Erith
Encyclopedia
Erith is a district of southeast London
on the River Thames. Erith's town centre has undergone a series of modernisations since 1961.
Archaeological Service showed that the area had a dense forest of oak
, yew
and alder
during the Neolithic Period
, which by the Bronze Age
had given way in part to sedge fen
.
Their work at the former site of Erith School in Belmont Road revealed the presence of prehistoric settlement, and of a substantial settlement or farmstead dating from the first century.
Following the collapse of Roman rule
at the beginning of the 5th Century, Britain was colonised by invaders from northern Europe called the Anglo-Saxons
. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
tells us that they won the Battle of Crayford in 457, slaying many men in the process, and shortly after claimed the whole of Kent
. Their different way of life was reflected in their pattern of settlement. The town and country estates of the Roman bureaucrats gave way to a network of villages, occupied by warriors and farmers. Erith was one of these villages, and has a Saxon name, thought to have been derived from a word meaning `muddy harbour' or `gravelly landing place'. There was probably a church on the site of the present St John the Baptist church during Roman times and almost certainly a Saxon building. The early settlement was based around this church, meaning that the centre of Erith was once west of its current location.
, Erith passed into the possession of Bishop Odo and is mentioned in the Domesday Survey. In 1315, a Royal Charter
was granted for a market to be held in Erith every Thursday. However, it was noted in 1776 that the market had long been discontinued.
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 in the town. The position of the dockyard is approximately, where the 'Riverside Gardens' are now. His famous warship, Henri Grace à Dieu, was fitted out there in 1515. At that time, and until the 19th Century, Erith was a popular anchorage. Ships often discharged some cargo here before proceeding through the shallows upstream.
described Erith as 'consisting of one small street of houses, which leads to the water side', and mentions two annual fairs, on Ascension Day and Michaelmas
Day. In 1831 Erith's population was 1533 people, and it was described (in 1840), as being 'composed chiefly of two streets, one leading down to the water side, the other branching off to the left towards the church'.
The Local Government Act 1894
brought into existence Erith Urban District, which became the Municipal Borough of Erith
in 1938. It included Northumberland Heath
and Belvedere
.
In 1849, Erith enjoyed a short time as a riverside resort. It's pier and nearby hotel gave hospitality for the many day-tripper
s who visited the town via the Thames pleasure boats or via the railway.
was a major employer and was linked to the Royal Arsenal
at nearby Woolwich
. Another local firm, Callender's Cables(Later British Insulated Callender's Cables
) supplied the world with high-class cable and also laid an underwater pipeline across the English Channel (see Submarine communications cable
). Fuel supplied through this pipeline was used by Allied vehicles during the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944.
The town was bombed heavily during the Second World War, mainly due its position both on the riverside and near to Royal Arsenal.
Because of the bomb damage and the gradual decline in local trade, after the war there was a major redevelopment of the town in the 1960s.
In 1961, plans were put forward by local planners to redevelop Erith into a modern, sleek shopping and working environment. This involved clearing the substandard housing by the riverside and the old street layout in order to accommodate more cars.
In 1965, under the London Government Act 1963
, the Erith Municipal Borough was abolished and its area transferred to Greater London to form part of the present-day London Borough of Bexley
. The new boundary of the city went far beyond the original London postal districts. Royal Mail
decided not to echo this change by expanding the London postal district, due to cost considerations. Therefore Erith (along with the majority of Bexley Borough) does not come under the SE postcode area
and continues to be serviced from Dartford
, Kent, with DA postal codes.
Demolition of the old town started in 1966, when the mayor of Bexley smashed Headley Mitchells shop window, and continued in phases until 1980, leaving few reminders of the old town centre (viz: Queens Church, The Cross Keys pub, police station, the Carnegie Library and Christ Church). Many of the original Victorian buildings
were lost but some of the original townscape remains, from the White Hart in the High Street through to St John's Church in West Street.
