Author: blackfenpastandpresent

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Police Officer shot during arrest

From http://www.met.police.uk 4 October 2014

A man has been arrested after a police officer was shot in the hand in Welling.

Police were called at around 21.10hrs on Friday 3 October to reports of a car having collided with a number of cars and then a lamppost on Westwood Lane, Blackfen.

The suspected driver of the car was seen to walk off from the scene. A short time later, a man matching the description of the suspected driver was stopped by two Bexley officers in Wendover Way. This man then produced a revolver style handgun, pointed it at officers, and discharged it. One of the officers, a male PC, suffered a gunshot wound to the hand.

The second officer, also male, detained the suspect, aged 51, and he was subsequently arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and drink driving – he remains in custody. Both officers were taken to a local hospital for treatment and have both since been discharged. They are being provided with welfare support by the Metropolitan Police.

Borough Commander of Bexley Peter Ayling said:

“Last night’s incident highlights the dangers that police officers can face as they go about their job. My officers, knowing they were faced with a man in possession of a firearm, did not shirk from their duty to protect Londoners. They bravely confronted this man, disarmed him and arrested him – I cannot praise their courage enough.”

The weapon and ammunition was recovered at the scene. Officers from Trident investigate – enquiries continue.

Anyone who witnessed the incidents is asked to contact police on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The incident was reported in the News Shopper and can be seen here. It was also reported on the front page of the News Shopper 8 Oct. 2014.

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Bexley Council’s ‘proposal’ for Blackfen Library

From Monday 29 September 2014, local people will have the opportunity to comment on Bexley’s new draft Library Strategy and its proposals to remodel the borough’s library service.

To save £800,000 the Council is proposing to deliver a ‘core’ library service from the following six libraries, which would operate for longer hours and provide extra services: Central Library Bexleyheath, Crayford, Erith, Sidcup, Thamesmead, Welling.

The Council plans to seek partnerships with community organisations to manage the following four libraries: Blackfen, Bostall, Northumberland Heath, Upper Belvedere.

Community libraries already exist in the borough at Bexley village and (from October) at Slade Green. The Council’s Home Library Service, which delivers books directly to the housebound, is not affected by the proposals.

The consultation will close on 21 November and the responses will be considered by the Council’s Cabinet in December. If approved, changes to libraries are likely to take effect in Spring 2016.

More details of the strategy and options can be seen here.

Please make sure you have your say. You can access the questionnaire here. Blackfen Library is an important local resource for local people. Take a look here to see what Blackfen Library provides for the community. Libraries aren’t just about books. There are events for adults and children, a meeting room for hire, DVDs and CDs, WiFi and PCs, photocopier, oh, and public toilets. (You may remember the previous hoo ha about Blackfen’s public toilets!)

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The Broken Drum: Blackfen’s new alehouse

Very exciting news for Blackfen: a new alehouse is proposed for an empty shop site at 308 Westwood Lane, the middle property of Woodman Parade, which was formerly a nail salon. It will join two other new micropubs in the area: the Door Hinge at Welling, and the Penny Farthing at Crayford (which opens 11 September 2014). The pub promises to encourage good conversation and only sell the finest real ales straight from the cask, in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.

Keep an eye on its new website: http://www.thebrokendrum.co.uk. It hopes to open before Christmas.

Empty shop, soon to be The Broken Drum

Empty shop, soon to be The Broken Drum

 

Woodman Parade in 2010. 'Simply Nails' is currently an empty shop

Woodman Parade in 2010. ‘Simply Nails’ is currently an empty shop

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Tombstone at the Chapel House

The Chapel House is a well-known landmark in Blackfen Road, near Blendon. Originally a small cottage, it was modified into a folly in the 1760s when John Boyd of Danson acquired the land on which it was sited. The turret, spire and pointed windows give the impression of a chapel, but it has always only ever been a dwelling house.

