Beckenham, a large parish and suburb of London in Kent, situated at the head of the Ravensbourne river, 10 miles from London, and 2 from Bromley. The L.C. & D. and the Mid-Kent railways have joint use of Beckenham junction station, and the Mid-Kent has a station at New Beckenham. Kent House station belongs to the L.C. & D.R. There is a post, money order, and telegraph office. Acreage, 3881; population, 20,707. The parish is governed by a local board consisting of 15 members. The Church of St George was entirely rebuilt in 1887, replacing a structure of old date in the Perpendicular style. The new church occupies the same site, is an edifice in the Decorated style of Kentish ragstone, and has sittings for over 1000 persons. Edward King, author of "Munimenta Antiqua," is buried in the churchyard, the entrance to which is by a very picturesque lych gate. The living is a rectory; value, £623. St James's, erected in 1879, is a large building of red brick in the Gothic style. St Paul's is an ecclesiastical parish formed in 1872 ; the church is a stone building in the Early English style. The living is a vicarage; gross value, £785 with residence. Holy Trinity is a parish formed in 1878 ; the church is a building of Kentish ragstone in the Early English style. Christchurch is a parish formed in 1878; the church is a building of Suffolk brick in the Gothic style. St Barnabas is a parish formed in 1879 ; the church is only partly built, the nave being still of iron. There are two other district churches, and chapels for Wesleyans, Baptists, Congregationalists, three almshouses, a cottage hospital a large public hall, a freemasons' lodge, several mission rooms, and a small naval asylum. There are several fine residences in the neighbourhood, including Beckenham Park, Langley Park, and Eden Park.
