The London Borough of Bexley was created in 1965 from the old boroughs of Bexley and Erith, the Crayford Urban District and the Sidcup area, which had been in Kent. Its history includes an Iron Age settlement at Crayford, a charter for Bexley village dated 814 AD, Henry VIII's naval dockyard at Erith, Hall Place, the Draper family's Crayford estates, Crayford's mills, Erith Iron Works, Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup and the rebuilding of Erith's old town centre.
Oldest first
Newest first
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Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages
Before AD 43
About 30 BC–AD 40
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An Iron Age settlement
An Iron Age settlement stood near where St Paulinus Church in Crayford is today, between the Julian and Claudian invasions of Britain: from roughly 30 BC to AD 40.
From the records: “An Iron Age settlement existed in the vicinity of the present St Paulinus Church between the Julian and Claudian invasions of Britain, from roughly 30 BC to AD 40.”
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Anglo-Saxons and Vikings
410 – 1066
814
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Bexley's charter
Before the 1800s few people lived in the area that is now the borough, and very few of its places are named in the Domesday Book. But Bexley village has a charter dated 814 AD.
From the records: “Prior to the 19th century the area now forming the borough was sparsely populated: very few of the present settlements were mentioned in the Domesday Book, although the village of Bexley has a charter dated 814 AD.”
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Middle Ages
1066 – 1485
1086
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Crayford and Lesnes in the Domesday Book
The Domesday Book records Crayford with a church, three mills, 27 regular householders (villeins) and two smallholders. The area around Erith, known as Lesnes or Lessness, is also mentioned in it.
From the records: “Crayford is mentioned in the Domesday Book, which was compiled just prior to 1086, as a settlement within the Hundred of Litlelee with a church, three mills, and a relatively large population of 27 regular householders (villeins) and two smallholders.”
1100s
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Old churches
St Paulinus' Church in Crayford was built in the 12th century on earlier foundations. St James' Church in North Cray has foundations from the 12th century, and the Greek Orthodox Church of Christ the Saviour in Welling dates from the late 12th or early 13th century.
From the records: “St Paulinus' Church – built in the 12th century on earlier foundations, in Crayford”
1254
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A seat-shaped hill
Sidcup's name is thought to come from Cetecopp, meaning 'seat-shaped or flat-topped hill'. Its earliest recorded use is in 1254.
From the records: “The name is thought to be derived from Cetecopp meaning "seat-shaped or flat-topped hill"; it had its earliest recorded use in 1254.”
1315
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Erith's Thursday market
A Royal Charter was granted for a market to be held in Erith every Thursday. By 1776 it was noted that the market had long stopped.
From the records: “In 1315, a Royal Charter was granted for a market to be held in Erith every Thursday, but it was noted in 1776 that the market was long discontinued.”
About 1330
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All Saints' Church
The building of All Saints' Church, near Foots Cray Meadows, dates from about 1330.
From the records: “All Saints' Church – near Foots Cray Meadows, building dates from c. 1330*”
1450s
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Thomas de Sedcopp
The historian Edward Hasted wrote that Thomas de Sedcopp owned the Sidcup estate in the 35th year of King Henry VI's reign (in the 1450s), as his deed showed.
From the records: “According to Edward Hasted, "Thomas de Sedcopp was owner of this estate in the 35th year of king Henry VI. [i.e. in the 1450s] as appears by his deed."”
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Tudors and Stuarts
1485 – 1714
1515
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Henry VIII's dockyard
Erith owes its existence to the Thames. King Henry VIII decided to open a naval dockyard there, about where the Riverside Gardens are now, and his warship, the Henri Grace à Dieu, was fitted out there in 1515.
From the records: “Erith owes its existence to the Thames, and was until the 1850s essentially a small riverside port, given prominence by King Henry VIII's decision to open a naval dockyard there, approximately where the Riverside Gardens are now.”
About 1537
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Hall Place
Hall Place, beside the River Cray, was built in around 1537 for Sir John Champneis, Lord Mayor of the City of London.
From the records: “Hall Place, which lies alongside the River Cray, was built for Lord Mayor of the City of London, Sir John Champneis, in around 1537.”
1538
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Erith granted to Elizabeth
After George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury, died in 1538, Henry VIII granted Erith, 'alias Lysnes', to his widow, Elizabeth.
From the records: “After the death of George Talbot, 4th Earl of Shrewsbury in 1538, Erith "alias Lysnes" was granted to his widow, Elizabeth, by Henry VIII "with all its members and appurtenances, to hold in capite, by knight's service."”
