Swanley. It is close to the town centre. Other secondary schools are in nearby towns like Sidcup, Dartford, and Orpington.
Swanley has five primary schools. There are also more in the villages nearby. For older students, the closest colleges are North Kent College and London South East College.
News and Entertainment (Media)
Because Swanley is near London, you can get TV signals from the Crystal Palace transmitting station. This means Swanley is in the BBC London and ITV London areas.
You can listen to BBC Radio Kent and BBC Radio London. Other radio stations include Heart South, Gold, and KMFM West Kent.
The local newspaper is called Dartford & Swanley News Shopper. It comes out every Wednesday.
Sports and Clubs (Sport)
Swanley has a few football clubs. Alma Swanley F.C. and Swanley Furness F.C. were local teams. Many people also support Crockenhill F.C. because it's more successful. Titan Tigers is a popular youth football club. Hexley Rangers F.C. and Petham Park Panthers are other junior football clubs.
The Swanley and District Athletic Club started in 1988. They meet at New Barn Park. They organize running and cross-country events.
Swanley Sub Aqua Club teaches people to dive safely. They meet at the White Oak swimming pool. The Leisure Centre was rebuilt in 2022 and cost £20 million.
The Sidcup and District Motor Cycle Club owns the Canada Heights motocross circuit. A motocross circuit is a track for off-road motorcycle racing. This place has been used since 1948. It hosts big races every year.
The famous motor racing circuit Brands Hatch is only five miles from Swanley.
Swanley also has a rugby union club that started in 2017. They have been very successful, winning three promotions in three years!
Boxing Stables is an amateur boxing club in Swanley. It is the only official boxing club in the town.
Who Lives Here? (Demography)
In 2021, the population of Swanley was 17,825 people.
Famous People from Swanley
Some well-known people have connections to Swanley:
- Janice Hadlow — a former boss at BBC 2, went to school in Swanley.
- Alan Knott — a famous cricket player for Kent and England, grew up here.
- Crispian St. Peters — a singer and guitarist, was born in Swanley.
- Mark Steel — a writer and comedian, was born and grew up in Swanley.
- Mike Stock — a songwriter and music producer, came from Swanley.
- James Dickson Innes — a painter, died in Swanley.
- Ruben Loftus-Cheek — a footballer for Chelsea and England, grew up in Swanley.
Sister Towns (Twin Town)
Swanley is twinned with two towns:
- Verrières-le-Buisson in France
- Fastiv in Ukraine
See also
In Spanish: Swanley para niños
