Bexley

These street guides have been largely gleaned from the various conversation guides available from the London Borough of Bexley. Where HNOB is mentioned, the source is “Historical notes on our Borough” prepared by JCM Shaw, Bexley Borough archivist.

ABBEY CRESCENT (1936)

At one time Upper Abbey Road had a curved section in it, which is now Abbey Crescent. When the straight line was cut it was called Ina Road. (HNOB)

ABBEY ROAD, Bexleyheath

Refers to Lesnes Abbey (HNOB)

AVENUE ROAD

Avenue Road retains much of its original character and was originally the driveway to a former Manor House, crossing parkland prior to the 19th century residential development. Avenue Road was laid out circa.1769.

BROOK STREET

In the 19th century the area known as Northumberland Heath, was a rural area with extensive orchards and a mill. In the second half of the century there was change as Erith began to grow partly because of its river and rail connections. Large suburban estates were being erected in Belvedere and Erith for the new breed of commuters into London, whilst a variety of engineering works at Erith became a major employer of local people. Houses for the middle classes started to be built up the hill out of Erith and onto Northumberland Heath. By the 1880s houses had been built in Mill Road, Bexley Road and Brook Street.

The two smaller terraces in the north of Brook Street date from 1882. The other four terraces were laid out in 1901 by Erith Urban District Council and the recreation ground dates from a similar period. The Duchess of Kent public house (1903) represents an evolution from an earlier public house (1860s) and a cottage that stood on this site.

ELM ROAD

Elm Road was built in 1870 following the line of an earlier footpath. The road between Chislehurst and Sidcup had previously crossed the edge of The Green, entering Sidcup High Street opposite the Black Horse Public House.

ERITH ROAD

Erith Road has historically been, and remains, the main road transport route between Woolwich and Erith Town Centre. From about 1890 to 1910 the gathering pace of change in urban areas was such that it led to the creation of Victorian and Edwardian suburbs in places like Upper Belvedere and along Erith Road. These suburbs were dependent on public transport for access and were well linked to central urban locations. Proximity to shops, parks and other amenities, as those that at the time were found in Upper Belvedere village was essential to the new occupants on Erith Road.

As the village of Upper Belvedere evolved around Lesnes Heath, it centered on a location where several major transport routes and tracks intersected. Erith Road became a very popular location for the wealthy merchants of Woolwich and Erith who aspired to the rural idyll but could be close enough to the local centres of industry and
commerce.

In the late 19th and 20th Centuries, Erith Road was developed in a fairly piecemeal fashion with large family villas being constructed alongside terraced properties and semi detached houses. Whilst the approach to planning was laissez faire it is noted that the Edwardians were highly sophisticated builders of new suburbs and their formulaic approach to new development led to spacious, bright and well-designed terraced properties, houses and villas.

The former Technical Institute building was designed by W Egerton and constructed in 1906. It opened in the following year as a Technical Institute and the next 30 years were marked by rapid growth. The college was recognised by the University of London for its courses in engineering just before the second-world war.

FOOTS CRAY

Although there is evidence of Bronze Age and Roman settlement in the Cray Valley, Foots Cray is known to have originated as a Saxon settlement. Its name is derived from Godwin Fot, an Anglo-Saxon landowner, who had a farmstead in the vicinity of the River Cray. The Saxon Charter refers to “land in Cray”.

The Domesday Book refers to this estate having a farm, eight villagers and four cottagers, suggesting a small village, and a water mill. The evolution of the village related its location on the main London to Maidstone Road, and in later years the adjacent country estates of Pike Place, later Foots Cray Place. Many villages grew where roads forded rivers, and this was a factor in the growth of Foots Cray. The 1769 map of Kent shows a ford across the River Cray, with a pack horse bridge to the south of the ford on the approximate line of the present bridge. Another important factor in the growth of the village was its location at the junction with the route along the Cray Valley to Orpington.

The River Cray had a strong flow of water and over the years a series of water mills were developed along its length, including at Foots Cray. The last mill at Foots Cray was an important and substantial building providing much local employment. It was built in 1767 and used for paper making, and by 1851 it was employing 110 adults and 60 children. It was demolished in 1929. The site, to the north of the Seven Stars, retains part of the original old mill pond.

Although there were Roman settlements in Cray Valley, there is as yet no evidence of Roman roads. However roads from Foots Cray to St Mary Cray, Blendon and Bromley were established by the 15th century. The road from Wrotham to Foots Cray was turnpiked between 1751 and 1752 and from Lee to Foots Cray bridge in 1781. The Tollgate was reputedly near Walnut Tree Cottage on Sidcup Hill. Stage Coaches called in at the Seven Stars or Tigers Head on their way between London and Maidstone.

The village tended to develop on the main road, with cottages spreading along Church Avenue (now Rectory Lane). Some of the best examples of Georgian houses in the borough stand in Rectory Lane.

As suburbia expanded and the use of the motor vehicle increased, a bypass was built to take through traffic out of Sidcup and Foots Cray. Industries developed and expanded alongside the Sidcup bypass and encroached on the historic centre of Foots Cray. However, within the suburban setting, Foots Cray has retained much of its village character.

GLOUCESTER ROAD

Residential development began to the west of the Eardley Arms Public House with Gloucester Villas (eight homes) and Gloucester Road (six more) being built during the 1860s. These were large semi-detached villas set in good sized plots.

These houses were for the wealthier Victorian families possibly for the professional classes or for the managers or owners of the businesses which located in Erith and Woolwich.

HALFWAY STREET

Until the 19th century, the area comprised a major farm and the parklands of two country houses – The Hollies and Lamorbey Park. The farm and cottages were built along the roadway linking Sidcup to Avery Hill, with the junction of Hurst Road providing a meeting of routes. It was at this point the church and school/hall were established. The frontage of Halfway Street is unaltered and provides a link through to The Glade and the former historic Lamorbey Park Estate.

The existence of late medieval buildings on the southern side of Halfway Street suggest that the general settlement pattern has remained relatively unchanged. Some particularly old buildings remain dating from the 15th century.

In the 1920s, Halfway Street Farm stood where Lamorbey Baths are and the sorting office was then a row of cottages called Church cottages. Burnt Oak Lane too was about to undergo development into a road from a previous narrow lane skirting the edges of fields.

HERON HILL

Heron Hill, which runs from Woolwich Road and the top of the Abbey ridge, was a well established route to and from the marshes and gravel was extracted in this area. A
past use now concealed by the northern recreation ground.

HIGH BEECHES

High Beeches is a cul-de-sac leading west from St James Way, Sidcup.

The area known as High Beeches is situated on formerly open farmland and was developed as a designed residential estate in the mid-1930s. This is key to its present day character.

The existing street pattern remains and defines the layout of today’s conservation area. The route of a historic path leading from the north lodge to the main house seems to have disappeared altogether.

High Beeches and its immediate surroundings were developed on part of the old North Cray Place Estate which was sold to ‘Capital & Counties Construction Co. Ltd.’ In 1934 the architect, William Alexander Harvey, and his partner, Herbert G. Wicks, were commissioned to design, houses and bungalows, to be built on the grounds of the estate.

The architects were based in Birmingham and utilising the ‘Arts and Crafts’ style, designed much of Richard and George Cadbury’s now famous Bournville, a pioneering model worker’s village community near Birmingham. Harvey and Wicks designed many of the original 315 houses, which former the residential core of Bournville. They also helped develop the Workers’ Housing Co-operative which developed a further 398 houses.

Old Ordnance Survey maps clearly show that before the North Cray Place Estate was subject to development, it was open fields. High Beeches runs parallel to a field boundary and St James’ Way appears to be a road or track. The block on the corner of High Beeches and St James’ Way does appear to be part of the original development.

The Spinney and The Grove date from this time as well.

HIGH STREET, FOOTS CRAY

Foots Cray High Street exhibits a more commercial character and has the usual attributes, such as adverts and facia signs, normally associated with a retail centre. It has evolved to include a succession of buildings, indicative of its changing uses and evolution over time.

At the eastern end of the High Street, the River Cray is crossed by a small twin-arched bridge which consists mostly of the original bridge, built around 1815. Although widened in 1909 the south side of the bridge retains its brick wall with stone parapet above the old brick spans of the bridge with a central breakwater, with stone dressing.
The modern northern side incorporates a stone embossed “FOOTS CRAY” centrally on its northernmost edge.

