Downham Estate

2025-03-19T16:21:39Z

86.7.152.166:

{{Short description|Housing estate in Downham, London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox housing project
|building name = Downham Estate
|image = Castillon Road, Catford - geograph.org.uk - 406280.jpg
|caption = Downham Estate
|location = Downham Estate, Downham Way, [[Lewisham]], [[London]]
|area = 522 acres
|units =
|density =
|coordinates = {{coord| 51.429784 | 0.005100}},
|constructed =
|construction architect = [[George Topham Forrest]]
|construction authority = [[London County Council]]
|construction influence =
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|refurbishment method =
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|refurbishment architect =
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|demolished =
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|famous residents =
}}
The '''Downham Estate''' is a [[London County Council cottage estate]] in [[Downham, London|Downham]], south east [[London]]. It is in the [[London Borough of Lewisham]]

The Downham Estate provides an example of the programme of building [[Council house|council housing]] occurring in [[United Kingdom|Britain]] between the [[World War I|First]] and [[World War II|Second]] World Wars. The estate was constructed between 1924 and 1930 to plans by the LCC architect George Topham Forrest.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.goodshepherdindownham.co.uk/295482546|title=History of Downham - www.goodshepherdindownham.co.uk|website=www.goodshepherdindownham.co.uk|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-31}}</ref> One of the first houses to be completed was ceremonially opened in 1927 by [[George V|King George V]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://municipaldreams.wordpress.com/2013/05/21/the-downham-estate-the-joy-of-having-your-own-patch/|title=The Downham Estate, Lewisham: ‘the joy of having your own patch’|date=2013-05-21|work=Municipal Dreams|access-date=2018-07-31|language=en-US}}</ref>

Among other similar developments around London (for example [[Becontree]]), it was developed to help alleviate the chronic shortage of housing in London, partly brought about by the complete cessation of building during World War I. It was intended to show what could be achieved by public-sector house-building: particularly in order to provide better housing for those who had lived in the slums of the city. The building of the Estate attracted subsidies from central government and was constructed under the auspices of the [[London County Council]].

The estate covered an area of 522 acres (2.1 km2), of which 461 acres (1.9 km2) were in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Lewisham]], (from 1965 the [[London Borough of Lewisham]]) and 61 acres (0.2 km2) in the [[Municipal Borough of Bromley]] (from 1965 the [[London Borough of Bromley]]); altogether it covered a distance of 1.25 miles (2 km). The land had previously been mainly rural although around [[Grove Park railway station]] in the east of the area there had been some development; between Lewisham and Bromley was virtually the end of London at that time. 5659 houses were constructed of varying sizes; and there were also 408 flats (apartments) in blocks up to four storeys in height.
[[File:Downham Estate, under construction in 1926.jpg|thumb|'''Downham Estate, under construction in 1926''']]
Downham was named in honour of [[William Hayes Fisher, 1st Baron Downham|Lord Downham]], who was [[List of chairmen of the London County Council|chairman of the London County Council]] during 1919–20. The first tenants of the estate were mainly former residents of inner city areas, such as [[Rotherhithe]] and the accommodation was spacious and luxurious compared with their former dwellings.{{LCC cottage estates}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
* {{Webarchive| title=Downham Estate: Its Origins and Early History | author=Alistair Black | url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130023148/http://www.ideal-homes.org.uk/case-studies/downham-estate |archive-date=30 November 2020}}

{{Public housing in the United Kingdom}}

{{coord|51.427|0.012|type:city_region:GB-LEW|display=title}}

[[Category:Downham, London]]
[[Category:Housing estates in London]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Lewisham]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Bromley]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Lewisham]]
[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Bromley]]
[[Category:Public housing in the United Kingdom]]

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Downham Estate