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Swanley Sports And Social Clubs
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About Swanley - show infohide info
Swanley is a small town in the county of Kent, with a population of 20,288 inhabitants as of 2001. The town grew from a small hamlet on a crossroads to it's current population thanks to the railways. Once it became connected to the rail network, Swanley became a horticultural centre, and a place to send sick Londoners thanks to Swanley's healing climate and soils. Three hospitals were established here: the Kettlewell (or Alexandra) Hospital in 1885, Parkwood Hospital in 1893 and White Oak Hospital in 1897. Kettlewood and Parkwell were primarily to aid Londoners in recuperating after major surgery. White Oak was a hospital for children with eye diseases. During the World Wars, Kettlewood and Parkwell were used as military hospitals, however with the introduction of the NHS in 1948, the hospitals became redundant. Kettlewell and White Oak closed in 1959 and Parkwood ceased being a hospital in the early 1960's. Today the main buildings are gone, though reminders that they existed remian today. The earliest surviving buildings in Swanley town are contained in the row of shops in the High Street opposite the Lullingstone Castle public house and known as Kent Terrace. Originally the town was seen as a genteel Victorian location to live, however when the railway arrived it brough labourers for industry and the horticultural business, becoming very crowded. Today the town is primarily a dormitory town for London Swanley is still served by rail, and sees frequent services to London Victoria and London Blackfriars from Faversham, Seveoaks and Ashford International. Towns close to Swanley include Dartford, Grays, Gravesend, Northfleet, Tilbury, Bromley, Woolwich and the City of London.
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