insideKENT Magazine Issue 66 - September 2017 | Page 51

TOWNSPOTLIGHT
Spotlight on
BECKENHAM
Beckenham is a little bit London, a whole lot of Kent and a great place to
live, work and play. LOCATED JUST 15 MILES FROM THE CAPITAL, YET RETAINING
PLENTY OF KENTISH CHARM, THIS AREA OF THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND IS ALL ABOUT
THINGS TO DO, PLACES TO SEE AND LOADS OF GREAT FOOD AND DRINK. IF YOU
DON’T WANT TO VENTURE OUT OF KENT BUT YOU WANT TO EXPERIENCE SOMETHING
AND SOMEWHERE EXCITING, BECKENHAM IS THE PLACE TO GO. BY LISAMARIE LAMB
HISTORY IN BRIEF
The history of Beckenham
is a long yet surprisingly
peaceful one. It all started
with the Stone Age – we
know this because artefacts
from that time have been
found in the area. The
same goes for the Bronze
Age, and for the Romans
too; a Roman road that
leads from London to
Lewes goes through
Beckenham. It had a place
in medieval society when
St George’s Church was
built during the 12th
century and when Kelsey
and Langley estates were
created. But it wasn’t until
the 19th century that
Beckenham became
(almost) as it is today.
In 1773 John Cator built
Beckenham Palace and
declared himself lord of the manor. His sons took up the mantle when John
died in 1807, and this is when the town really began to grow. Understanding
that a place in the country yet with such close proximity to London was
ideal for development, they set about on a mammoth building project, and
when the railway arrived in
1857, this growth exploded.
THINGS TO DO
Kelsey Park
Once park of the Kelsey Manor
estate, Kesley Park is a luscious
patch of green space in
Beckenham. With an
information centre, great
children’s play area, tennis
courts, crazy golf, a lake and a
lovely café and snack bar, a day
out at Kesley Park is hard to
beat when you are looking for
a spot of rest and relaxation
out in the open air. There are
a variety of interesting events
taking place in the park
throughout the year.
Bethlem Museum of the Mind
One of the most famous
hospitals in the world when it
comes to mental health,
Bethlem Royal Hospital was
founded in 1247 – it was the
first institute in the UK to focus
solely on the mentally ill.
Within the grounds in the
hospital is the Bethlem
Museum of the Mind. This
museum was opened in 2015
by award-winning artist
Grayson Perry, and it is where
you can see a collection of
historic objects that offer a
glimpse into the history of
mental healthcare through the
ages.
The Spa at Beckenham
The Spa at Beckenham is a
leisure complex consisting of
two great pools, one of which
includes (at certain times) at
inflatable assault course. As
well as the pools, there is a
huge soft play area, a gym,
multi-purpose sports hall and
a café too. Whether you are
there to keep fit, to meet
friends, or to keep the kids
amused, the Spa at
Beckenham is the place to be.
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