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Coordinates: 51°27′34″N 0°06′35″E / 51.4594°N 0.1097°E / 51.4594; 0.1097

Welling
Welling  Welling shown within Greater London
OS grid reference	TQ465755
London borough	Bexley
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WELLING
Postcode district	DA16
Dialling code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
EU Parliament	London
UK Parliament	Old Bexley & Sidcup and Bexleyheath and Crayford
London Assembly	Bexley and Bromley
List of places: UK • England • London

Welling is a district in the London Borough of Bexley, South East London. It is a suburban development situated between Shooter's Hill and Bexleyheath north of the A2 road and 10.5 miles (16.9 km) east south-east of Charing Cross.

History[link]

The East Wickham part of Welling is probably one of the oldest settlements in this area. A Neolithic stone axe was found in East Wickham in 1910 and more recently in 1989 the remains of Roman buildings were unearthed near Danson.

Before the coming of the railway, with the opening of the Bexleyheath Line on 1 May 1895^[1], Welling was a village on the main road between London and Kent (Watling Street). It had been a traditional staging post for coaches; the presence of three inns along the main road is the result of that.

After World War I, Bexley Urban District Council built over 400 houses north of the railway. Later, when the Danson estate was sold to developers, the land to the south was opened up to suburban sprawl and the settlement incorporated the local parishes of St Michael's East Wickham and St Johns Welling.

Local legend has it that Welling is so called because by the time you reached it you were "well in" to Kent, and had thus survived the treacherous coach road up and down Shooters Hill, the highwaymen who were said to frequent it, and the forests which until the 1800s stretched almost down to Blackfen.

Welling today[link]

Welling is home to a football ground but the ground can be used for many different events Welling United F.C. which is also shared with the Erith and Belvedere F.C., a refurbished reference and lending library with an IT educational and training room, free use of Internet and toilets, a Masonic Hall, a Martial Arts Academy, an Academy of Performing Arts, a Snooker Hall, Bellegrove Social Club and a Salvation Army Chapel.

The Age Concern pop-in parlour has closed end of May 2012 and is now based on the first floor of the Welling Library near by.

Park View Road ground, home of Welling United Football Club

Welling as a shopping area has plenty to offer such as several restaurants and take-away outlets, a range of fashion, sports, entertainment, and IT shops, computer and laptop repair shops, betting shops, charity shops, fast-food takeaways, cafés, tea shops, estate agents, banks, a post office, bakeries, bike and flower shops, pubs and barbers all lining Welling High Street (ancient Watling Street), Upper Wickham Lane, and Bellegrove Road and several local supermarkets, namely: Iceland, Morrison's, Shell (petrol station), Lidl and a well-stocked Turkish Food Centre (TFC).

On 8 November 2010 a new Tesco supermarket was opened, along with new apartments above the store^[2]. A lift has been built for residents to access the shops and high street. A new bus stop has been built directly outside the shop which currently only serves the 96 bus. The new Tesco includes a meat and fish counter, a hot chicken counter, a hot pie cabinet, a take-away food counter, a Krispy Kreme doughnut counter and a Costa Coffie shop. It also includes a clothing department selling F&F style clothes and other items.

The Co-op Superstore opposite (formerly operated by the Royal Arsenal Co-operative Society) ceased trading on 19 September 2008^[3] and was redeveloped as a Morrison's supermarket that opened on 16 November 2009^[4].

The former Foster's School building in Upper Wickham Lane is a local landmark. The school relocated to Westbrooke Road in Welling and its original site was converted to residential use (retaining the old Grade II listed main school building and headmaster's house). Further north of the original site is an ancient church, now used by a Greek Orthodox congregation.

A large Russian gun is located at Welling corner. This Russian weapon is a 36-pounder carronade (calibre 6.75 inches - weight 17 cwt) of a type used during the Crimean War (1854 to 1860), displayed on a simple wooden replica carriage. The carronade was in service from 1780 to 1860 and is now on loan from the Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich as a reminder of Welling's early association with the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, when huts at East Wickham were built as homes for munitions workers in the Great War.