From the river front there are two point block residential towers opened in the early seventies, the playhouse (begun in 1973) and two rather drab shopping centres (1969 and 1973). Recently, these shopping centres have been refaced and extended to provide new social housing and better quality shops to complement the W.M.Morrison's supermarket to the east of town in an attempt to make Erith more attractive and welcoming. The site formerly used by outdoor markets became a car park serving the improved pedestrianised centre.
In 1975/76, everything to the south of Pier Road was swept away for more modern housing and a new dual carriageway
, which still stands today.
In 1996, the two sites of Erith School, the East and West buildings, merged onto one site on Avenue Road. In 2005, the school was awarded Specialist Schools status by the Government, recognising its excellence in PE, Maths and ICT. A new sixth form block opened in 2007. Its Community Sports Centre is used during the evenings and weekends by a variety of teams.
The regeneration of the area falls within the remit of the Thames Gateway project, with Erith being a key focus for Bexley Council as its only population centre on the River Thames
.
Since 2000 a significant number of new flats have been constructed by the River Thames
by private companies such as George Wimpy. It is expected that the Erith Western Gateway, that will include a significant number of new riverside flats, will continue to rejuvenate the area which suffered from the blight of post World War Two rebuilding. The area under consideration in the Erith Western Gateway is a large, underused area of the town centre. Bexley Council are seeking to provide a mixed use development with the potential for 6,000 square metres of new commercial space and over 500 new homes.
The London Borough of Bexley announced the selection of Crest Nicholson
/Orbit South to take forward the Erith Western Gateway regeneration scheme. The timing and construction of the gateway is uncertain.
. From 1881 Erith was home to a large cable works founded by William Callender. This became British Insulated Callender's Cables
(BICC), and eventually Pirelli
who announced its partial closure in 2003. The remainder became Prysmian
.
During the First World War Erith was an extremely important area for the manufacture of guns and ammunition, largely due to the presence of the large Vickers
works in the Fraser Road area.
In the Second World War, Erith found itself in the thick of the conflict, being directly on the German bombing routes from Europe to London, and also because of the nearby armament factories.
('The Dockers'), who play in the Kent League
. (Note Erith & Belvedere F.C.
play in Welling
.) Erith Rugby Club play at Northumberland Heath
Recreation Ground.
In 2007, the Tour de France passed through Erith during the London leg of the Tour.
The Erith Playhouse
Theatre is the largest in Bexley
. There was a museum but it has now closed. A new library with meeting room opened in Spring 2009 opposite the Health Centre.
The Erith Symphony Orchestra ceased to exist in 1972 and it was almost 30 years before another orchestra was heard in the town, when the Dartford-based, Orchestra of the Thames Gateway gave a concert there in 2004 and in subsequent years.
Erith is home to the longest pier
in London, on the River Thames
. It has been recently adapted from commercial to leisure use, and is popular with anglers. The annual Erith Riverside Festival has been held for a number of years in Riverside Gardens alongside the Thames. Erith Rowing Club is a successful and friendly club located in former police premises on the waterfront, accessed from Erith High Street. Downstream, Erith Yacht Club is very active in both competitive and social sailing, based on the edge of Crayford Marshes with consent for a new clubhouse.
Erith is the starting point for the LOOP (London Outer Orbital Path
) and one of the starting points for the Green Chain Walk. The Thames Path National Trail which runs to the source of the River Thames at Kemble
begins at nearby Crayford Ness.
The initial broadcasts of pirate radio
station West and North Kent Radio (WNKR) took place at Norvic House, Larner Road, Erith, during the bank holiday weekend in August 1987, on a frequency of 91.8FM. The station now transmits pre-recorded music shows on the medium wave (198 metres/1512 kHz) at weekends, with some Internet streaming options offered since 2000.
. The local councillors are, Chris Ball (Labour), Edward Boateng (Labour) and Margaret O'Neill ( Labour). The eastern part of Erith is in North End
ward and the southern part in Colyers ward
.