IRON MILL LANE

The Conservation Area sits on the hill top above the centre of Crayford where a number of routes converge. St. Paulinus Church (Grade II* Listed), which was constructed from the 12th to 15th Centuries and restored in 1862 under the direction of Joseph Clarke, is the principal architectural and historic feature in the area.

As is often the case, almshouses were constructed close to the parish church on the south-side of Iron Mill Lane, what is known as Mrs Stables Almshouses, were erected in 1866 and extended in 1909. They are grouped around a square with the former Church Vicarage which also dates from 1866. On the north side at No. 9 to 11 Iron Mill Lane are the more formal row of Pim’s Almshouses, these were built in 1910.

An adjacent Landmark Building is the One Bell Public House (Grade II Listed) dating from 1770. There is some evidence that there was a public house at least 70 years prior to the building of The Bell Inn, as it was originally known. The Universal British Directory of 1792 noted that the Bell was the principal inn where the horses of the Gravesend Coach were changed. At that time the main Dover Road from London passed over Bexley heath, Watling Street and along Old Road.

LESNEY PARK ROAD

Originally the Lesney Park Road area formed parkland to the Manor House, Erith’s main country seat, with an area of 850 acres. The Wheatley Estate included the present Erith town centre. Avenue Road was laid out circa.1769 as an approach road to the newly constructed Manor House.

Significant growth in Erith did not occur until the North Kent Line reached Erith in 1849 (Erith Station opened on 30th July). Until then the area was relatively isolated and relied mainly on river transport. The arrival of the railway opened up the town and provided good transport links to and from London. This new found accessibility also helped promote a rapid increase in Erith’s population, which rose from 2,082 in 1841 to 8,289 in 1871. It also facilitated further industrial development in the area.

Lesney Park residential estate began to develop soon after the demolition of the Manor House in 1858. Some houses in the new roads were built in the early 1860s, but little
development occurred until the Wheatley estate was sold in 1874 for £170,000. By 1900 most of the Lesney Park residential area was developed. Firstly, along Bexley Road, and then along new roads at Park Crescent, Lesney Park Road and Avenue Road. This area urbanised with large detached and semi-detached houses along wide roads lined with grass verges and trees.

Whilst most of Bexley Road has since been redeveloped, the Lesney Park Road area has survived remarkably intact, with good examples of quality residential development dating from the 1890s to the 1920s, with only small pockets of later infill development.

LONGLANDS ROAD

The 1920s and 1930s witnessed the spread of suburban development around London and particularly along the main suburban rail network. This particular section of Longlands Road was developed in the mid to late 1920s by Cory and Cory (Builders) a local building company based in Eltham. The residential development is characterised by one of the finest examples of semi-detached housing of that period in the Borough.

As a result of bombing raids during the Second World War, Nos.161 to 173 (odd) Longlands Road were rebuilt in the late 1940s, but to their original design, and are now almost impossible to distinguish from the original dwellings.

The buildings in the conservation area have a memorable historic character and appearance deriving from suburban “Arts and Crafts” architectural styles and the use
of local building materials.

MAIN ROAD

The earliest development in Sidcup spread along the High Street, which was the main route from London to Foots Cray and Swanley. Development around the junction of Station Road, Main Road, Elm Road and High Street began in the late 19th century. Within a few years, during the 1890s, new shops and houses were built along Main Road and on Hamilton Road and Stanhope Road to its north. This enclave of late 19th century houses has remained remarkably intact when compared to other areas of Victorian Sidcup.

As the 1920s progressed, so the newly laid out roads to the north of Main Road became lined with houses. These were mostly designed individually or in groups, creating a diverse area, the character of which benefits from the mature landscape made possible by generous building lines and large plots. Bomb damage explains some of the little plots whose scale and architectural finesse generally failed to meet the standards of earlier house builders. This provides an interesting picture of evolving suburban development in the form of mostly detached houses, creating an area of quality townscape.

MOAT LANE

The settlement was built along part of the historic track called “Whitehall Lane”, which was constructed to serve the Howbury Farm and provide access to the marshes and River Darent. The railway village was built to the east of “Whitehall Crossing”, a level crossing on the North Kent Line, immediately north of the extensive engine sheds it was built to serve.

Whitehall Lane to the east of this crossing was renamed Moat Lane, when the railway crossing was closed. Oak Road was built to the south, immediately adjacent to the engine sheds. Moat Lane forms a through road, whereas Oak Road is a cul-de-sac. Roads were laid out to a planned pattern parallel to Moat Lane and the railway with rows of houses all aligned parallel to these roads creating strong building lines.

NORTH CRAY

Local archaeological finds indicate continuous occupation from before Roman times.

The parish of North Cray was in existence prior to the Doomsday Book. The earliest inland settlements in the London Borough of Bexley are thought to be related to the river valleys. As settlements developed along the valley of the River Cray, North Cray Road developed as the main route linking the villages, which formed a small winding country lane prior to the widening and straightening of the 1960s.

The village grew very little, originally as a result of its remote location, the lack of a turnpike road in the 18th century and its distance from railways in the 19th century.

Subsequent designation of the area as Metropolitan Green Belt secured its rural setting from development that may otherwise have followed the road widening. The village did indeed decline at times and some former cottages are known to have fallen derelict, the area having reverted to woodland.

The winding lane of North Cray Road was the main route along the Cray valley. However, as private car ownership and use increased and businesses in the area developed, traffic problems and congestion followed. The winding lane with no footpaths was considered inadequate in the 1960s, when it was straightened and widened to form the dual carriageway that exists today. This involved the demolition of many of the original properties on the eastern side of the road through North Cray Village. A timber framed hall house was carefully dismantled and later re-erected at the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum near Chichester in West Sussex. Many properties on the western side of the original road remain, together with two short cutoff lengths of the original lane.

To the east of the village is open countryside, protected as metropolitan green belt. To the west is Foots Cray Meadows, where an ornamental five-arch bridge of brick and flint (1782) still survives across the River Cray. On the perimeter of the meadows is St James Church, founded in Saxon times. Although rebuilt and enlarged in 1852 and further extended in 1870, the church still retains 15th Century features.

The open landscape of the meadows provides the backdrop for the conservation area. Leafield Lane is surrounded by woodland and includes significant mature trees.

OLD FORGE WAY

This development occupies the grounds and orchard of a former large house known as The Grange, which was adjacent to a forge fronting Rectory Lane. Old Forge Way was designed by Kenneth Dalgliesh in 1936. The houses were designed to give the appearance of being built/added to over a number of years.

PARKHILL ROAD

Prior to suburban development, the land was mostly farmland with associated rural buildings, crossed by two roads, Parkhill Road leading towards Eltham and Upton Road leading to the hamlet of Upton and linking to Watling Street. Within three years of the railway arriving at Bexley in 1866, suburban development commenced with the first houses completed on Upton Road South and Parkhill Road. Several examples of these early houses remain on Upton Road South.

PARKHURST GARDENS

The conservation area represents an early example of suburban development related to the expansion of the London commuter rail network, built between 1869 and circa 1885 for the more affluent London commuters.

PRIESTLANDS PARK ROAD

The earliest properties in Priestlands Park Road were completed by 1897, but it took half a century for the completion of its other houses. By reason of its curving layout, it broke free from the grid-iron pattern of earlier housing developments.

RECTORY LANE, FOOTS CRAY

Rectory Lane, formerly known as Church Lane, is relatively narrow in places and is enhanced by several attractive buildings of different architectural styles and scales. The “lane” provides the transition between the urban village core and the rural countryside beyond.

RED HOUSE LANE

This area of Bexleyheath was rural farmland until the mid 19th Century, within the small hamlet of Upton. Small cottages of late 19th Century origin still survive at Hogs Hole
Cottages 1-9 Red House Lane and 44 Upton Road.

The conservation area centres on Red House, designed for William Morris, the famous poet and artist, by his architect friend Philip Webb in 1859. It is a seminal Arts and Crafts building of enormous international significance in the history of domestic architecture and garden design. The building is constructed of warm red brick, under a steep red-tiled roof, with an emphasis on natural materials and a strong Gothic influence. The garden was designed to surround the house with a series of subdivided areas which still clearly exist, together with the adjoining orchard which now forms part of the garden. Inside, the house retains many of the original features and fixed items of furniture designed by Morris and Webb, as well as wall paintings and stained glass by Edward Burne-Jones.

