Swanley
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- redirect [[Template:Infobox England place]]
The ancient parish and village of Swanley has now been overtaken by the town, about a mile to the south, which began life as three houses before the advent of the railway in 1861. The newer settlement grew up around the railway junction and was originally named Swanley Junction; it became Swanley, and the original Swanley became Swanley Village, in the 1920s.
Swanley was renowned as a horticultural centre and became known as the "Home of Flowers" a designation recently revived by its Town Council in connection with a major initiative to beautify the town with flowers. Today Swanley is essentially a commuter and distribution centre, trading on its excellent rail links to London and its proximity to the M25. Its 1960s shopping centre was remodelled in the 1990s when the ASDA supermarket was greatly extended.Swanley was historically a health "resort" and housed an important care home for sufferers of tuberculosis. The painter James Dickson Innes died there in 1914, aged 27.
Swanley was in the news recently when a man was shotgunned in the face at the Deja Vu nightclub.
Prominent People
Alan Knott, the Kent and England cricketer, spent his childhood in Swanley.
Mark Steel, a British Socialist Columnist and Comedian was born and grew up in Swanley.
Crispian St. Peters, Pop Singer, was born in Swanley.
Mike Stock, songwriter and Record Producer, came from Swanley.
Lee Coombes Writer and Kevin Barnes Writer were born here.
External links
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