Most of Erith lies within the Erith and Thamesmead constituency. The current M.P. is Teresa Pearce (Labour). The eastern part of Erith is within the Bexleyheath and Crayford
constituency. The M.P. is David Evennett
(Conservative).
Erith is in the Bexley and Bromley London Assembly
constituency and is represented on the London Assembly
by James Cleverly
(Conservative).
Community interests are represented by Erith Town Forum. In the eastern part of Erith (in North End ward) community interests are also represented by Slade Green Community Forum.
Christ Church, Victoria Rd. Erith
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness, Fraser Rd, Erith
Northend Baptist Church, Larner Rd, Erith
Northumberland Road Baptist Church, Belmont Road, Erith
Our Lady of the Angels, Carlton Road, Erith
Queen Street Baptist Church, Erith
St. Augustines Church (Slade Green), Slade Green Rd, Erith
St. Johns the Baptist Church, West Street, Erith
St. Paul's Church, Mill Road, Erith
The Treasure House, Bexley Road, Erith
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on the River Thames. Erith's town centre has undergone a series of modernisations since 1961.
Pre-medieval
Work at the former British Gypsum site in Church Manorway by the Museum of LondonMuseum of London
The Museum of London documents the history of London from the Prehistoric to the present day. The museum is located close to the Barbican Centre, as part of the striking Barbican complex of buildings created in the 1960s and 70s as an innovative approach to re-development within a bomb damaged...
Archaeological Service showed that the area had a dense forest of oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
, yew
Taxus
Taxus is a genus of yews, small coniferous trees or shrubs in the yew family Taxaceae. They are relatively slow-growing and can be very long-lived, and reach heights of 1-40 m, with trunk diameters of up to 4 m...
and alder
Alder
Alder is the common name of a genus of flowering plants belonging to the birch family . The genus comprises about 30 species of monoecious trees and shrubs, few reaching large size, distributed throughout the North Temperate Zone and in the Americas along the Andes southwards to...
during the Neolithic Period
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
, which by the Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
had given way in part to sedge fen
Poor fen
A poor fen is a natural wetland habitat, consisting of dense low growth of small sedges and other plants...
.
Their work at the former site of Erith School in Belmont Road revealed the presence of prehistoric settlement, and of a substantial settlement or farmstead dating from the first century.
Following the collapse of Roman rule
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
at the beginning of the 5th Century, Britain was colonised by invaders from northern Europe called the Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is a collection of annals in Old English chronicling the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript of the Chronicle was created late in the 9th century, probably in Wessex, during the reign of Alfred the Great...
tells us that they won the Battle of Crayford in 457, slaying many men in the process, and shortly after claimed the whole of Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. Their different way of life was reflected in their pattern of settlement. The town and country estates of the Roman bureaucrats gave way to a network of villages, occupied by warriors and farmers. Erith was one of these villages, and has a Saxon name, thought to have been derived from a word meaning `muddy harbour' or `gravelly landing place'. There was probably a church on the site of the present St John the Baptist church during Roman times and almost certainly a Saxon building. The early settlement was based around this church, meaning that the centre of Erith was once west of its current location.
Medieval
The earliest reference to the area is in a Latin charter of 695 recording a grant by the Bishop of the East Saxons of certain lands at Erith. In early times, the area may also have been known as Lesnes or Lessness. After the Norman Conquest in 1066Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
, Erith passed into the possession of Bishop Odo and is mentioned in the Domesday Survey. In 1315, a Royal Charter
Royal Charter
A royal charter is a formal document issued by a monarch as letters patent, granting a right or power to an individual or a body corporate. They were, and are still, used to establish significant organizations such as cities or universities. Charters should be distinguished from warrants and...
was granted for a market to be held in Erith every Thursday. However, it was noted in 1776 that the market had long been discontinued.
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 in the town. The position of the dockyard is approximately, where the 'Riverside Gardens' are now. His famous warship, Henri Grace à Dieu, was fitted out there in 1515. At that time, and until the 19th Century, Erith was a popular anchorage. Ships often discharged some cargo here before proceeding through the shallows upstream.
