Welling

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

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It historically incorporated the local parishes of East Wickham, Falconwood, Danson and St Michaels. It 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.

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Welling is home to a bingo hall, a football ground - Welling United F.C., a library with free meeting room, IT and internet facilities and a local caf?, The Koffi Pot, dating from 1930s. There is a wide range of restaurants (mostly etnic take-aways), various independent outlets and charity shops, lining mainly Welling High street (ancient Watling Street) Upper Wickham Lane and Bellegrove Road.

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

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The pictured Russian Cannon is a 36 pounder carronade (calibre 6.75 inches - weight 17cwt) as those used during the Crimean War (1854 to 1860). It 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 Woolwich Arsenal, when huts at East Wickham were built as homes for ammunitions workers in the Great War.

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The population of Welling was estimated to be around 42,000 at the 2001 census. Kate Bush is a famous former resident.

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Welling was, for a time, headquarters to the notorious British National Party, whose barricaded building was the epicentre of several anti-racist protests in the 1970s to 1990s. One protest in Sept 1993 was 50,000 strong, and their presence brought the town unwanted notoriety. A post-office box address in Welling was still in use by the BNP in 1999, and they continue to field candidates in local South-East London elections.

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London Borough of Bexley: The London Borough of Bexley is a London borough in southeast outer London. It has common borders with the London Borough of Bromley to the south, the London Borough of Greenwich to the west, and Dartford borough in Kent to the east. The River Thames is its northernmost boundary with the London Boro...

Shooter's Hill: Shooter's Hill is a place in the London Borough of Greenwich in south-east London. It lies east of Blackheath and west of Welling, south of Woolwich and north of Eltham....

Bexleyheath: Bexleyheath is a place in the London Borough of Bexley. It formerly bore the name of "Bexley New Town"....