The London borough of Bexley was formed in 1965 when the areas of Erith, Crayford and Sidcup were amalgamated. Today the area is densely populated with the River Thames situated to north of the borough, Bromley to the south and Greenwich west. However, up until the early twentieth century Bexley was mainly open countryside - in fact the name Bexley means clearing in the box wood'.
It is one of the greenest London boroughs with a plentiful supply parks and open spaces. Bexley's green credentials are further enhanced by the fact that it has the highest combined household recycling and composting rate in London .
Situated on the banks of the River Cray is the magnificent Hall Place . A fine Grade 1 listed country house built in 1537 for Sir John Champneys, an affluent merchant and former Lord Mayor of London . Today, it is managed by Bexley Heritage Trust offering visitors contemporary art exhibitions as well as an introduction to the house's history. Several of its rooms are available to hire; these include the Great Hall and Great Chamber both of which are licensed to hold civil wedding ceremonies.
Hall Place is encircled by 65 hectares of glorious gardens and parkland open to the public throughout the year. The gardens have a striking topiary lawn of chess pieces as well as the Queen's Beasts; ten statues which depict the family history of Queen Elizabeth II. The parkland is bursting with wildlife and picturesque walks and is home to an outstanding assortment of trees.
One of the UK 's most successful famous female solo performers was born in Bexley Maternity Hospital on the 30 th July 1958. Catherine Bush, better known as Kate, stormed the UK singles chart in 1978 with her haunting debut single Wuthering Heights .
The world renowned author Roald Dahl, famous for writing classics such as Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and James and the Giant Peach, was known to have lived in Bexley for a time.
The late Edward Heath went to school in the Crayford area of Bexley. He served the constituency as Conservative MP before becoming Prime Minister in 1970.
Bexley is twinned with Arnsberg in Germany and Evry in France .
We strongly recommend that when purchasing a property in the Bexley area that you have an Independent Surveyor provide you with a building survey.
Travel Information in Bexley
Train Bexley Station located in Zone 6 is operated by Southeastern trains.
Road - The area has good road connections with both the A2 (M2) and A20 (M20) passing through Bexley.
1st Associated Surveyors cover the whole of the UK including Bexley and Inner London for example in: Albany Park , Barnehurst, Belvedere, Bexleyheath, Blackfen, Crayford, Erith, Welling and Sidcup.
Albany Park - Albany Park is located centrally between Sidcup and Old Bexley. The area was given the name following the opening of its local station in July 1935 soon after which a new housing estate was built nearby.
Barnehurst - Barnehurst owes its name to the Barne family who owned the land in the 1700's and the Saxon word hurst - meaning a wood or grove. The area has a good selection of open parks such as Bursted Wood, with its abundance of horse chestnut trees; great for collecting conkers in the autumn.
Belvedere You may possibly hear an Italian utter the word Belvedere if he were to look across a scene of outstanding natural splendour, as Belvedere directly translated into English means Beautiful View.
If you visit Belvedere you will most likely come across the internationally renowned work of the sculptor Andy Scott. His design of a magnificent 6m high statue of a horse was chosen by the public for display at the roundabout between Picardy Manorway and Bronze Age Way . Known as the Cob it dominates its surroundings and is illuminated at night. The prominent sculpture depicts the cultural heritage of the travelling communities who have bred horses in the area for generations.
Bexleyheath Bexleyheath is a busy town with two shopping areas: the Broadway and the newer Broadway Square . Both offer the visitor a plethora of well-known high street names as well as a number of independent retailers.
The Bexleyheath War Memorial is a poignant reminder of the young men of the area who marched off to the two world wars of the 20 th Century, many of whom were never to return.
Danson House is situated in Bexleyheath. It is an exquisite stately home jam-packed with fascinating pieces of antique furniture and art. The grounds surrounding the house make a nice walk on a sunny afternoon.
Blackfen Blackfen is mainly a large residential area. The word Blackfen meaning black, marshy area is most likely to refer to the dark fertile soil found in the area.
Crayford Crayford is located to the east of the borough and lies on the original Roman Road which has now become the area between Junction 1A of the M25 and the A2.
It is an area with its history steeped in manufacturing. The Vickers factory located here between 1914 1918 was responsible for producing The Maxim gun, Vickers Gunbus fighter and the Vimy Bomber. It also produced weapons during World War II and again in 1950 for use in the Korean War.
Crayford is home to one of the oldest and probably most famous greyhound tracks in the UK . Built in 1937, it has seen over sixty years of racing. Over the decades the stadium has also hosted speedway and banger racing as well as several special events.
The tower of the town's 12 th century stone church of St Paulinus was floodlit to mark the arrival of the new millennium.
Erith Erith lies on the banks of the River Thames and was once home to one of Henry VIII's naval dockyards. It grew significantly during the nineteenth century with the arrival of the railway. Although the town was redeveloped during the 1960s and 1970s it saw a decline in its manufacturing industry .
However, things are beginning to change for the town for the better with the arrival of new developments; including retailing, housing and recreational facilities. Morrison's supermarket opened one of its stores there in 1999 which has proved a great success attracting shoppers from as far away as Maidstone .
Christ Church Vicarage was built in the nineteenth century. Its glorious murals and stained glass windows are all Grade II listed and one of its windows illustrates the coronation of King Edward Vii and Queen Mary.
Welling Welling is located in the west of the borough. Welling High Street, one of London 's longest streets at almost a mile long, offers the visitor an assortment of shops, bars and restaurants to peruse as well as speciality shops for that extra special gift.
Welling United Football Club nicknamed The Wings were founded in 1963. The early days saw the club rise from a Sunday under-15 youth team to the heights of the Football Conference where they continued for an incredible fourteen years. They currently play in the Blue Square South League.
Sidcup The town of Sidcup was formed in 1844 out of the parish of nearby Chislehurst. Its focal point at the time centered on the Blacksmith's in Cross Road and The Black Horse Pub. Today the town has a hospital, two performing arts colleges and an assortment of high street stores and independent shops, bars and restaurants. The area was once known as the doorway to Kent .
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