Industrial era
In 1797 Edward HastedEdward Hasted
Edward Hasted was the author of a major county history, The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent .-Life:...
described Erith as 'consisting of one small street of houses, which leads to the water side', and mentions two annual fairs, on Ascension Day and Michaelmas
Michaelmas
Michaelmas, the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel is a day in the Western Christian calendar which occurs on 29 September...
Day. In 1831 Erith's population was 1533 people, and it was described (in 1840), as being 'composed chiefly of two streets, one leading down to the water side, the other branching off to the left towards the church'.
The Local Government Act 1894
Local Government Act 1894
The Local Government Act 1894 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London. The Act followed the reforms carried out at county level under the Local Government Act 1888...
brought into existence Erith Urban District, which became the Municipal Borough of Erith
Municipal Borough of Erith
Erith was a local government district in north west Kent from 1894 to 1965 around the town of Erith. It also included the generally suburban areas of Northumberland Heath, Belvedere, and parts of Barnehurst, BexleyheathCrayford and the SE2 London Postal District of Abbey Wood.It was created an...
in 1938. It included Northumberland Heath
Northumberland Heath
Northumberland Heath is a neighbourhood and electoral ward within the London Borough of Bexley, south east London, England. Northumberland Heath is often referred to locally as "North' Heath" and is often considered to be part of upper Erith.-History:...
and Belvedere
Belvedere, London
Belvedere is a suburban and largely working class area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bexley in Southeast London.-History:The area which is today known as Belvedere was originally part of Lesness Heath, which originally stretched from the area of Lesnes Abbey to Erith and constituted...
.
In 1849, Erith enjoyed a short time as a riverside resort. It's pier and nearby hotel gave hospitality for the many day-tripper
Day-tripper
A day-tripper is a person who visits a tourist destination or visitor attraction from his/her home and returns home on the same day.- Definition :In other words, this excursion does not involve a night away from home such as experienced on a holiday...
s who visited the town via the Thames pleasure boats or via the railway.
Twentieth century
Engineering became a prominent industry around Erith, with armaments and cable production being the main supplies. VickersVickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
was a major employer and was linked to the Royal Arsenal
Royal Arsenal
The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, originally known as the Woolwich Warren, carried out armaments manufacture, ammunition proofing and explosives research for the British armed forces. It was sited on the south bank of the River Thames in Woolwich in south-east London, England.-Early history:The Warren...
at nearby Woolwich
Woolwich
Woolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
. Another local firm, Callender's Cables(Later British Insulated Callender's Cables
British Insulated Callender's Cables
British Insulated Callender's Cables was a 20th century British cable manufacturer and construction company, now renamed after former subsidiary Balfour Beatty.-History:...
) supplied the world with high-class cable and also laid an underwater pipeline across the English Channel (see Submarine communications cable
Submarine communications cable
A submarine communications cable is a cable laid on the sea bed between land-based stations to carry telecommunication signals across stretches of ocean....
). Fuel supplied through this pipeline was used by Allied vehicles during the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944.
The town was bombed heavily during the Second World War, mainly due its position both on the riverside and near to Royal Arsenal.
Because of the bomb damage and the gradual decline in local trade, after the war there was a major redevelopment of the town in the 1960s.
In 1961, plans were put forward by local planners to redevelop Erith into a modern, sleek shopping and working environment. This involved clearing the substandard housing by the riverside and the old street layout in order to accommodate more cars.
In 1965, under the London Government Act 1963
London Government Act 1963
The London Government Act 1963 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which recognised officially the conurbation known as Greater London and created a new local government structure for the capital. The Act significantly reduced the number of local government districts in the area,...
, the Erith Municipal Borough was abolished and its area transferred to Greater London to form part of the present-day London Borough of Bexley
London Borough of Bexley
The London Borough of Bexley lies in south east Greater London, and is a borough referred to as part of Outer London. It has common borders with the London Borough of Bromley to the south, the London Borough of Greenwich to the west, across the River Thames to the north it borders the London...