William Morris built the house within a rural setting when he was about to marry, and saw this as an opportunity to make the building and decorating of it play a role in setting up a fraternity of artists, designers and craftsmen. The result can still be seen to this day as the house is run by the National Trust. It represents a memorial to a man of vision and artistic talent whose influence on modern and contemporary arts cannot be over-estimated.

Red House is a Grade I Listed Building. The street wall and gateway on Red House Lane are Grade II. On the north side with the entrance drive swinging past it is the old stables and coach house in the north east corner of the site. Grade II Listed. The wellhead to the south east of Red House is a Grade I Listed structure.

In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, development spread along Upton Road and all was engulfed by the tide of suburban development in the 1920s and 1930s.

SLADE GREEN

The origins of the name give some sense of its antiquity. “Slad” is a Norse word meaning a place for the beaching of boats. In Saxon, the word “Slade” means low lying ground. “Green” refers to the verdant nature of the land. There was a Saxon manor at “Hoobury”, the current “Howbury”, located on marshy ground.

Before the building of the railway and the associated industrial development, this was an isolated low-lying area. When the railway was built, the area between Whitehall Lane and Slade Green Lane was used for market gardens and was known as “Cabbage Island”, a name that still survives.

The original settlement, Slades Green, as it was then called, clustered around “The Corner Pin” public house along Slades Green Road, to the north of the railway village. The main “railway village” was built by 1910 and remained almost unchanged to 1938. Most recent housing took place in the 1950s and 1960s.

An extensive land holding was acquired by the South-Eastern Railway, with the intention of building 350 houses for railway workers. Only 158 were built. The housing was to accommodate the large number of people employed servicing steam locomotives, at the large engine sheds built at Slade Green in 1900. These sheds were built to reduce congestion nearer London by enabling the transfer of locomotives from Bricklayers Arms and other engine sheds in south London.

At the time (1900) Slade Green depot, then called Whitehall Engine shed, was a modern facility designed to service 100 steam locomotives. It was located at the “end of the line” for (then anticipated) suburban services to Dartford, Sidcup and Bexleyheath as well as serving the extensive industrial sidings at Erith.

As was the practise of the time it was convenient and useful to have workers living near their workplace, hence the development of the “railway village”. Railway workers moved to Slade Green from other locations nearer London. For some time passes were issued for travel to Woolwich market from Slade Green, an indication of its isolation and lack of facilities.

The first phase of residential development by Messer’s Perry and Co. of Bow was 91 houses on Elm Road, Cedar Road and Hazel Road. However, when the Council first considered the initial designation of the conservation area these were excluded, as they were considered to have been much altered. Although, what is thought to be the 91st house, No.4 Moat Lane, the Shed Foreman’s house, which was built to a larger, more imposing design than the other worker’s houses, was included in the designation.

The second phase of railway worker’s house construction was initiated in December 1898 when tenders were invited to build 54 houses. Messrs Smith & Sons of South Norwood were the successful contractors. The order was later increased to 56 houses, comprising: Moat Lane 6 to 36 (even); Moat Lane 11 to 29 (odd); and Oak Road 1-16 (all); and Oak Road 17-43 (odd).

They were built in terraces of four and were much larger houses with six rooms. To the rear there was a two-storey annex, shared with the neighbouring house. The kitchen and a third bedroom was in this annex, leaving the ground floor as a parlour. these were known as ‘Parlour Houses’. Each had a small front garden with a much larger rear garden. Front gardens had oak fencing. What is particularly notable is that the houses and engine sheds were illuminated by electricity from the start.

The Railway Hotel (Tavern) was built by Perry & Co. of Bow to provide accommodation for railway officials and commercial representatives to the new depot. In 1899 the Erith Times reported the Railway Hotel was approaching completion, and a license had been granted to the South-Eastern Railway. The license passed to the Dartford Brewery in 1901.

It was not successful as a hotel and the name was changed to the Railway Tavern. Its use as a public house ceased and in 2005/6 the building was renovated and converted into flats.

STANHOPE ROAD

Behind these lie Stanhope Road and Hamilton Road, which date from the 1890s. The houses here are close but semi detached with red brick walls banded in white bricks, moulded stone details and gables topping projecting bay windows. Each pair is detailed slightly differently from its neighbours, but this is done within a clear geometric discipline, creating a unified development of substantial character.

STATION APPROACH, OLD BEXLEY

Construction of the railway line, opened in 1866, cut the village in two but had little impact on street pattern except for the creation of Station Approach, the access to the
new railway station.

STATION ROAD

Station Road was developed with larger detached and semi detached houses of more individual character but with attention to detail. Station Road incorporates two important local landmark buildings:
Sidcup Community Church, which presents a prominent gable end to Station Road. It has been skilfully extended to the side along/adjacent to the public footpath, using good traditional materials.

Sitting almost opposite the Community Church is the other landmark building, the Bexley Music Centre, a relatively large two-storey, red brick and part render building, which creates a significant presence turning the corner of Victoria Road and Station Road, with its prominent corner turret and cupola.

TANYARD LANE

Tanyard Lane is a historic lane marked on the 1840 Tithe Map and is bridged by the railway line.

THE OVAL

Bexley witnessed suburban expansion in the 1920s and 1930s and the area is renowned for its large suburban estates of row after row of semi-detached and terraced houses. The Marlborough Park Estates area of Sidcup was typical with long roads of houses in uniform styles. The shops at the Oval, which were built in 1933 as part of the Marlborough Estate, meant easier shopping for the new residents to the area.

The Oval was designed as part of the, “New Ideal Homesteads’, Marlborough Park Estate”, an antithesis of the suburban norm, a reaction to the rigid row upon row of houses. The shops on the terrace reflect interest in the Arts and Craft style still popular in the 1930s when it was the prevalent influence on house design. The provision of this type of community infrastructure was typical of housing estates being built in the area at this time.

WHITEHALL LANE

Whitehall Lane, built to serve Howbury Farm and provide access to the marshes and River Darent, was split into two when the railway was built. The name probably comes from the white painted walls of the house and moated enclosure. A railway village was built to the east of Whitehall Crossing, a level crossing on the North Kent Line, immediately north of the extensive engine sheds it was built to serve and this became Moat Lane, when the railway crossing was closed.

BRAUNDTON AVENUE

WILLERSLEY AVENUE

The houses in this conservation area were built in the 1930s as part of a planned development that included these two parallel avenues, Willersley Avenue and Braundton Avenue. Willersley Avenue, being a major access north-south access road was designed to be wider than Braundton Avenue. The unusual width of Willersley Avenue might be explained by a proposal to make it part of an inter-war planned London inner ring road. Willersley Close is a cul-de-sac in which four semidetached properties fan out around a central turning circle off Willersley Avenue. No 9 Willersley Close has been located outside the formal street layout presumably to maximise use of available land.

Willersley Avenue and Braundton Avenue were built by H. Smith and Company of Avery Hill Road, Eltham as part of Smith’s Hollies Estate, one of the principal estates built in the Sidcup and Blackfen area in the 1930s. Although the original planning applications for most of the dwellings were submitted in March 1932 and most houses are built in a chalet style, some of the house plans were subsequently altered and there are a few exceptions to the general uniformity of house design.

The following glean from an “Origins of street and place names in Bexley” PDF prepared by Bexley Council.

