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East Wickham is first mentioned in 1240 as Wikam. It was most likely a Romano-British settlement that developed nearby Watling Street. The next mention comes from 1284 when the area was known as Estwycham. This South East London village is part of the historic county of Kent. Currently, it is in the borough of Bexley. St Michael’s Church in East Wickham originates from the 13th century. The west part of it was rebuilt in the 19th century. The first local school was established with the help of William Foster in 1727. The school funded by him was on Upper Wickham Lane. The original school is now a residential building. The school moved to a new location on Westbrooke Road.
East Wickham Farm is another important building. It features a 19th-century facade and older timbers. In 1916, homes to accommodate the wartime munition workers were built here. Facilities such as a theater were built as well. In 1922, more than 400 houses were built on the site of the farm by the Bexley council. Privately developed estates were built in nearby areas. Starting with 1928, three schools were built as well. In 1950, the rubble resulted from war bombs was deposited on the grounds of East Wickham Farm.
East Wickham open space is also known as Fanny on the Hill park. Fanny on the Hill was a pub. Legend has it that one of the barmaids used a lamp to signal highwayman Dick Turpin and that’s how the pub got its name. The pub was demolished in 2014. It’s also possible that Anne Muirhead was Fanny. She was in charge of the White Horse beer house. English singer Kate Bush grew up in East Wickham. Her family owned a farmhouse where Kate and her two brothers were raised. The nearest railway station is Welling.