History of Bexley

A Short History of Bexley and Bexleyheath

The now London Borough of Bexley came into existence in 1965, but unlike the other London Boroughs, such as Greenwich and Bromley, it is composed as amalgamation of Erith and Slade Green in the north, Bexleyheath, Bexley, Crayford and Welling in the centre, Sidcup and Foots Cray in the south.

The Doomsday Book of 1086 AD, does however mention some of the above towns. Bexley also has a charter dating from 814 AD.

Even earlier than that there is a bit of historical evidence that a Roman Village called Noviomago was somewhere on a small hill between two streams or small rivers in Welling. Also, in Crayford, a few lead coffin burials in the area have also been found, as well as evidence for a settlement at Old Road, Crayford.

There is also evidence of ancient Roman villas whose remnants are spaced at intervals along the River Cray all the way to Orpington.

The presence of the River Cray which flows north in a wide valley to the east of the Borough and a smaller river called the shuttle runs east to join it, made this location an obvious place for the early settlers to be drawn.

Although Bexleyheath is the main centre now for the London Borough of Bexley, for almost its entire history Bexleyheath was a heath though which the ancient road of Watling Street ran. This was the only road between London and Dover, and the heath became notorious for highwaymen to ambush the many horse drawn coaches which came through. To solve the problem coaching inns were built to cater for travellers. Some of these Inns still stand today, and they became a catalyst for further development of the town. Bexleyheath overtook the village of Bexley in terms of population by the mid 19^th century.  

The first church in Bexleyheath was a chapel-of-ease built in 1836 near what is now called Oaklands Road. The first permanent place of worship was called Christchurch, built in 1877.

In 1880 the profile of the area was again raised by such figures as Alfred Bean, and William Morris. It was mainly though their influence that the Bexleyheath Railway arrived in 1895.

The famous clock tower, built in 1912 is at the centre of where a thriving market was held every Tuesday and Friday. Due to the success of the market commercial premises arrived and stores such as Penny, Son & Parker and Hides & Jenkins general stores attracted shoppers to Bexleyheath in great numbers.

By the start of the 1930's the town still was concentrated along Watling street, but after only a decade as Great Britain entered World War II, the town had grown out through Brampton Road and Pickford lane.

In 1980 the Broadway was redeveloped with a new shopping centre being built. It was officially opened by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh in 1984.