Abbyhill Road Named because of rise on Lamorbey Estate –

Albert Road

After Prince Albert
(d.1861). Formerly Victoria Road

–

Albert Road,
Bexleyheath See: Graham Road Castells. p.134

Alers Road After Jameson Alers Hankey Castells, p.154

Alexandra Road After Queen Alexandra,
wife of Edward VII

Alfred Road, Erith

Prince Alfred, Queen
Victoria’s 2nd son, was
patron of the Seamen’s
Home, Belvedere

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Alma Road

Possibly after a height
captured by British in the
Crimean War

–

Aperfield Road

Name of an old manor at
Cudham; the word is
short for ‘apple tree field’

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley
Appian Way See: Rutland Gate H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
www.bexley.gov.uk

Archivist for Bexley

Appold Street, Erith

Messrs Easton &
Anderson made a pump
called the Appold pump
at their works nearby
–

Arbuthnot Lane,
Bexley

After W.U.Arbuthnot., JP
1807-1874 of Bridgen
Place

P920 ARB

Arnsberg Way,
Bexleyheath

After an area in Neheim-
Husten, Bexley’s Twin

Town

–

Arthur Street

After Prince Arthur,
Queen Victoria’s second
son. (b.1850)

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Athol Road

John, Earl of Athol was
Lord of Erith Manor in the
time of Edward I

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Audrey Avenue

Named by builder, FR
Absolom, after members
of his family

See Bostall Heath by
JA Prichard.
P283 St And. p.9

Avenue Road

Follows the line of an
avenue of Elm trees
leading to the Manor
House built in 1769

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Back Lane, Erith

Old name for part of
Bexley Road, between
Cross Street and High
Street, Erith

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Banks Lane,
Bexleyheath

Formerly Sheldons Lane,
after Sheldon, landowner
on site

Tithe map 1839
(site260+) , and
archive plan
CO/BEX/19(1874)

Barkers Road

After Barker’s cab and
Livery Co. Situated on
NW corner of junction
with High Street

–

Barnefield Road

Possibly because road
ran through Barn Field,
which belonged to a
farm-house on Nuxley

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Road

Barnehurst

Name created for station,
after ‘Barne’ the family
name and ‘Hurst’, Saxon
name for woodland

The Story of
Barnehurst by EO
Thomas

Barry Avenue

FR Absalom, the builder,
came from Cardiff. He
used Welsh place-names
for several of his roads

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley.
See also Bostall
Heath by JA
Prichard.
P283 St And. p9

Battle Avenue Possibly after Battle in

Sussex

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Bean Road,
Bexleyheath

After Alfred W Bean,
owner of Danson Estate,
railway engineer.
Formerly Clock house
Lane

Buckland. p.333

Becks Road, Sidcup After original owner –
Bedonwell

Probably means ‘a well in
a shallow valley’ or ‘a
praying well’

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Bedonwell Hill Old name for part of
Bedonwell Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Bedonwell Road

Before 1937 Belmont
Road was also called
Bedonwell Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Bedwell Road,
Belvedere

Sir Culling Eardley, of
Bedwell Park, Herts,
inherited the Belvedere
Estate in 1847. He
planned a new town for
which he built All Saints’

Church and a water-
works

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Belmont Road, Erith An ancient road,

confusingly called –

Bedonwell Road until
1937, when it was given
its present name after as
old house , Belmont, that
stood there

Belton Road, Sidcup

From Belton Lodge which
was an earlier name for
Bank House, on High
Street

–

Belvedere

A house built by Sir
Sampson Gideon (Later
Baron Eardley) which
from 1865 was the
Seamen’s home until it
was pulled down in1959.
The district took its name
from the house

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Berkhamstead Road,
Belvedere

See; Bedwell Road.
Berkhamstead is a town
in Herts

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Bexley

Originally Byxlea
meaning Box tree
clearing

AD 814

Bexley Lane

Road from Foots Cray to
Bexley, previously known
as Hurst Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Bexley Lane,
Crayford

Seems to have been a
foreign quarter at one
time. Home of Italian
Organ Grinders

The spot that is
called Crayford by
William Carr. p.130

Bexley Road

Old road to Bexley. Up to
1939 known as Nuxley
Road after a small heath
in the area

–

Bexleyheath The heath around Bexley –

Birkbeck Road

Land developed by
Benjamin Hope
purchased from the
Birkbeck Permanent
Building Society

–

Birch Walk

An old footpath across
sand-pits whose route
has varied over the
years. At one time it was
called the ‘Cinder Path’

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Blackboard Alley,
Bexleyheath

Leads from May Place Road to North Street, possibly because of the school at its side

Blackfen

‘Black Fen’ meaning marshy ground. Dates from 1240

–

Blake Close, Welling

Known locally as the “Poets ” Estate. Roads include:- Blake Close, Browning Close, Burns Close, Chaucer Road, Dryden Road, Keats Road, Milton Road, Shelley Drive, Tennyson Close, Wordsworth Road, Wycliffe Close

–

Blendon Road, Bexley After Blendon Estate –

Boarers Manorway

Possibly from Francis Boarer, an Erith butcher, who in 1681 leased Heron Hill Farm. The road may have led to more of his lands

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Bostall ‘A place of refuge’

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Bostall Hill/Row/ Park
Avenue

Estate developers choice
of name

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Boundary Street

The road lies on the
boundary between Erith
& Crayford – Shown on
1863 O.S. map

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Bourne Road, Bexley After Bourne Stream, now –

River Shuttle. Bourne
Place was in Bexley,
demolished in 1933. The
Black Prince Hotel now
on site.

Bowes Close, Sidcup

After Sir Martin Bowes. (D
1566) who owned 400
acres around Bexley &
Blackfen

–

Brampton Road

After estate of Brampton
Place. Occupied between
1700-1878. Last occupier
Gregory Brown.
Demolished May 1955.
Formerly Abbey Wood
Road

Buckland. p.333

Bridgers Road

After estate of Bridgen
Place, first occupied
1719. Semi-detached
houses now on site

–

Bristow Road

After Henry John Bristow,
chairman of Bexley Local
Board. 1889-1894

–

Brook Street Crosses the Bedon

Stream

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Brooklands Avenue

Appears on 1843 records
as being owned by
G.Ware

BIO: BUC

Browning Close,
Welling

–

Buckingham Avenue After the Buckingham family, possibly after
Joseph Buckingham,
councillor of Bexley,
1870s. Or Gilbert Joseph
Buckingham, Mayor of
Bexley, 1938-40 (d. 1973)

Bullbanks Road

There was in 1876 a Bull
Banks market garden on
the land between Lower
Road and Parkside Road
and Halt Robin Lane and
Stanmore Road. In 1697
the Erith Manor Court
Records refer to Bulls
Banks, probably the
same place.

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Bunkers Hill

Presumably from the
sand pits, of which there
is still evidence.

–

Burcharbro Road

Name made up from
Burrows, Charlesworth
and Brodie, who built this
and Pinewood Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley.
See also Bostall
Heath by JA
Prichard.
P283 St And. p9

Burdett Close

1.After local surveyor
P.P. Burdett. Surveyed
Brampton Place in 1768
OR
2.Sir Francis Burdett,
prominent M.P. who in
1794 became tenant of
Vale Mascal. He married
Sophie Coutts, daughter
of the enormously
wealthy banker Thomas
Coutts.

–

Burnett Road

After John Fasett Burnett
(d 1851) of Mayplace,
Crayford

–

Burnell Avenue

After Robert Burnell,
Bishop of Bath & Wells,
who was Lord of the
Manor of East Wickham
in the reign of Edward I
–

Burns Close, Welling

–

Butler Street See Salisbury Road

Calvert Close

After Sir William Calvert,
Alderman of the City of
London, who lived at
Mount Mascal in mid
c18th. His sister Honoria
married Thomas Tash of
Vale Mascal. His cousins
Sir Richard Calvert lived
at Hall Place, and Felix
Calvert at Mayplace,
Crayford

–

Cambria Close On site of the old

Cambria nursery –

Camden Road After Sir William

Camden. 1551-1623 –

Cannon Road

After Stephen Cannon,
first chairman of Bexley.
1894-1896

–

Cavendish Avenue,
Welling

Known locally as the ”
Scientists ” Estate. Roads
include :-
Cavendish Avenue,
Darwin Road, Faraday
Road, Huxley Road,
–

Kelvin Road, Maxwell
Road, Newton Road,
Tyndall Road

Chalk Wood

Earliest reference is in
1301 when it appears as
“Chelkehelde” from the
Old English “cealehielde”
meaning chalk slope
–

Chantrey Close

After Sir Francis Legatt
Chantry (1781-1841)
famous English sculptor
whose monument to Lady
Ellenborough is in the
parish church, St James’.
See also Ellenborough
Road

–

Chapel Close After Chapel House,
Blackfen –
Chapel Road After Baptist Chapel
erected there. –

Chapmans Lane, Erith

Possibly after Edward
Chapman, of the Bell Inn,
(Near Running Horses)
who bought the property
in early c18th. Shown on
1769 map

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Chaucer Road,
Welling

–

Chevenings From the name of the
house that was on the site –
Chitty’s Hill After Chitty, son-in-law of
Mrs Sarah Simpson, a girl

Buckland. p.322 and
p.356

stolen by gipsies,who
lived to 97 and had 22
children. Chitty and his
wife had 24 children.
Now Robin Hood Lane

Clarence Crescent

After Prince Albert
Victor, Duke of Clarence
and Avondale, laid in
1881 when Prince was 17
–

Cleeve Park Gardens

After Cleeve family of
Foots Cray Place.
Prominent family dating
from pre 1568

–

Cocksure Lane

Appears to take its name
from a small piece of land
on which Manor Cottages
now stand in Parsonage
Lane. A document dated
1837 describes this field
as Cocks Shaw.

