Sidcup

Coordinates: 51°25′35″N 0°06′09″E / 51.4263°N 0.1024°E / 51.4263; 0.1024

Sidcup is a suburban district of south-east London, England, in the London Borough of Bexley, and a small part of the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Located 11.3 miles (18.2 km) south east of Charing Cross, it borders the London Boroughs of Bromley and Greenwich.

History

Toponymy

The name is thought to be derived from Cetecopp meaning "seat shaped or flat topped hill"; it had its earliest recorded use in 1254.

Origins

Sidcup originated as a tiny hamlet on the road from London to Maidstone. According to Edward Hasted, "Thomas de Sedcopp was owner of this estate in the 35th year of king Henry VI. [i.e. in the 1450s] as appears by his deed." Hasted described Sidcup in the latter part of the 18th century as "a small street of houses, among which is an inn of much resort", referring to the former Black Horse pub on the high street.

Sidcup parish formed the Sidcup Urban District of Kent from 1908. It was initially known as Foots Cray; however, in 1921 the urban district, and in 1925 the parish, were renamed Sidcup. The parish and district were abolished in 1934 and combined with Chislehurst to form the Chislehurst and Sidcup civil parish and urban district. In 1965 the parish and urban district were abolished. Sidcup went on to form part of the London Borough of Bexley in Greater London and Chislehurst formed part of the London Borough of Bromley.