Westcombe Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Westcombe Park |
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 Westcombe Park
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| OS grid reference | TQ402780 |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | SE3 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| London Assembly |
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Westcombe Park is a mostly residential area in Blackheath. It's part of the Royal Borough of Greenwich in south-east London, England.
It's surrounded by the main London-Dartford railway line to the north. To the east is the road leading to the Blackwall Tunnel. Blackheath common is to the south. A road called Vanbrugh Hill is to the west. This road is named after Sir John Vanbrugh, who built his house Vanbrugh Castle nearby.
Westcombe Park makes up the northern part of the Blackheath Westcombe area. This area had about 26,914 people living there in 2011.
The name Westcombe comes from an old English word, Combe. This word means 'valley'. So, Westcombe means 'West Valley'.
Cool Places to See
Much of Westcombe Park is in a special area called the Westcombe Park Conservation Area. This area was set up in 2002. It covers the railway line between Vanbrugh Hill and Westcombe Hill to the north. To the east, it's bordered by the A102 Blackwall Tunnel road. Westcombe Park Road is to the south, and Ulundi Road is to the west.
Woodlands House: A Historic Home
The most famous building here is Woodlands House, on Mycenae Road. It's the only building in the area that is officially protected as a Grade II Listed building. This large, four-story Georgian house was built between 1774 and 1776. It was designed by George Gibson.
It was built for John Julius Angerstein. He was a rich merchant and Lloyd's underwriter (someone who helps insure ships and goods). After he died in 1824, his amazing collection of old paintings was bought by the country. These paintings became the start of the National Gallery, London.
The Angerstein family lived in Woodlands House until around 1870. Later, in 1896, Sir Alfred Yarrow, a shipbuilder, bought it.
Around 1923, the house became a convent (a home for nuns). The building next door, Mycenae House, was built in 1933. It provided rooms for the nuns of the Little Sisters of the Assumption convent.
In 1967, the London Borough of Greenwich bought Woodlands House. It opened in 1972 as a local history library and art gallery. Mycenae House is still used as a community center today. In 2007, Woodlands House was leased to The Greenwich Steiner school.
Westcombe Manor: A Lost Estate
To the west of Woodlands House was Westcombe Manor. This was once the home of important families like the Ballards and the Lambardes. Sir Theophilus Biddulph also lived there.
The original house was rebuilt in 1723 by Sir Gregory Page. It was then rented out to different people. One famous person who lived there was Lavinia Fenton. She was an actress who later became the Duchess of Bolton. She died at the house in 1760. Peachum Road nearby is named after a character she played, Polly Peachum.
The house was later leased by Thomas Brockelbank in 1827. He was a shipbuilder and merchant from Deptford. After he died in 1843, Westcombe Manor was torn down in 1855.
St George's Church: A Local Landmark
St George's Church is a red-brick building. It's on the corner of Kirkside Road and Glenluce Road. It was finished in 1892 and designed by Newman & Newman. Besides being a church, it also has a Rudolf Steiner or Waldorf School-style nursery school.
Westcombe Park in TV
In the early 2000s, Westcombe Park was used for filming the BBC soap opera EastEnders. The footbridge where a character named Andy Hunter was pushed to his death is easy to spot. It's the bridge over the A102 Blackwall Tunnel road. It connects Farmdale Road to Westcombe Park railway station.
Local Shops and Fun Places
Shops and Services
At the bottom of Westcombe Hill, you can find a newsagent and a hairdresser's shop.
At the top of Westcombe Hill, there's an area called "Blackheath Standard" or "Standard." This area has many shops. You can find a Marks & Spencer's Simply Food store. There's also a fish and chip shop, a toy shop, and places to buy cakes. You'll also see cafes, hairdressers, and a Chinese restaurant. There are newsagents, a greengrocer, a butcher, and a DIY shop too.
The Standard also has a library and a post office. The library has free Wi-Fi. It offers music, video DVDs, books, and magazines.
Parks and Green Spaces
There's a small park in the middle of the Standard. It used to be a village green. In the 1700s, it was known as Sheepgate Green. It marked where four main roads met. Around 1885, a kind person named William Fox Batley helped fix up the green. It then became known as Batley Green or Batley Park.
Batley's help is remembered on a memorial fountain. He is also honored with a stained glass window. This window is in the nearby church of St John the Evangelist.
Places to Eat and Drink
Westcombe Park has one public house, which is like a local pub. It's called the Royal Standard. The "Standard" area gets its name from this pub. It's on the corner of Vanbrugh Park and Stratheden Road.
There are four other pubs nearby. The Angerstein Hotel and The River are on Woolwich Road to the north. The Vanbrugh Tavern is on Colomb Street to the west. The British Oak is on Old Dover Road to the southeast. You can also find two restaurants with licenses to serve drinks near Westcombe Park station. Mycenae House also has a licensed bar.
Healthcare
You can find several dental and general practitioner (GP) surgeries around the Standard. The nearest hospital is the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, London. This is because Greenwich District Hospital closed in 2001.
Sports and Activities
Many sports events happen in or near Westcombe Park. The Blackheath rugby club is to the east. To the west, Greenwich Park has cricket matches and tennis courts. To the southwest, Blackheath common is used for cricket and football. Both the park and the common are popular for running and walking.
The London Marathon starts on Blackheath common. The route takes runners through the Westcombe Park area every year. The Run to the Beat half marathon also used to pass through here.
The Westcombe Park rugby club started in Westcombe Park. However, it no longer plays there. After playing in different places, it now operates from a sports ground in Orpington.
Community News
A local newsletter called the Westcombe News is made by the Westcombe Society. This is a local community group. In 2005, it won an award for being the best newsletter.
Getting Around Westcombe Park
Nearby Tube Stations
- North Greenwich tube station - You can catch bus routes 108 and 422 from Blackheath Standard to get here.
DLR Stations Nearby
The DLR is another train system.
- Cutty Sark
- Greenwich (This is the same as the railway station)
Nearby Train Stations
Westcombe Park is just south of the railway line. The closest stations are:
- Maze Hill
- Westcombe Park
A little further away, you can find:
- Blackheath
- Greenwich
Bus Routes
The following buses run through Blackheath Standard and around Westcombe Park:
- 108 between Lewisham station and Stratford station.
- 286 between Greenwich and Sidcup Queen Mary's Hospital.
- 335 between Kidbrooke and North Greenwich tube station.
- 386 between Blackheath village and Woolwich town centre.
- 422 between Bexleyheath shopping centre and North Greenwich tube station.
- 53 between Whitehall and Plumstead.
- 54 between Elmers End and Woolwich.
- 202 between Blackheath Standard and Crystal Palace.