–

Colyers Lane,
NorthHeath

After William Colyer,
local farmer –

Coniston Road,
Barnehurst

Wedlock, the builders
named many roads after
Lake District locations

The Story of
Barnehurst by EO
Thomas

Cook Square

After Cook family or
George Cooke of Bexley,
probable royalist 1655.
–

Cookham Road

Possibly derived from
Old English ” coc ham”
meaning settlement
where cooking is done
–

Coote Road,
Bexleyheath

After Ernest Thomas
Coote, chairman of
B.U.D.C. 1908-9 & 1917-
1919

–

Corbylands Road,
Sidcup After Corbylands Wood –
Crabtree
Manorway,Belvedere

Divided and renamed,
Crabtree Manorway P942.177 BEX

North and South. 1.8.85

Crayford

The early name for
Crayford was Erhede or
Earde

The Domesday Book
: 1086

Crayford High Street Was High Street,

Crayford P942.177 BEX

Crittall’s Corner

After Francis Henry
Crittall. (B 1860),
manufacturer of
window/door fittings. Site
now occupied by B & Q
–

Crook Log,
Bexleyheath

From a dead tree with a
curious bend, that once
stood on the site

Castells p.20

Crown Street Name changed to West
Street in 1915 –

Crusoe Road, Erith

Defoe’s novel ‘Robinson
Crusoe’ was based on the
story of Alexander
Selkirk, who landed at
Erith after being rescued

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley
Cut Throat Alley Now Love Lane, Bexley Erith Times.
28.3.1930
Cut Throat Lane Now Gipsy Road, Welling Buckland. p.333
Dallin Road,
Bexleyheath

After DALLIN family, who
owned the land.

Indenture 1876,
selling land to
BUTLER family. See
notes:2002/1

Dane Close

After Herbert Edwin
Dane, prominent
councillor in late 1890s &
1900s

–

Danson Lane, Welling Formerly Chapel Lane Buckland, p.198
Danson Road, Welling After Danson Estate –
Dargate Road

One of the roads on the
Appian Way Estate. See
Rutland Gate

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Darwin Road, Welling Known locally as the ”
Scientists ” Estate. Roads –

include :-
Cavendish Avenue,
Darwin Road, Faraday
Road, Huxley Road,
Kelvin Road, Maxwell
Road, Newton Road,
Tyndall Road

Dashwood Close

After Sir Francis
Dashwood, owner of Hall
Place 1883-1910

–
David House See: McKinlay Court –
De Luci Road

After Richard De Luci
who founded Lesnes
Abbey in 1178

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Denham Road

After John Denham (d
1760) a benefactor to St
Nicholas Church

Tester
East Wickham &
Welling

Devonshire Road See Luddesdon Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Dixon House, Bostall Names associated with
development of Bostall

See Bostall Heath by
JA Prichard p.283 St
and. p.12
Downe Close After Henry John Downes HIS2 SID

Dryden Road,
Welling

–

Dryhill Road,
Belvedere

Previously called Queen’s
Road. Ironic name as
road gets flooded in bad
weather

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley
Duck Lane See St Augustine’s Road H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,

Archivist for Bexley

Eardley Road,
Belvedere

After Eardley family, who
owned the Belvedere
Estate in the c18th

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

East Road

This road was on the east
side of Boarers
Manorway

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Eastry Road Was previously called
Greenway from 1938

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Edgington Way

Black & Edgington, flag
manufacturers who
worked on decorations
used in the Coronation of
Queen Elizabeth II, were
based at Ruxley Corner
–

Edwards Road

After the Edwards family.
A prominent family
member was Lucy
Edwards, a local artist
and botanical illustrator
–

Electric Road

Off Crabtree Manorway,
north of railway. The first
WWII bombs fell here in
1940

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Ellenborough Road

After Octavia, Lady
Ellenborough, sister of
Lord Castlereagh, who
lived at Loring
Hall.(Which see) She
died in 1819 and in St
James’ church there is a
fine monument by
Chantrey

–

Ellison Road After Councillor Ellison –
Elmhurst

Site of an old house
bombed on WWII and
later demolished

–
Erith Eryth (1610) meaning
‘Gravelly landing place’ –

Erith High Street Was High Street, Erith P942.177 BEX
Erith Road, Belvedere Old road from Woolwich
and Belvedere to Erith

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Essenden Road See Bedwell Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Ethelbert Road

Name of the King of Kent
when St Augustine came
to Britain in 597

–

Ethronvi Road

Named after Ethel,
Ronald and Violet,
children of the builder
–
Faraday Avenue After Michael Faraday
1791-1867 –

Faraday Road,
Welling

Known locally as the ”
Scientists ” Estate. Roads
include :-
Cavendish Avenue,
Darwin Road, Faraday
Road, Huxley Road,
Kelvin Road, Maxwell
Road, Newton Road,
Tyndall Road

–

Firth Street, Welling Renamed Lovel Avenue

Renamed
19.12.1927. See
LABX/DC/4/3/1
Fishers Way After the Fisher family ??? P920 Fisher
(Whistling Rufus?)

Flora Road Access road to Flora

Nursery

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Florence Road,
Abbey Wood See: Percival Street

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Florence Road,
Belvedere See: Lullingstone Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley
Foots Cray From Godwin Fot, owner Foots Cray by G

of estate at time of
Domesday Book

Nunns. p.3

Footscray High Street Was High Street,

Footscray P942.177 BEX

Foresters Crescent

After the nearby
Foresters Homes in
Tower Road which were
first built in 1870s

P362.6 FOR

Frances Avenue,
Bexleyheath

Named by builder, FR
Absolom, after members
of his family

Bostall Heath by JA
Prichard.
p.283 St And. p9

Franklin Road

After Albert James
Franklin, Chairman
B.U.D.C. 1920-25

–

Fraser Road, Erith

Built soon after Fraser &
Chalmers opened their
factory in the old ballast
pit workings

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Freemantle Road

Possibly named after an
admiral in the R.N. in the
1860s

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Friday Hill

The old name of part of
Erith Road near
Pembroke Road.
Meaning unknown

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Friday Road See: Crusoe Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Friswell Place

After the writer James
Hain Friswell and his
daughter Jane, also
author, who lived on this
site. He began writing in
1850s

Castells p.104/5

Frognal Avenue

After Frognal Place.
Known to have been
occupied as early as 1253
–

Gattons Way

Appears as Gatton in
1301. Possibly from Old
English “gat tun”

–

meaning goat farmstead.
On c19th maps shown as
“The White House”

Geddes Place,
Bexleyheath

After early minister of the
Congregational Church,
Rev. James Geddes

–

Gilbert Road

After family who had a
farm there in 1898, See St
Augustine’s Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley
Gipsy Road, Welling Formerly Cutthroat Lane Buckland. p.333
Gordon Road After General Gordon,
killed in Sudan in 1885

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Graham Road

After Rev. George Graham,(d 1887) second vicar of Christ Church. Previously known as Albert Road, and Markall Lane.

–

Granville Road Part of Lewis-Evans Estate –

Granville Road,
Sidcup

Named after the house of
James Fell :- Granville
Villa

–
Grasmere Road See: Coniston Road –
Gray House, Bostall Names associated with
development of Bostall

Bostall Heath by JA
Prichard.
p.283 St And. p.12

Greenway See: Eastry Road –
Greyhound Way,
Crayford

Named 1.7.1986, after
building of new
greyhound stadium

P942.177 BEX

Half Foot Lane, Bexley Also known as Halfway

Lane, now Hartford Road Archive ref: L144

Halfway Lane, Bexley Also known as Half Foot

Lane, now Hartford Road Archive ref: L144

Halt Robin Road /
Lane

Myth? – Possibly named
after lame gatekeeper
Halt Robin of Belvedere

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

House. Originally one
road

Harman Drive After the Harman family CMH No 4 1966

Harrill Road

After John Harrill,
Yeoman of Erith and
suspected Royalist in
1655

–

Hartford Road, Bexley

Previously called Half
Foot Lane and Halfway
Lane.