1551–1586
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Francis Goldsmith's land
In 1551 Francis Goldsmith bought a 'Great tenement called The Place' next to the bridge in Crayford. Between 1556 and 1586 he bought a lot of local farmland and the Old Bell Public House.
From the records: “In 1551 Francis Goldsmith bought a 'Great tenement called The Place' next to the bridge in Crayford, and between 1556 and 1586 purchased substantial amounts of local farmland and the Old Bell Public House.”
1623
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The Draper family
Robert Draper, a Merchant Taylor, bought most of the parish of Crayford, including Newbery Manor, Howbury Manor, Marshalls Court and May Place, where his family came to live. It passed to his son William, who was chosen to be Sheriff of Kent but died in 1650 before taking office, and then to Robert's grandson, the parliamentarian Cresheld Draper.
From the records: “In 1623 most of the parish of Crayford was purchased by Merchant Taylor Robert Draper including Newbery Manor, Howbury Manor, Marshalls Court and May Place, where his family took up residence.”
1694
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Sold to Sir Cloudesley Shovell
When Cresheld Draper died in 1694, his heirs sold all the Draper properties to Sir Cloudesley Shovell.
From the records: “On the death of Cresheld Draper in 1694, his heirs sold all the properties to Sir Cloudesley Shovell.”
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Georgians
1714 – 1837
1765
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A floor for Buckingham Palace
In Crayford an iron mill was replaced by a saw mill in 1765. It produced the timber for the floor of Buckingham Palace.
From the records: “There was also an Iron Mill, which was later replaced by a saw mill (in 1765), which produced the timber for the floor of Buckingham Palace.”
Late 1700s
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One small street
In 1797 Edward Hasted described Erith as 'one small street of houses, which leads to the water side', with fairs each year at Ascension and Michaelmas. He described Sidcup as 'a small street of houses, among which is an inn of much resort': the former Black Horse pub on the high street.
From the records: “In 1797, Edward Hasted described Erith as "one small street of houses, which leads to the water side", and mentions annual fairs at Ascension and Michaelmas.”
Early 1800s
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Bexley heath
In the early 19th century, Bexley heath was a broad rough pasture and scrubland with few buildings.
From the records: “In the early 19th century, Bexley heath was a broad rough pasture and scrubland with few buildings.”
1819
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A flour mill
In 1819 the former saw mill site in Crayford became a flour mill.
From the records: “In 1819, the former saw mill site became a flour mill.”
About 1828
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Shenstone
Shenstone, a house in Crayford, was built around 1828 and knocked down in 1974. Its site is now Shenstone School, and its old grounds are Shenstone Park.
From the records: “Other notable 19th-century local houses included Shenstone (built around 1828 and demolished 1974, the site is now Shenstone School, with Shenstone's former grounds now being Shenstone Park),”
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Victorians
1837 – 1901
1849
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A riverside resort
Until the 1850s Erith was essentially a small riverside port. By 1849 it was enjoying a short spell as a riverside resort.
From the records: “Erith owes its existence to the Thames, and was until the 1850s essentially a small riverside port, given prominence by King Henry VIII's decision to open a naval dockyard there, approximately where the Riverside Gardens are now.”
1864
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Erith Iron Works
William Anderson set up Erith Iron Works on a riverside site at Anchor Bay, east of Erith's centre.
From the records: “Erith Iron Works was established in 1864 on a riverside site at Anchor Bay, east of Erith's centre, by William Anderson.”
1 October 1864
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The gunpowder explosion
On 1 October 1864 a 46½-ton gunpowder explosion blew out the river wall, leaving large areas of South London open to flooding at high tide.
From the records: “On 1 October 1864, a 46½-ton gunpowder explosion blew out the river wall, exposing large areas of South London to flooding at high tide.”
1880
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A district called Bexley
A local government district called Bexley was created, covering the parish of Bexley, which included both Bexley village and Bexleyheath. Under the Local Government Act 1894, districts like this became urban districts.
From the records: “A local government district called Bexley was created in 1880, covering the parish of Bexley, which included both Bexley village and Bexleyheath.”
1882
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Sidcup Cottage Hospital
Sidcup Cottage Hospital opened in Birkbeck Road, Sidcup. The building soon became too small, and new premises opened on the corner of Birkbeck and Granville Road in 1890. The hospital closed in 1974.
From the records: “Sidcup Cottage Hospital was opened in 1882 in Birkbeck Road, Sidcup.”
1897
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The Maxim Nordenfeldt factory
The Maxim Nordenfeldt Gun and Ammunition Factory in Crayford was a major employer until it was taken over by the Vickers Company in 1897.
From the records: “The Maxim Nordenfeldt Gun and Ammunition Factory was also a major employer, until taken over by the Vickers Company in 1897.”
