Bexley: Guide

Bexley is a place in south east London in the London Borough of Bexley. It is located on the banks of the River Cray south of the Roman Road Watling Street. There are two parts to the town - Old Bexley, still with the appearance of a village, and more recent suburban areas that blend into Bexleyheath where the main administrative offices of the London Borough of Bexley and council chamber are located.

Landmarks

The main landmark is the church of Saint Mary's which gives its name to the electoral ward containing the village. The church's most distinctive feature is probably the unusual spire which resembles an octagonal cone balanced precariously on top of a truncated pyramid.

Architecture

Hall Place is a former stately home, beside the River Cray to the east of Bexleyheath and north-east of Old Bexley. The house is unusual in that its two halves are built in highly contrasting architectural styles, with little attempt at harmonizing them.

The house and grounds are now owned by Bexley borough council, and are open to the public. The gardens include a topiary display of Queen's Beasts|traditional heraldic figures. The London Outer Orbital Path|"London LOOP" walk passes Hall Place on its way through Bexley, following the River Cray from Crayford to Foots Cray.

Danson Park where Danson House is situated, are two of the main popular attractions in Bexley.

One of London's finest architectural families in the 19th century came from Bexley: the Shaws. John Shaw Sr.|John Shaw (1776-1832) worked on Lamorbey Park and was a well known architect in Kent and London. He is buried at Saint Mary's Church; his son, John Shaw Jr, lived in nearby Crayford for a short time.

History

Bexley was an ancient parish of Kent and under the Local Government Act 1894 formed part of Bexley Urban District. The urban district gained further status in 1935 as a municipal borough. The municipal borough was abolished in 1965 and its former area transferred to Greater London to be combined with that of other districts to form the present-day London Borough of Bexley.

Transport

Rail

Bexley station is on the Sidcup line with trains going to Cannon Street station|Cannon Street and Dartford railway station|Dartford.

Buses

Bexley has a few buses serving it including the 132, 229, 269, 492, B15. These buses all serve Bexleyheath.

Nearest places

Barnehurst
Bexleyheath
Crayford
Dartford
Erith
Northumberland Heath
Sidcup
Welling

Nearest railway stations