Archive ref: L144

Harvel Crescent

Formerly Hurst Road.
Name changed to avoid
confusion with a road
near NorthHeath

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Harvill Road

Possibly after Edward
Harvil, Rector of North
Cray in 1577 and his son
Edward who succeeded
him as Rector in 1608
–

Havelock Road

Named after General
Henry Havelock who
fought in the Boer War.
Grew up in the area and
attended Dartford
Grammar school

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Hengist Road

Hengist and Horsa were
the leaders of the Jutes
who invaded and settled
in Kent in the 5th century
AD

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Heron Hill

Formerly Herring Hill.
Herrin Hill House, later
farm, was owned in 16th
century by the Abels
family, going back to the
time of Edward I

–

High Street, Crayford Renamed Crayford High

Street. 1.1.1967 P942.177 BEX

High Street, Erith Renamed Erith High

Street. 1.1.1967 P942.177 BEX

High Street, Footscray Renamed Footscray High

Street. 1.1.1967 P942.177 BEX

Hind Crescent

Name of a prominent
Erith family. Harold Hind
was a surveyor of Erith
U.DC. for many years

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Hoddesden Road See: Bedwell Road –

Holly Hill Road

Near Holly Hill House
built in 18th century and
burnt down in 1850, stood
nearby. Another
property with the same
name was later built on
the site.

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley
& Harris’ The Parish
of Erith…” p.63

Holmhurst Road

Near a large Victorian
house of this name, now
Oaks Education Centre

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Honeyden Road

Honeyden is an earlier
name for the large house
now known as Cray Hall.
The earliest reference is
1745 which gives
“Honeyden alias
Hunisden” It has been
suggested that it is
derived from Old English
“hunig den” meaning
“honey pasture”, a
woodland pasture where
hives were kept.

–

Hook Lane

After farmer called Hook,
who rented the land from
the Danson Estate

History of Hook Lane
School. by Dawn
Catten

Horsa Road See: Hengist Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Howbery Lane

Near Howbery Manor
which has existed since
at least 1543

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley
Hurst Lane Near house of this name H.N.O.B. prepared

in Abbey Wood. Hurst is
old English for wooded
hill

by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Hurst Road,
NorthHeath

On what used to be
Lesney farm, Northheath.
See also Harvel Crescent

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Huxley Road, Welling

Known locally as the ”
Scientists ” Estate. Roads
include :-
Cavendish Avenue,
Darwin Road, Faraday
Road, Huxley Road,
Kelvin Road, Maxwell
Road, Newton Road,
Tyndall Road

–

Ina Road

Named after Ina an early Kin
King of Wessex. At one
time Upper Abbey Road
had a curved section in it,
which is now Abbey
Crescent. When the
straight line was cut it
was called Ina Road.
(c.1936)

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Inglewood Road See: Coniston road –

James Watt Place

After famous inventor.
Easton & Andersons, who
made steam engines, had
their works nearby

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Janet Court See: McKinlay Court –
Jenkins Lane,
Bexleyheath

The wife of Jenkins the
shoemaker, kept a toy
shop on the corner of the
lane. Later Pincott Road.

Castells p.86 and
Buckland p.355

Jenningtree Way

Jenningtree Point is a
landmark on the banks of
the Thames near the end
of Crabtree Manor Way.
‘Jenneting’ is an old word
for a kind of apple.

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Jessett Close, Erith

After Frederick Jessett,
Erith’s first Medical
Officer of Health. Named
in 1997.Was part of
Pembroke Road.

P920 JES

Joydens Wood

Joyden is a corruption of
Jordan or Jordayne. In
1556 William Jordayne
was granted woodland in
Dartford and North Cray
–

Keats Road, Welling

–

Kelvin Road, Welling

Known locally as the ”
Scientists ” Estate. Roads
include :-
Cavendish Avenue,
Darwin Road, Faraday
Road, Huxley Road,
Kelvin Road, Maxwell
Road, Newton Road,
Tyndall Road

–

Kent Avenue

John Kent (d.1765) of Iron
Mills, buried at St
Paulinus Church,
Crayford

–

Kentish Road

Named by the Suburban Land & Cottage Company, who built a small estate here on land that used to be called the Ruffs, where there had been a house and large orchard

Kipling Road

After Henry Kipling,
Vicar of Plumstead and
East Wickham, annexed
1772-1821

–

Lady Grey Alley,
Bexleyheath

From name of beer-house
on corner of Watling
Street. Later Westbourne
Grove

Buckland p.333

Lancelot Road

After popular historical
figure in King Arthur’s
Myths

–
Langdon Shaw After estate belonging to
Edward Langdon 1775 –
Lansdown Road After Mr Lansdown.
(Cabinet minister)?? –

Latham Road

After Dr Latham, lived in
Park House, Bexley
(d.1815) buried at St
Mary’s. Reputed to have
killed highwayman
assailant at Dartford
Heath and buried the
body at Park House or
possibly after John
Latham, Dartford warbler
1773

–

Laurel Close After Laurel House,

Bexley, built 1869 –

Leather Bottle Lane

Formerly a footpath.
There has been an Inn on
the site of the Leather
bottle for over 200 years

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Leckwith, Bostall

Named by builder, FR
Absolom, after links with
his native city , Cardiff.

Bostall Heath by JA
Prichard.
P283 St And. p9

Leigh Place After Richard Leigh, of
Bexley Manor House –

Lesney Park See: Park Crescent H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,

Archivist for Bexley

Lessness

Leasons, Lesney and
Lessness are all forms of
the old Road name for
Erith, ‘Lesnes’ meaning a
meadow promontory

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley
Lewin Road After Thomas Lewin Castells. p.27
Limewood Road Near Old Lime Wood

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Ling Road

After former Erith
councillor, Mr W Ling,
chairman library
Committee 1906.

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for
Bexley and P027.4
ERI

Little Heath Road

After Nuxley Heath,
which is also known as
Little Heath. See Nuxley
Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Long Lane

Literally a long lane from
Bexleyheath to Bostall
Heath

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Longlands Road

Longlands House, Sidcup
inhabited by the Russells.
Demolished 1885

–

Loring Hall

After William Loring, first
warden of Goldsmiths
College which had
purchased the building in
1939. (Loring died at
Gallipoli in WW1). Prior
to this the house was
known as Woollet Hall.
Known as North Cray
Villa in c19th. In 1527 the
house on this site was
called “Waletts”

–

Love Lane, Bexley Formerly Cut throat Alley Erith Times.
28.3.1930
Lovel Avenue, Formerly Firth Street. Renamed

Welling Named after Francis,
Viscount Lovel, owner of
the Manor of East
Wickham

19.12.1927. See
LABX/DC/4/3/1

Lower Park Road Skirts the park of the
Belvedere Estate –
Lower Road Follows the low ground

by the marshes

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Luddesdon Road Previously called
Florence road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Lullingstone Road

Previously called
Florence Road. Changed
in 1959

–

Maddocks Close

After the Maddocks
family of Mount Mascal
and Vale Mascal. John
Maddocks, distinguished
Welsh lawyer became
tenant of Mount Mascal in
1776, and purchased the
property 5 years later. In
1782 he purchased Vale
Mascal for his Eldest Son
John Edward and his wife
Frances

–

Maida Road

After Maida Vale, London
which commemorates a
battle at Maida, Sicily in
1806 (French troops
defeated by British
troops under Sir John
Stuart)

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Maiden Erlegh Ave,
Bexley

Named by builder,
Gough Cooper, after a
seat 2 1⁄2 miles S.E. of
Reading, Berks

See pamphlet
collection

Manor Road After Manor of Erith
which falls within the

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,

boundaries of the estate.
Originally an access road
to fields beyond Anchor
Bay

Archivist for Bexley

Manor Way, Bexley Originally known
as Selborne Road

Mareschal Niel
Parade

Named after Mareschal
Niel House, owned by Mr
Harbrow

Nunns, Brief notes
on Longlands.p28

Markall Lane,
Bexleyheath

After Markall, landlord of
the Kings Arms. Was
Albert Road, now
Graham Road

Castells. P134

Marlin Drive/ Rise

After John Edward
Marlin, 50 years ministry
in Erith1875-1925

–

Marobon Close,
Sidcup

By the site of Marobon
House, old name of The
Hollies

Andrews, Dury &
Herbert map. 1769

Martens
Close/Avenue After Martens Grove –
Maxim Road After Sir Hiram Maxim
famous local inventor

