OS grid reference TQ427722 Region London Sovereign state United Kingdom Ceremonial county Greater London UK parliament constituency Eltham | London borough Greenwich Country England Dialling code 020 Post town London | |
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Population 13,062 (2011 Census. Coldharbour and New Eltham Ward) | ||
The Coldharbour Estate is a housing estate in South East London, England, located in the Royal Borough of Greenwich. It is situated 8.6 miles (13.8 km) east south-east of Charing Cross.
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The Coldharbour Estate was originally developed in 1947 on the site of Coldharbour Farm, between the towns of Mottingham and Chislehurst, by the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich. It was created in a garden suburb style in order to house borough residents made homeless by The Blitz. The first house to be built, on Wynford Way, was opened by Aneurin Bevan, the Minister for Health, in 1947. The estate was due to be officially opened by Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother in May 1952, but that part of her tour was cancelled. When she finally arrived to "commemorate the completion of the Coldharbour Housing Estate" on 9 May 1957, the Kentish Independent''s headline the following day was "Five Year Wait For Royal Visit But It Was Well Worth It".
Coldharbour Farm and subsequently the Coldharbour Estate were a civil parish of Kent until 1889 when it became part of the County of London and from 1900 formed part of the Metropolitan Borough of Woolwich. The metropolitan borough was abolished in 1965 and Coldharbour then became part of the Royal Borough of Greenwich.
Naming and Location
The Coldharbour Estate is built on the site of Coldharbour Farm, a former dairy farm. William Barefoot Drive forms the main road running through the estate; this road was originally named Hellensmead until renamed in honour of a former Eltham councilor and three times Mayor of Woolwich. Many of the roads retain the names of the ancient fields they were built on, including Littlemede, Southold Rise, Altash Way and Woodcroft. Other roads on the estate are also named after local personalities and historical events, such as Kingsley Wood Drive and Great Harry Drive.
Education
The two primary schools located on the Coldharbour Estate are Montbelle Primary School (formerly Ruxley Manor Primary School) and Greenacres Primary School.