Welcome to the website of Lamorbey and Sidcup Local History Society

Meetings

All meetings are held at St Lawrence's Community Hall, Sidcup on the first Tuesday of each month.

Story of Queen's Hospital

See pictures of our evening of story, music, drama and poetry on 7 October 2017 to commemorate the centenary of the opening of The Queen's Hospital, Sidcup.

Sidcup's Great War: A Living Pageant

See pictures of our community event which took place on 18 June 2016.

Our geographical area of interest is the southern region of the London Borough of Bexley in north west Kent, comprising Sidcup, Blackfen, Foots Cray and North Cray. Our interest in local history extends beyond the boundaries of Sidcup into Kent, London and the surrounding areas. This is reflected in the variety of our meetings.

Last chance to join our Family Poppy Trail! See the important points relating to the Great War in Sidcup. Take your completed trails to Sidcup Library on Saturday 10th November where a small gift can be collected. Trail booklets are available from Sidcup Library from Monday 5th November with some additional booklets being delivered to local schools.

The booklets were produced as part of our HLF-funded Sidcup's Home Front in the Great War project. Thanks to Sidcup Partners and Royal British Legion for the gifts.

Marlborough Thorne was injured in September 1915 and left lying in No Man’s Land. Under heavy fire, his brother Cornelius went out to search for him and recovered his brother’s body. Cornelius was awarded the MC for ‘conspicuous gallantry’. One year later, at the battle of the Somme, he was hit by a sniper. Marlborough is buried at Bécordel-Bécourt. Cornelius has no known grave but his name is on the Thiepval Memorial. Their mother never got over her loss.

The family lived in the house that is today the United Services Club and was then known as Maison Rouge. The youngest son, Joseph, died at Dunkirk. Marlborough and Cornelius were just 2 of the 260 plus Sidcup men who lost their lives in WW1.

Remembrance Day this year is on Sunday 11th November. The Parade through Sidcup High Street begins at 10.30am and assembles at St John’s Church for a 2-minute silence followed by the Ceremony of Remembrance at the War Memorial. Let’s have a big turnout in this most significant year - can the people of Sidcup line the road in large numbers this Remembrance Day?

Children and young people, WE NEED YOU! Wear your club, organisation or school uniform with pride. Let’s all show that Sidcup Will Remember Them.