Bexley

This article is about the area. For the borough, seeLondon Borough of Bexley.For other uses, seeBexley (disambiguation).

Bexley
Bexley High Street
Bexley Location withinGreater London
OS grid reference	TQ465755
London borough	Bexley
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BEXLEY
Postcode district	DA5
Dialling code	020 01322
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
UK Parliament	Old Bexley & Sidcup
London Assembly	Bexley and Bromley

Bexleyis an area of south-easternGreater London,Englandand part of theLondon Borough of Bexley.It is sometimes known asBexley VillageorOld Bexleyto differentiate the area from the wider borough. It is located 13 miles (21 km) east-southeast ofCharing Crossand south ofBexleyheath.

Bexley was an ancient parish in the county ofKent.As part of the suburban growth of London in the 20th century, Bexley increased in population,becoming a municipal boroughin 1935 and has formed part of Greater London since 1965.

History

TheVictorianFreemantle Hall, Bexley

Bexley was anancient parishinKent,in thediocese of Rochester,and under theLocal Government Act 1894formed part ofBexley Urban District.The urban district gained further status in 1935 as amunicipal borough.Kent County Councilformed the second tier of local government during that time. In 1965,London County Councilwas abolished and replaced byGreater London Council,with an expanded administrative area that took in the metropolitan parts of theHome Counties.Bexley Municipal Borough, Erith Municipal Borough, Crayford Urban District Council and Chislehurst & Sidcup Urban District Council were merged (less areas of Chislehurst and Sidcup that became part of the new London Borough of Bromley) into a newLondon Borough of Bexley.

Geography and landmarks

St. Mary's Church spire

Bexley's mainlandmarkis theAnglican churchofSt. Marywhich lends its name to the London Borough of Bexleyelectoral wardcontaining thevillage.Theancient church's most distinctive exterior feature undoubtedly is its unusualspirewhich resembles an octagonal cone balancing on top of a truncated pyramid. Originally built in theMiddle Ages,its monastic-styleinteriorsurvived from theReformationuntil the 18th century, before refurbishment inVictorian times.Among others, the German-born scientistHenry Oldenburgwas buried in thechurchyardin 1677.

Hall Place,a formerstately homebeside theRiver Crayon the Bourne Road out of Bexley towards Crayford, is where theAusten baronetslived. It lies to the north of Bexley at the foot of the road (Gravel Hill) up onto Bexley Heath (now covered in the modern day town of Bexleyheath). Thehouseis unusual in that its two halves are built in highly contrasting architectural styles with little attempt at harmonising them.The house and grounds are now owned by the London Borough of Bexley, and are open to the public. The gardens include atopiarydisplay oftraditional heraldic figures.Three walking routes pass Hall Place, the local council-sponsored Shuttle River Way and Cray River Way and the Mayor of London's"London LOOP" walk,which, shortly after its start atErith,follows the Cray River Way fromCrayfordtoFoots Cray.

Danson Houseand the surroundingDanson ParkinWellingare two of the main popular attractions in the London Borough of Bexley. The Shaw family, celebrated 19th-century architects came from Bexley:John Shaw(1776–1832) worked onLamorbey Parkand was a well-known architect inKentandMiddlesex,being one of the first designers of semi-detached housing in the capital. He is buried at St. Mary's Church; his son,John Shaw Jr,lived in nearbyCrayfordfor a short time and owned avillawhich was demolished in the early 20th century.

Places of worship

St John the Evangelist, late 19c neo-gothic design

• St. Mary the Virgin Church, Bexley
• Albany Park Baptist Church, Stansted Crescent
• St. Augustine's Church,Slade Green Road
• St. John the Evangelist, Parkhill Road
• StrictBaptistChapel, Bourne Road
• United Reformed Church,Hurst Road
• Our Lady of Angels Church,Bexley Road
• St. Paulinus Church,Bexley

Transport

Bexley railway stationserves the area with services toLondon Charing CrossviaSidcupand toGravesend.Bexley is served by severalTransport for Londonbusservices connecting it with areas includingAbbey Wood,Bexleyheath,Bromley,Crayford,Chislehurst,Dartford,Eltham,Erith,North Greenwich,SidcupandThamesmead.

Culture

Bexley War Memorial with itsCross of Sacrifice

For education in Bexley, seeLondon Borough of Bexley § Education.

• Old Dartfordians'War Memorialclubhouse, Bourne Road (home to the DA5 Club). This is home to both Dartfordians' Rugby Club and Dartfordians' Cricket Club.
• Bexley Cricket Club is based on Manor Way.
• Burnt Ash (Bexley) Hockey Club are also based at Manor Way, and play their home matches here, at Hurstmere School or at Erith School.

International relations

Twin towns - sister cities

• Arnsberg,North Rhine-Westphalia,Germany
• Évry,Île-de-France,France
• Footscray,Melbourne,Australia

See also

• List of people from the London Borough of Bexley
• List of schools in Bexley

External links

• Bexley Council archives
• Bexley communities websites
• Bexley Council for Voluntary Youth Organisations (BCVYO) website
• Finale of the opening night of the DA5 Club, 26 February 2010
• Chisholm, Hugh,ed. (1911)."Bexley".Encyclopædia Britannica.Vol. 3 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.