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Maxim Road,
Crayford New road off Roman Way P942.177 BEX

Maximfeldt Road

After Maxim and
Nordenfeldt, two local
inventors of automatic
guns, manufactured in
Erith & Crayford

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Maxwell Road,
Welling

Known locally as the ”
Scientists ” Estate. Roads
include :-
Cavendish Avenue,
Darwin Road, Faraday
Road, Huxley Road,
Kelvin Road, Maxwell
Road, Newton Road,
Tyndall Road

–

Mayplace Road After Mayplace Estate –
Mayplace Road,
West. Elizabeth Place

Nos, 67,69,71, After
Elizabeth, Wife of
Barham, Bricklayers
Arms

1851 census HO107
1607, 145b

McKinlay Court, Park
view Road, Welling

After the builders
McKinlay Williams who
named several sites after
their family. Robina
Close, Bexleyheath,
Robina Court, Swanley,
Ben ??, Robert House??
Shirley Heights, Avenue
Road, Bexleyheath, Janet
Court, Mayplace Road,
Terence Court,
Streamway, Belvedere,
David House, Station
Road, Sidcup, Sarah??
–

Merlin Road As Lancelot Road –
Michell Close After Charles Cronwallin
Michell 1793-1851 –
Mill Road After mill which stood
nearby, since burnt down

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Milton Road, Welling

–

Mitchell Close

After Hedley James
Mitchell, founder of
Hedley Mitchell store.
Begam Ltd in 1918.
Brother-in-law to JE

–

Martin

Moat Lane, Welling

After Moat house 1764-
1961. Site now occupied
by garages

–
Montgomery Ammunition ship sunk
near Sheppy, WWII. –

Mount Culver Avenue

Road built on a field
called ‘Mount Culver’,
earliest reference found
1820. (Possibly derived
from Old English “munt”
meaning hill and “culfre”
meaning dove??)

–

Mount Mascal

Large Jacobean House
stood until 1957 on the
hillside overlooking
North Cray Road. Origin
possibly from John
Mascal, Gentleman,
owned property in
nearby Joyden’s Wood in
Tudor times.

–

Mount Road Mount Marcah House,
estate of JE Maddocks –

Mulberry Way

After the Mulberry
Harbour constructed for
the landings in France,
1944. Sections made
locally

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Napier Road

The name of several
distinguished naval and
military commanders

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Nelson Road After Admiral Nelson

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

New Road After New family. (1903) –
Newbery Road

After the Manor of
Newbery first recorded
in 1543

–
Newton Road, Known locally as the ” –

Welling Scientists ” Estate. Roads

include :-
Cavendish Avenue,
Darwin Road, Faraday
Road, Huxley Road,
Kelvin Road, Maxwell
Road, Newton Road,
Tyndall Road

Nissen Way

Name given to temporary
housing for bombed out
families adapted Nissen
huts on Belvedere
Recreation Ground

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Nordenfeldt Road See Maxim road –

Norman Road

Built on line of old
footpath from Belvedere
Station to Picardy
Manorway

–

Normandy Road After the nearby

Normandy Farm –
Norris Way After Norris’s Pit, a site of
local archaeological finds –
North Cray Road After North Cray Place –

Northumberland
Heath/Avenue/Road

Heath north of the
‘humber’ (old English for
stream) which has now
disappeared. The
district’s nickname of
‘Spike island’ is after the
old parish workhouse
which stood in Sussex
road from about 1805

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Nuxley Road

Formerly Bexley Road,
renamed in 1939 to avoid
confusion. Nuxley had
been the name of a small
heath where Belmont
School now stands

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Oakhouse Road After Oak House,

presumably oak trees –

were prominent in the
area

Oakwood After Oakwood area 1870 O.S. map
Old Farm Road After ancient farm? –
Old Forge Way After forge on the site –
Olyffe Avenue

After Sir Olyffe Leigh,
owner of the Manor of
East Wickham

–

Orchard Avenue On site of Orchard
belonging to Elmhurst

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Orchard Road

On land known as
Orchard Estate, formerly
part of the Ruffs. (See
Kentish Road)

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Osbourne Road After Osbourne Home
(Now Dryhill Road) –
Oxford Mews After Oxford Place in
Bexley –
Oxlean Close After wood of the same

name

O.S. map 1860

Park Crescent Road

Near Frank’s Park, after
Frank Beadle, prominent
local man, whose widow
provided the park in his
memory

–

Park Road/Street,
Bexleyheath

Formerly Sweeps Lane,
now Royal Oak Road –

Parsonage Lane

The original parsonage
house of North Cray
stood in this lane,
probably on the south
side between North Cray
riding school and
junction with Cocksure
Lane

–

Parsonage Manorway

Used to be a private road
to Parsonage farm, near
Bellring Close, which had

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

a long history, back to
the days of Lesnes
Abbey, with which it is
associated

Pelham Road

On site of Pelham Farm,
once owned by Oxford
University. Pelham
School is now on the site
–

Pembroke Road

Formerly part of Erith
Road. Named after the
Countess of Pembroke,
Lady of the Manor during
the Reign of Elizabeth I.
See also: Jessett Close.

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Penda Road After Penda, King of
Mercia c650 AD

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Percival Street

Named by the developer,
probably after members
of the family. Also
Florence Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Picardy Manorway

Originally included what
is now the northern part
of Norman Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Picardy Road

Shown on 1769 map.
Picardy was a hamlet at
the foot of Picardy road. It
probably took its name
from someone called
Piccard. The modern
form is influenced by the
spelling of Picardy in
France.

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Picardy Street See: Gilbert Road –

Pier Road

Erith pier was built in
1842. Pleasure Steamers
used to bring crowds
from London to the
gardens near the pier

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley
Pincott Hall Formerly The Athenaeum Castells, p.120.

Pincott Road

After Rev. William Henry
Pincott, first Vicar of
Christ Church,
Bexleyheath. (Formerly
Station Road, Jenkins
Lane & Occupation Road)

Castell’s p.120
Buckland, p.185 and
p.333 and p.355

Pinewood Road See: Burcharbro Road –
Pinnacle Hill After a pinnacle built on a

house roof there

See: photograph
collection

Poet’s Estate, Welling

Known locally as the ”
Poets ” Estate. Roads
include:- Blake Close,
Browning Close, Burns
Close, Chaucer Road,
Dryden Road, Keats
Road, Milton Road,
Shelley Drive, Tennyson
Close, Wordsworth Road,
Wycliffe Close

–

Powys Close, Bostall

Named by builder, FR
Absolom, after links with
his native city , Cardiff.

Bostall Heath by JA
Prichard.
P283 St And. p9

Queen’s Road,
Belvedere See: Dryhill Road –
Queen’s Road, Erith After Queen Victoria

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Queenswood Road,
Blackfen

On site of Queens Wood
House. Owned by John
Kirkland 1861

–

Raglan Road After famous General

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Randall Street

Randall was the maiden
name of the wife of
William Wheatley, Lord
of Erith manor. She died
in 1829

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Rectory Lane, Foots
Cray

After rectory built along
the lane –

Red House Lane,
Bexleyheath

After ‘The Red House’
built for William Morris,
who occupied it for 5
years.(1860-1865)

–

Risedale Road See: Coniston Road –
Riverside
Gardens,Erith

On site of a flour mill,
demolished in 1936 –
Robert House See: McKinlay Court –
Roberts Lane After the Roberts family –
Robin Hood Lane Formerly Chitty’s Hill and

Hog’s Hole

Buckland. p.322 and
p.333
Robina Close See: McKinlay Court –
Roman Way, Crayford

Named 1.7.1986, after
building of new
greyhound stadium

P942.177 BEX

Royal Hill, Erith

Part of Bexley Road,
between High St and
Walnut Tree Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Royal Oak Road Originally Sweeps Lane,
then Park Street/Road –

Rumford Place

Refers to Romford in
Essex, where there used
to be a cattle market used
by Erith farmers

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Russell Close

After Mr Russell who
owned two homes nearby
(d.1804)

–

Rutland Gate

After WW II some
temporary houses and a
road to give access to
them was built. The road
was laid by Italian
prisoners of war, and was
aptly named Appian Way
after an ancient road in
Italy. The name was
changed to Rutland Gate
when the estate was
rebuilt.