For five years after 1990, the headquarters of the far-right British National Party (formed in 1982) were based in Welling. The presence of the party in Welling sparked a rise in racially motivated crime in the area and several nearby communities^[5]. At least three people from ethnic minorities - Afro-Caribbeans Rolan Adams and Stephen Lawrence and Asian Sikh Rohit Duggal - were murdered in the local area within three years of the British National Party's arrival.^[6]. Bexley Council shut down the BNP Headquarters in 1995^[7]

In 1992 a group of local people, led by local Councillor Nigel Betts, revived the old Memorial Hall Trust which was set up in 1921. In 1995 it started operation as a local grant giving charity called the East Wickham & Welling War Memorial Trust[1] using the revenue from the old hall to fund grants in the area. Its main aim is remember the men of the district who were killed in World War One so a new War Memorial was built in 1996. Its charitable aim is to help local groups with rents on their meeting places or to help groups maintain their halls. Other grants help young people adventurous activities.In 2006 it gave grants totaling £47,000. As part of a re-investment programme, the Trust sold the Hall for re-development in 2007.

A major upgrade of paving and street lighting was completed in the autumn of 2005. The retention or removal of a section of westbound bus lane from Welling High Street became one of the few specific local issues on which the main political parties disagreed in the approach to the local Bexley Council elections held on 4 May 2006. The incoming Conservative administration immediately revoked the bus lane.

The MECCA bingo hall in Upper Wickham Lane has ceased trading, apparently one of nine in England unsuited to operate after the national ban on smoking in public places^[8]. This large building, which originally was an Odeon cinema is operating now as Freedom Centre International, a Pentecostal Church. Rosebys, the Co-op and Tesco's old store all closed since 2007, as has the pub near the station (formerly the Station Hotel) lately known as Inferno's. Live music is performed occasionally at the Avenida restaurant, at The Duchess of Edinburgh public house and, towards Plumstead Common, at The Glenmore Arms.

The Old Koffi Pot café, dates from the 1930s and was until the early 1990s known as 'Ferrara's'. The venue was well-known locally for its ice cream and enjoyed its heyday at the height of the 1960s cafe culture, when young people from Kent and SE London would call in for refreshments on the way to or from dancing at the Embassy Ballroom (demolished to make way for the building of Embassy Court). The café was closed during 2009 for 'economic reasons', but a modern coffee shop has since opened in its place retaining the name The Koffi Shop but a brand new black frontage and interior decor have abruptly erased any historical link with the original establishment.

Notable Past Residents[link]

This article's list of residents may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability or notability policies. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources cited within this article showing they are notable and residents or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations. (February 2011)

• Kate Bush, world-famous singer/songwriter^[9]
• Sheila Hancock, famous actress (and widow of actor John Thaw) grew up in neighbouring Bexleyheath, and celebrated the reception of her first marriage (to Alec Ross in 1954) at the Embassy Ballrooms, on the site of the recently-demolished Embassy Court.

Education[link]

For information about the following schools and colleges in Welling see the main London Borough of Bexley article

1. Bexley Grammar School
2. Bishop Ridley CofE Primary School (formerly Westwood Primary School)
3. Danson Primary School
4. East Wickham Infants School
5. East Wickham Junior School
6. Eastcote Primary School
7. Foster Primary School
8. Harris Academy Falconwood (formerly Westwood College)
9. Hillsgrove Primary School
10. Hook Lane Primary School
11. St.Michael's East Wickham CoE Primary School
12. St.Stephen's Catholic Primary School
13. Townley Grammar School for Girls
14. Welling School
15. Westbrooke School

Sport and leisure[link]

Welling has two Non-League football clubs Welling United F.C. & Erith & Belvedere F.C., who both play at Park View Road.

Transport[link]

Welling railway station is close to Central Avenue at the western edge of the town centre and offers direct rail links to London Bridge, Charing Cross, Victoria and Cannon Street Stations in Central London, and to Dartford and other towns in North Kent.

Welling has several Transport For London (TfL) contracted routes forming an extensive bus network. London Buses route 51 will take you to north to Woolwich via Plumstead Common or south through Blackfen and Sidcup to Orpington, route 89, operates between Lewisham and Slade Green, Route 96 runs between Woolwich and Bluewater, Route 486 between Bexleyheath and North Greenwich (the O2), route B15 between Bexleyheath (Shopping Centre) and Horn Park (Alnwich Road) via Eltham High Street, and route B16 links Bexleyheath to Kidbrooke via Eltham High Street. Welling is also served by a night bus route, the London Buses route N89, which starts at Erith, running via Slade Green, Barnehurst, Bexleyheath, Welling and Lewisham, towards Trafalgar Square. Several registed minicab companies are based in Welling.

