Brockley
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| Brockley | |
|---|---|
| Administration | |
| Borough: | Lewisham |
| County: | Greater London |
| Region: | Greater London |
| Nation: | England |
| Other | |
| Ceremonial County: | Greater London |
| Traditional County: | Kent |
| Post Office and Telephone | |
| Post town: | LONDON |
| Postcode: | SE4 |
| Dialling Code: | 020 |
Brockley is an area of the London Borough of Lewisham in England. It is covered by London postal district SE4, and lies on the old boundary between the Lewisham and Deptford parishes. The name 'Brockley' is derived from either 'Broca's woodland clearing', or a wood were badgers are seen (broc is the Old English for badger). The area remained agricultural until the nineteenth century, the most notable building of the time being the 'Brockley Jack', a hostelry reputed to be a favourite amongst highwaymen. In the latter half of the nineteenth century, the Wickham and Drake families developed the north of Brockley with large villas, terraces and semi-detached houses. This part became the Brockley conservation area in 1974, when also the Brockley Society was formed.
A local open space, Hilly Fields, was saved from development by the Commons Preservation Society and local groups in the 1880's and 1890's. In 1894, after being bought with the proceeds of private donations and funding from the London County Council, the fields were transformed from old brickpits and ditches into a park. The park became a regular meeting place for the Suffragette movement between 1907 and 1914. The old West Kent Grammar School, now Prendergast School, a Grade II listed building, is situated at the top of the hill, and close by, a stone circle was erected in 2000 as a millennium project by a group of local artists, including Polly Ionides. It has won a civic trust award.
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