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Ruxley

Derived from the Old
English “hroces leah”
meaning a clearing
frequented by rooks
–

Ruxley Close After Ruxley Farm and

area

–

Salisbury Road

In May 1883 was known
as Butler Street after
Richard and John Butler
started building there in
1882.

Salmon Road

After Charles Salmon
R.N. Manager of Vickers
and local councillor
(d.1931)

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Sandcliff Road After the adjacent loam

pits

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Sarah ?? See: McKinlay Court –

School Lane

Site of John Denham’s
house, taken over by Rev
Stephen Tucker and used
as a school

–

Scientist’s Estate,
Welling

Known locally as the ”
Scientists ” Estate. Roads
include :-
Cavendish Avenue,
Darwin Road, Faraday
Road, Huxley Road,
Kelvin Road, Maxwell
Road, Newton Road,
Tyndall Road

–

Selbourne Road See Manor Way , Bexley
Selwyn Crescent

After John Selwyn, M.P.
for Gloucester. Tenant of
Danson Mansion (d.1751)
–

Sencler House, Hurst
Place, Bostall

From Roger Sencler,
c15th seneschal of Lesnes
Abbey.

Bostall Heath:
Church and
Community. JA
Pritchard. P 283 St

And

Sheldon Road

After George Sheldon,
Chairman of Bexley
urban Council. 1909-17
–
Sheldons Lane See Banks Lane –

Shelley Drive,
Welling

–

Sharnbrook
House/Close

Home of Mr & Mrs Bailey
(Baley) Mrs B was born in
Sharnbrook.

Rate book, LABX/
DB2/1/27 P4A

Shirley Heights See: McKinlay Court –

Shooters Hill, Welling

Possibly derived its name
from the Royal shooting
(Archery) parties held in
the neighbourhood, in
the time of Henry VIII

Kentish Note Book
Vol 1. p.1. Nov.1888

Sidcup

From the words SETTE
and COPP, meaning “Flat
Hill Top”

The Sidcup Story p.5

Slade Green

Two possible sources:
The Norse “Slad”
meaning a place for
beaching or launching
boats or the more likely:
Saxon “Slade” meaning
low lying ground. Green
added because of the
verdant nature of the
land.

–

Southwold Road

Road created in 1973
from Bourne Road,
includes the Black Prince,

Bexleyheath
Observer.
6.12.1973

and Nos. 106, 110, 112
and telephone exchange.
Spike Island See: Northumberland

Heath

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Springfield Road,
Welling

Formerly Talford Road
(Name change 1912)

Buckland. p.333
(Rate books)

St Augustine’s Road

Once called Duck Lane,
used to be the main road
before Gilbert Road was
made

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

St Hilary Estate.
Bostall

Named by builder, FR
Absolom, after links with
his native city , Cardiff.

Bostall Heath by JA
Prichard.
P283 St And. p9

St Hilary House,
Bostall

Names associated with
development of Bostall

Bostall Heath by JA
Prichard.
P283 St And. p12

St John’s Road

Refers to the parish
church, although it does
not lead to the church

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Stadium Way,
Crayford

Named 1.7.1986, after
building of new
greyhound stadium

P942.177 BEX

Stanley Road After George Stanley –
Stapley Road

After Stapley family.
Jesse Stapley was
landlord of The Fox, 1871
–

Steeple Avenue

After the ‘Chapel of Ease’
and its steeple that stood
alone for many years
–

Stickland Road

After John Stickland
(1816-1889) Prominent
locally in the field of
education

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Stonewood Road,
Erith

Was formerly Station
Road, Erith

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Stratton Close/Place After Robert Nelson

Stratton

(1882 Coach &
Horses, Bexley??)

Streamway Runs near Bedon Stream

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Stuart Evans Close

Stuart Lewis Evans was a
famous motor racing
champion of the 50’s and
the family are connected
to Welling.

Stuart Mantle Way

After Councillor George
Stuart Mantle, named
in1945

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Surantlands Drive

After Surantlands
Printworks,there since
1845

–

Sweeps Lane,
Bexleyheath

Census of 1861 shows
majority of residents as
sweeps. Changed to Park
Street/Road, later Royal
Oak Road

Buckland. p.331
Castells.p.79

Sydney Road After Lord Sydney,

patron of St Mary’s?? –

Talford/Talfourd
Road, Welling

Now Springfield Road
(Name change 1912)

Buckland. p.333
(Rate books)

Tarling Close After local landowner –

Tennyson Close,
Welling

–

Terence Court See: McKinlay Court –
Thwaite Close After William Thwaites
1895 –

Tower Road,
Belvedere

After Tower House, which
used to stand on this part
of the old Belvedere

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Estate

Townley Road After local family,
Formerly Bakers Lane.

Buckland, p.176 also
see photo collection.

Townsend Close After Rt. Hon. John Robert
Townsend (d.1890) –

Tyndall Road, Welling

Known locally as the ”
Scientists ” Estate. Roads
include :-
Cavendish Avenue,
Darwin Road, Faraday
Road, Huxley Road,
Kelvin Road, Maxwell
Road, Newton Road,
Tyndall Road

–

University Place

Shown on 1863 map. May
take its name from
University School,
founded by John
Stickland and taken over
by the Erith School Board
in 1871

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Upper Holly Hill Road See: Holly Hill Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Upper Park Road See: Lower Park Road

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Upperton Road,
Sidcup

Major land owning family
in Sidcup, this road built
on area of his land

LS note on Sidcup
Manor House

Ursula Lodges,
Sidcup Hill

From ‘Berens’ family crest
of a bear. Ursula being
the Latin for bear.
(Berens family built and
endowed these lodges)

A history of St John
the Evangelist. p.3/4

Vale Mascal

Built about 1740 for
Thomas Tash. See also
Mount Mascal

–
Vickers Road After Vickers Works –
Victoria Road After Queen Victoria. See –

also Park Crescent

Walnut Tree Road

Walnut Tree House stood
on the site of Erith Town
Hall. And was used as
Council offices for many
years. The road was cut
when trams were
introduced in 1906

–

Waring Road After Lord Waring

(d.1940) –

Warren Road

After Charles Mortimer
Warren, Honorary
Librarian 1898 – see also
Warren Farm

–

Watts Bridge Road After Watts family. BIO:
Watts ??? –
Water Lane Lane leading to water –

Welling

Often thought to be
corruption of ‘Well end’,
so called after the safe
arrival there having
passed the dreaded
Shooters Hill. (see
Kentish Note Book.Vol 1.
p.4. Nov 1888.) but more
likely from Old English
“Wella” meaning a well
or spring

East Wickham &
Welling by Peter
Tester. p.10.

Wellington Road After famous General

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

West Heath Road

After West Heath, a small
common enclosed in
1815

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

West Street, Erith

Leads westward from
town. Formerly Lion
Street, and Crown Street

Buckland. p.333

Westbourne Grove,
Bexleyheath

Formerly Lady Grey
Alley, from name of
beerhouse on corner of

Buckland. p.333

Watling Street

Wheatley Terrace
Road, Erith

After the Wheatley
family, Lords of the
Manor of Erith in 18th and
19th century

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Wheelock Close,
NorthHeath

After Cllr Anne Wheelock
(d1995), Governor of
North Heath Primary
School

News Shopper
30.6.99.p.5.

Whitehall Lane

After Whitehall farm, on
land of Whitehill house of
19th century

–

Willis Road

Possibly after local
builder who built the
original houses in the
road. (1897)

H.N.O.B. prepared
by JCM Shaw,
Archivist for Bexley

Woollett Close / Hall After Woollett Hall (See
Loring Hall) –
Woolwich Road The ancient road from
Erith to Woolwich –

Wordsworth Road,
Welling

Wycliffe Close, Welling

Yew Tree Close

Early 20th century lodge of East Wickham Home stood here. By the front gate was a Yew tree which became a local feature

–

Notes:-
1. H.N.O.B. Historical notes on our Borough. From research, local knowledge, maps and directories.

Bexley

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