Nearest railway stations[link]

• Bexleyheath railway station
• Falconwood railway station
• Welling railway station

Nearest places[link]

• Abbey Wood
• Bexley
• Bexleyheath
• Blackfen
• East Wickham
• Eltham
• Falconwood
• Plumstead
• Shooter's Hill
• Sidcup

References[link]

External links[link]

• Welling Website
• Welling United Official Site
• Tesco Express, created in the original Station Hotel 2011/12 (photograph)

v t e London Borough of Bexley Districts Abbey Wood Albany Park Barnehurst Barnes Cray Belvedere Bexley Bexleyheath Blackfen Crayford Crook Log Crossness East Wickham Erith Falconwood Foots Cray Lamorbey Lessness Heath Longlands North Cray Northumberland Heath Sidcup Slade Green Thamesmead Upton Welling West Heath Attractions Hall Place and Gardens Red House (NT) Danson House Crossness Pumping Station Foots Cray Meadows Parks and open spaces Lesnes Abbey Woods Constituencies Bexleyheath & Crayford Erith & Thamesmead Old Bexley & Sidcup Other topics People Public art Schools

Tom Welling
Tom Welling at the San Diego Comic-Con International in 2010
Born	Thomas John Patrick Welling (1977-04-26) April 26, 1977 (age 35)[1] Putnam Valley, New York, United States
Occupation	Actor, director, producer
Years active	2000–present
Spouse	Jamie A. White (2002–present)[2]

Thomas John Patrick "Tom" Welling (born April 26, 1977) is an American actor, director, producer, and former model, best known for his portrayal of Clark Kent in the WB/CW series Smallville.

A high-school athlete, Welling initially worked in construction and, in 1998, he successfully modeled men's clothing for several popular brands. In 2000, he made a successful transition to television. He has been nominated and received several awards for his portrayal of Clark Kent. He also had a recurring role in Judging Amy. He has also been involved behind the camera as an executive producer and a director. His films include Cheaper by the Dozen, its sequel, and the 2005 remake of The Fog.

Early life[link]

Welling was born in Upstate New York on April 26, 1977.^[1][3] His family moved frequently, making stops in Wisconsin, Delaware, and Michigan.^[3] Welling attended Okemos High School in Okemos, Michigan, where he started acting in plays, but then switched into sports. Welling played baseball and soccer, but his favorite sport is basketball.^[3] Welling is one of four children.^[4] His brother, Mark Welling, is also an actor.^[1]

Career[link]

Tom Welling on set of Cheaper by the Dozen 2.

Originally a construction worker, Welling was discovered in 1998 at a party in Nantucket by a catalog camera scout who suggested he try modeling.^[1] Welling modeled for Louisa Modeling Agency until 2000,^[3] when he relocated to Los Angeles. There he modeled for Tommy Hilfiger, Abercrombie & Fitch, and Calvin Klein while pursuing an acting career.^[1] Welling has stated that he did not like modeling and that he was not good at it because it was all on the outside or from an external point of view. He pursued acting because he wanted to express a range of emotions.^[4] In his first major acting role, Welling portrayed karate teacher Rob Meltzer, a.k.a. "Karate Rob", a younger love interest of Amy Brenneman's character on the CBS series Judging Amy, which aired in 2001. Welling was originally signed for three episodes; after receiving enthusiastic fan reviews, the producers kept him for three more.^[3] Welling also had a small role in UPN's Special Unit 2, and he appeared in the debut episode of the FOX sitcom Undeclared.^[3]

