Locksbottom
{{Short description|Suburb of Greater London, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| map_type = Greater London
| static_image = File:Locksbottom_sign.jpg
| static_image_caption =
| region = London
| population =
| official_name = Locksbottom
| constituency_westminster = Orpington
| post_town = ORPINGTON
| postcode_area = BR
| postcode_district = BR6
| london_borough = Bromley
| dial_code = 01689
| os_grid_reference = TQ435655
| coordinates = {{coord|51.3708|0.0608|display=inline,title}}
}}
Locksbottom is a suburb of south-east London within the London Borough of Bromley, Greater London. Prior to 1965 it was within the historic county of Kent. It is located south of Bromley Common, west of Crofton, north-west of Farnborough, and east of Keston.
History
The area is named after the Lock family, who owned land here in the 1700s.{{cite book |last1=Willey |first1=Russ |title=The London Gazetteer |date=2006 |publisher=Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd |pages=299}} A workhouse was built here in March 1845, though by the 1920s it had been converted into an infirmary known as Farnborough Hospital. The interwar years saw suburban development and the area merged into Orpington in the east. In 2003 the hospital was redeveloped and renamed Princess Royal University Hospital and is now one of the major hospitals in this part of London.{{cite web|url=https://ezitis.myzen.co.uk/farnborough.html|title=Farnborough Hospital|publisher=Lost Hospitals of London|accessdate=7 April 2018}}
Amenities
Locksbottom is centred on a parade of shops on the western end of Crofton Road, running from the junction with Farnborough Common to Tugmutton Common. To the west lies Keston Park and to the north Farnborough Park, both of which are exclusive gated communities. A large supermarket backs onto the Princess Royal Hospital. There are also three pubs in the area - the Black Horse, the British Queen, and Ye Olde Whyte Lion.{{cite web |title=Ye Olde Whyte Lion |url=http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/27/27042/Ye_Olde_Whyte_Lion/Locksbottom |website=Beer in the Evening |accessdate=8 September 2020}} The multiple award winning Chapter One Restaurant (previously known as the Fantail) has been operating in the village since the 1930s. The church is St. Michael's and all Angel's Roman Catholic Church, and was built between 1961 and 1964 by Henry Bingham Towner of loadbearing brickwork, laid in English bond, around a steel frame.
Transport
=Rail=
The nearest National Rail station to Locksbottom is Orpington station, located 1.8 miles away.
=Buses=
Locksbottom is served by London Buses routes 61, 261, 336, 353, 358, R2, R3 & R4. These connect it with areas including Biggin Hill, Beckenham, Bromley, Catford, Chislehurst, Crystal Palace, Grove Park, Hayes, Lewisham, Orpington & Penge.
Gallery
File:Loksbottom 1948c.png|Crofton Road, Locksbottom in 1948
File:Locksbottom_shops.jpg|Shops along the Crofton Road
File:British_Queen,_Locksbottom.jpg|The British Queen pub
File:Princess_Royal_Hospital,_Locksbottom.jpg|Princess Royal University Hospital
File:Ye_Olde_Whyte_Lyon,_Locksbottom.jpg|Ye Olde Whyte Lyon pub
File:St_Michael_and_All_Saints_Roman_Catholic_Church,_Locksbottom.jpg|St Michael and All Saints Roman Catholic Church, built 1961-4 by Henry Bingham Towner and officially opened by Archbishop Cyril Cowderoy{{cite web|url=https://taking-stock.org.uk/building/farnborough-st-michael-and-all-angels/|title=Farnborough – St Michael and All Angels|publisher=Taking Stock |accessdate=12 September 2020}}
In Film
The former 'Fantail Restaurant', with views over and into the village, showing the land where now Saint Michael's Church stands, heavily planted with trees, with unidentified spots along the A21 nearby, may be seen in the now re-released on DVD film, Calling All Cars (1954 film).
Culture
Locksbottom hosts two sports clubs: Locksbottom Cricket Club who compete in the Kent County Village League Division 2. Their home ground is Tugmutton Common. Locksbottom Town FC are a Sunday League football team, who play in the Orpington & Bromley District Sunday Football League.{{Cite web |title=Locksbottom Town {{!}} Orpington & Bromley District Sunday Football League |url=https://fulltime.thefa.com/displayTeam.html?teamID=336611909&league=3117271#tab-1 |access-date=2025-05-12 |website=fulltime.thefa.com}}