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The World Wars
1901 – 1945
1902
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Welling joins Bexley
Bexley Urban District took in the neighbouring parish of East Wickham. Welling had been split by the boundary between them, so from 1902 it was all in Bexley.
From the records: “Bexley Urban District absorbed the neighbouring parish of East Wickham in 1902; Welling had previously straddled the boundary between Bexley and East Wickham, but after 1902 was therefore wholly in Bexley.”
1906
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Erith's first library
Erith's first library opened. It was designed by local architect William Egerton and paid for by Andrew Carnegie.
From the records: “Erith's first library, designed by local architect William Egerton and funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, opened in 1906.”
1908
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Foots Cray becomes Sidcup
Sidcup parish formed an urban district of Kent. It was first known as Foots Cray, but the urban district was renamed Sidcup in 1921 and the parish in 1925.
From the records: “Sidcup parish formed the Sidcup Urban District of Kent from 1908.”
1912
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The clock tower
The clock tower at the centre of Bexleyheath's shopping area was built in 1912. It marks the coronation of King George V.
From the records: “The clock tower at the centre of the modern shopping area, built in 1912, commemorates the coronation of King George V”
1917
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Queen Mary's Hospital
Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup opened with 300 beds in wooden huts. Until 1925 it was the central military hospital for reconstructive surgery of war veterans, led by Sir Harold Gillies. It closed in 1929 and was reopened as a general hospital in 1930 by Queen Mary, after whom it was named. A new building opened in 1965, and since 2013 it has been run by the Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust.
From the records: “Queen Mary's Hospital was opened in 1917 with 300 beds in a number of wooden huts.”
1920
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Crayford Urban District
Crayford was made an urban district. Before 1920 its parish included the hamlets of Northend, Perry Street and Slade Green, to the north.
From the records: “Crayford was made an urban district in 1920.”
1934–1938
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New councils
On 1 April 1934 Sidcup was joined with Chislehurst to form the Chislehurst and Sidcup urban district. Bexley was made a municipal borough in 1935, and so was Erith in 1938.
From the records: “On 1 April 1934 the parish and district were abolished and combined with Chislehurst to form the Chislehurst and Sidcup civil parish and urban district.”
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Modern times
Since 1945
1961–1980
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Rebuilding Erith
Bomb damage and a slow decline in local trade led to big changes in Erith in the 1960s. From 1961 sub-standard housing by the riverside was cleared and the street layout changed. The old town was knocked down in stages from 1966 until 1980, leaving only a few reminders of the old town centre.
From the records: “The bomb damage and a gradual decline in local trade prompted major redevelopment in the 1960s.”
1965
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The London Borough of Bexley
The London Borough of Bexley was created under the London Government Act 1963, joining the old boroughs of Bexley and Erith, the Crayford Urban District and the Sidcup area. The area left the county of Kent for Greater London, and Bexleyheath became the new borough's administrative base.
From the records: “The modern borough was created in 1965 under the London Government Act 1963, covering the combined area of the former boroughs of Bexley and Erith, the Crayford Urban District and the Sidcup area from the Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District (the Chislehurst area went to the London Borough of Bromley).”
1984–1988
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Broadway Shopping Centre
Broadway Shopping Centre, a covered shopping centre, was completed in Bexleyheath in 1984, and a large supermarket four years later. In 1985 the statue 'Family Outing' by local artist John Ravera was unveiled outside it.
From the records: “The south side of the central, pedestrianised section of Broadway hosts Broadway Shopping Centre, a covered example completed in 1984, and a substantial supermarket four years later, as in other urban places including New Towns.”
Late 1990s onwards
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Flats on the river
Since the late 1990s Erith has changed a lot, leading to the Erith Western Thames Gateway project. Since 2000 many new flats have been built on the river by private developers.
From the records: “Since the late 1990s, Erith has undergone marked changes, culminating in the Erith Western Thames Gateway project.”
2012
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New Civic Offices
Work began to turn the former main office of The Woolwich in Bexleyheath, which had been empty for seven years, into the Borough's Civic Offices.
From the records: “In work commencing 2012, the Borough's Civic Offices were converted from the former main office of The Woolwich, which had been vacant seven years.”
2015
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Erith Quarry
Building work began on the Erith Quarry development, on the former quarry site west of Erith town centre.
From the records: “To the west of Erith town centre is the Erith Quarry development which aims to redevelopment the former quarry site with construction work beginning in 2015.”
2020
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The old library
Local campaigners won National Lottery funding to restore Erith's former library building as new community facilities.
From the records: “In 2020, local campaigners secured National Lottery funding to restore the former library building as new community facilities.”