[edit] Smallville

Welling was cast in the television series Smallville after a nationwide search for an actor to play Clark Kent. In an interview with a teen magazine, Welling spoke about the day he auditioned for the role: "I was on my way back from the Warner Bros. studio, and I stopped in a gas station to call my manager and tell him how it went. I called and got him on the phone and he said, 'Can you hold on a second?' Next thing I know, there are literally seven people on the other line and almost in unison they say, 'Tom, you got it!'"^[3] The pilot aired in October 2001, and became the highest-rated debut for The WB, with 8.4 million viewers.^[5] Welling told TV Guide that he turned down the lead role twice, but after reading the script, decided to take the job. Like Christopher Reeve, he was not a Superman fan prior to being cast as Clark Kent. In fact, he said, he continues to not read Superman comics: "I made a conscious decision to stay away from that material. We're doing something different at a time before all that, I don't want that to affect what I'm doing, even subconsciously."^[6] He did get the chance to meet two previous Supermans: Christopher Reeve, when the actor was invited on Smallville in the Season 2 episode "Rosetta", and Dean Cain in the Season 7 episode Cure.^[7]

Welling was named one of People magazine’s "Breakthrough Stars of 2001", and also won the Teen Choice Award as "Choice Breakout Star (Male)" in 2002 for his role as Clark Kent.^[8] Following the third season, Welling was interviewed by Smallville Magazine and stated that if he could play one character on the show that was not Clark Kent, it would be the character of Lex Luthor; "Lex Luthor! I wouldn’t mind having my head shaved – as an actor, [it is the ultimate,] getting to play the complete opposite of your character."^[9]

In 2004 Welling was approached about starring in the big screen adaptation of Superman when director Brett Ratner was attached to project. Comic book artist Alex Ross even did two sketches of Welling as the "Man of Steel" to see what the actor would look like in the famous costume.^[10] In August 2009, Welling won another Teen Choice Award as "Choice TV Actor (Action Adventure)" for Smallville.^[11]

Directing[link]

Welling made his directorial debut in 2006, with the season five episode of Smallville, "Fragile". He also directed the season six episode "Hydro", the show's 150th episode "Apocalypse", the season eight episode "Injustice", and the second part of season nine's Absolute Justice movie, which was titled Legends. Later, he directed two episodes of Smallville's last season: Patriot and Booster. Booster was written by Geoff Johns, who also wrote Absolute Justice.

Film and production[link]

Tom Welling with John Schneider and Brian Peterson at the Smalville Comic-Con panel in July 2010.

In December 2003, Welling played Charlie Baker, the oldest son and second oldest in the Baker family which had 12 children in the film Cheaper by the Dozen, which is a remake of the 1950 movie starring Clifton Webb and Myrna Loy, based on the 1948 book by Frank and Lillian Gilbreth.^[8] Welling talked about why he was interested in the project in an interview with Paul Fischer: "The top three reasons I decided to do this film were, one, Steve Martin, two, Steve Martin and three, Steve Martin. That was the number one draw for me. Then, after reading the script, I really liked this character, Charlie. I liked what he went through, what he had to go through, and I felt I understood where he was coming from. And I just wanted to be a part of it."^[4] Welling had always been a fan of Steve Martin's and stated that he "absolutely loved" working with him.^[4] In 2005, Welling appeared as Nick Castle in The Fog, a remake of John Carpenter's 1980 film of the same name and he reprised his role as Charlie Baker in Cheaper by the Dozen 2.

For Smallville's ninth season, Welling served as a co-executive producer.^[8] He returned as Clark Kent for the show's tenth and final season in Fall 2010 and has become a full executive producer, as credited in a May 20, 2010 press release by the CW.^[12] Welling still models occasionally and appeared in the May 2008 issue of Vogue, the so-called Superhero Issue.^[13] Welling executive produces Hellcats, a new television series based on the book Cheer: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders by journalist Kate Torgovnick.^[14][15] The series first aired on The CW beginning in Fall 2010.^[12] Hellcats was canceled by the CW May 17, 2011.

Personal life[link]

Welling has been married to model Jamie White since 2002.^[1] They were married in Martha's Vineyard with Welling's friends and former Smallville co-stars Kristin Kreuk and Michael Rosenbaum in attendance.^[16] Welling and his wife resided in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada,^[4] but returned to Los Angeles in March 2011.

Welling has stated in YM that he dislikes interviews. He said, "I don't want to be a celebrity for the sake of being a celebrity. I wanna work and then go home and live in private."^[17]

Filmography[link]

Awards[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tom Welling

• Tom Welling at the Internet Movie Database
• Tom Welling^{[dead link]} cast bio on The CW