The Chapel House in 2010, now looking neglected

The Chapel House in 2010, now looking neglected

In the garden of the Chapel House was a well. Garth Groombridge, who wrote a history of the building in 1955, asserts that “the well was some sort of pilgrim’s halting place in medieval times”. But then Groombridge did have some eccentric views…. [See ‘comments’ below]

The Chapel House in 2010, with its tomb-covered well

The Chapel House in 2010, with its tomb-covered well

A mock tomb was built to cover the well, and on the ‘tombstone’ was a skull and crossbones. According to Groombridge the skull and crossbones was a joke and was meant to deter people from trying to drink from the well. This was either because the water had become unsafe to drink or (more likely) John Boyd didn’t want riff-raff venturing onto his newly-acquired land which he had incorporated into his Danson estate.

Not much remains of the skull and crossbones on the 'tombstone', 2010

Not much remains of the skull and crossbones on the ‘tombstone’, 2010

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Where The Shuttle Flows

Blackfen’s roads were notoriously muddy (it wasn’t called a ‘fen’ for nothing!) and when the district was transformed in the 1930s from woodland and fields  to housing and shops there were problems with flooding.

In the Kentish Times 14 January 1938 a columnist wrote, in a rather eccentric fashion, an account of a less than enjoyable night walk in the Blackfen area: Where the Shuttle Flows.

 

Shuttle at Hollyoak Park

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Guided walk of Blackfen

On 28 September 2013 some members of the Blackfen Past and Present Facebook Group joined me for a walk around Blackfen, taking in some of the historic aspects of the district. Starting at Merino Place, our walk lasted over three hours! It was lovely to share my research with others and to hear other people’s memories of the place. And of course we finished our walk with a pint in the George Staples.

A photographic version of the walk will be put on this website soon, for all those who live too far away to have joined us.

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Pie and Mash

With the opening of a new pie and mash shop in Blackfen Road, I just had to try it. I was nervous as I’d never eaten it before and wasn’t convinced I’d like it. What was that green sauce made of exactly?

The shop had previously been ‘Smile Please’ photography studio (one of two branches in Blackfen Road).

Pie & Mash shop in Blackfen Road, Jan. 2013

Pie & Mash shop in Blackfen Road, Jan. 2013

There were huge queues and steamed up windows, which added to the atmosphere somehow.

Pie and mash shops became popular in the East End of London in the late 1800s, providing hot, filling and inexpensive food for manual workers. These first pies were filled with eels which were cheap and plentiful and caught right from the Thames. These days the meal consists of a baked minced beef pie with mashed potato and a green parsley gravy, with or without jellied or stewed eels. I felt better about eating it when I discovered that the liquor is from parsley, not from Thames eel-fishing water!

Actually, it was much nicer than I expected, especially with a splash of chilli vinegar! But I did wimp out at sampling jellied eels…!

Pie, mash and liquor

Pie, mash and liquor

 

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Archaeology in Blackfen

As far as I know archaeology has never been attempted in Blackfen. So I thought I would have a go and see what would happen!

I made a start on the garden of the house where I grew up. I have already done some research on it. It was built in the 1930s, on land which was farmland, and before that, woodland. What could possibly be found there? Perhaps there might be some animal bones, or objects dropped by farm labourers, or perhaps even a neolithic stone tool!

Here is the test pit:

Test pit

Test pit

Despite digging to a depth of one metre (in solid clay!) my finds were only 20th century ones.

Finds... all 20th century!

Finds… all 20th century!

 

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Christmas 2012

Christmas in Blackfen 2012

Christmas in Blackfen 2012

Business owners in Blackfen have clubbed together to ensure a display of Christmas lights in 2012. There has been no funding from Bexley Council for two years and so Debbie Jones of GPS Lettings organised a collection amongst the shop owners.

Everyone has said how spectacular the lights are.

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Boris in Blackfen 2011

In 2007 funding from Natural England and Design for London provided for two studies on improving public access and enhancing the flow and wildlife habitats of the River Shuttle in Parish Wood Park. In Phase One 2008-09, access routes for residents were improved, making them clean, dry and safe. For Phase Two 2009-11, £400,000 was secured from the Mayor of London’s Priority Parks Scheme, in which Parish Wood secured the most votes in the London South East region.

On 10 November 2011 the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, visited Parish Wood Park to see the improvements made to the park and how the wetlands area is being used. Pupils from Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School demonstrated the fun to be had in the new playground and took part in a pond dipping activity with the Mayor.

Boris visits Parish Wood

Boris Johnson visits Parish Wood