Ramsden is an area in south-east

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

, generally considered a suburb of

Orpington Orpington is a town and area in south east London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. It is 13.4 miles (21.6 km) south east of Charing Cross. On the south-eastern edge of the Greater London Built-up Area, it is south of St Ma ...

, located in the

London Borough of Bromley The London Borough of Bromley () is the southeasternmost of the London boroughs that make up Greater London, bordering the ceremonial county of Kent, which most of Bromley was part of before 1965. The borough's population is an estimated 332,336 ...

and, prior to 1965, within the historic county of

Kent Kent is a county in South East England and one of the home counties. It borders Greater London to the north-west, Surrey to the west and East Sussex to the south-west, and Essex to the north across the estuary of the River Thames; it faces ...

. It is situated south of

Derry Downs Derry Downs is an area of south-east London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley and, prior to 1965, in the historic county of Kent. It is located south of St Mary Cray, west of Kevington, north of Ramsden, and east of Orpington. Hist ...

and

St Mary Cray St Mary Cray is an area of South East London, England, within the London Borough of Bromley. Historically it was a market town in the county of Kent. It is located north of Orpington, and south-east of Charing Cross. History The name Cra ...

, east of Orpington town centre and north of

Goddington Goddington is an area in south-east London, located in the London Borough of Bromley. It is situated south of Ramsden, south-east of Orpington town centre, and north of Chelsfield. It lies directly adjacent to the London Green Belt. Until 1965 i ...

. It was built as a

council estate Public housing in the United Kingdom, also known as council estates, council housing, or social housing, provided the majority of rented accommodation until 2011 when the number of households in private rental housing surpassed the number in so ...

in the 1950-60s and is directly adjacent to the

London Green Belt The Metropolitan Green Belt is a statutory green belt around London, England. It comprises parts of Greater London, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey, parts of two of the three districts of Bedfordshire and a s ...

History

The area was historically rural and agricultural, with the name possibly referring to pastureland kept for rams. The estate was built in the public-housing boom following the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

. It is made up of a large number of semi-detached houses built in the 1950s and a new central area built in the 1970s consisting of three high rise blocks and 48 maisonettes. The Estate comprises Ramsden Road, Tintagel Road, Petten Grove, Eldred Drive, Quilter Road, Westbrook Drive, Brow Crescent and Rye Crescent, with Plantation Drive and various closes around the three tower blocks being added in the 1970s. Like many post-war estates, Ramsden had entered a troubled period by the 1980s, with a rise in crime and anti-social behaviour earning it the nickname 'Little

Belfast Belfast ( , ; from ga, Béal Feirste , meaning 'mouth of the sand-bank ford') is the capital and largest city of Northern Ireland, standing on the banks of the River Lagan on the east coast. It is the 12th-largest city in the United Kingdo ...

'. In the 2000s decade the estate was regenerated under the 'Ramsden's Revival' scheme led by Broomleigh housing association. There is a small row of shops on Eldred Drive.

References

''Ramsden Estate and Petten Grove'', John Pateman, {{Public housing in the United Kingdom Housing estates in London Buildings and structures in the London Borough of Bromley Orpington Public housing in the United Kingdom Districts of the London Borough of Bromley