. The new boundary of the city went far beyond the original London postal districts. Royal Mail
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the government-owned postal service in the United Kingdom. Royal Mail Holdings plc owns Royal Mail Group Limited, which in turn operates the brands Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide...
decided not to echo this change by expanding the London postal district, due to cost considerations. Therefore Erith (along with the majority of Bexley Borough) does not come under the SE postcode area
SE postcode area
The SE postcode area, also known as the London SE postcode area, is the part of the London post town covering part of south east London, England...
and continues to be serviced from Dartford
Dartford
Dartford is the principal town in the borough of Dartford. It is situated in the northwest corner of Kent, England, east south-east of central London....
, Kent, with DA postal codes.
Demolition of the old town started in 1966, when the mayor of Bexley smashed Headley Mitchells shop window, and continued in phases until 1980, leaving few reminders of the old town centre (viz: Queens Church, The Cross Keys pub, police station, the Carnegie Library and Christ Church). Many of the original Victorian buildings
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
were lost but some of the original townscape remains, from the White Hart in the High Street through to St John's Church in West Street.
From the river front there are two point block residential towers opened in the early seventies, the playhouse (begun in 1973) and two rather drab shopping centres (1969 and 1973). Recently, these shopping centres have been refaced and extended to provide new social housing and better quality shops to complement the W.M.Morrison's supermarket to the east of town in an attempt to make Erith more attractive and welcoming. The site formerly used by outdoor markets became a car park serving the improved pedestrianised centre.
In 1975/76, everything to the south of Pier Road was swept away for more modern housing and a new dual carriageway
Dual carriageway
A dual carriageway is a class of highway with two carriageways for traffic travelling in opposite directions separated by a central reservation...
, which still stands today.
In 1996, the two sites of Erith School, the East and West buildings, merged onto one site on Avenue Road. In 2005, the school was awarded Specialist Schools status by the Government, recognising its excellence in PE, Maths and ICT. A new sixth form block opened in 2007. Its Community Sports Centre is used during the evenings and weekends by a variety of teams.
Regeneration
Since the late 1990s Erith has been undergoing significant changes with the Erith Western Thames Gateway project being the culmination of a number of years of regeneration.The regeneration of the area falls within the remit of the Thames Gateway project, with Erith being a key focus for Bexley Council as its only population centre on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
.
Since 2000 a significant number of new flats have been constructed by the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
by private companies such as George Wimpy. It is expected that the Erith Western Gateway, that will include a significant number of new riverside flats, will continue to rejuvenate the area which suffered from the blight of post World War Two rebuilding. The area under consideration in the Erith Western Gateway is a large, underused area of the town centre. Bexley Council are seeking to provide a mixed use development with the potential for 6,000 square metres of new commercial space and over 500 new homes.
The London Borough of Bexley announced the selection of Crest Nicholson
Crest Nicholson
Crest Nicholson is a British housebuilding company based in Chertsey, Surrey.-History:The Company was founded by Bryan Skinner in 1963 as Crest Homes and floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1968. One of the characteristics that differentiated Crest from most other housebuilders of the time was...
/Orbit South to take forward the Erith Western Gateway regeneration scheme. The timing and construction of the gateway is uncertain.
Industries
Erith Iron Works was established in 1864 in Anchor Bay by William AndersonWilliam Anderson (engineer)
Sir William Anderson was director-general of the Royal Ordnance factories.-Life:...
. From 1881 Erith was home to a large cable works founded by William Callender. This became British Insulated Callender's Cables
British Insulated Callender's Cables
British Insulated Callender's Cables was a 20th century British cable manufacturer and construction company, now renamed after former subsidiary Balfour Beatty.-History:...
(BICC), and eventually Pirelli
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
who announced its partial closure in 2003. The remainder became Prysmian
Prysmian
Prysmian is an Italian-based multinational corporation headquartered in Milan and listed on the Milan Stock Exchange, manufacturing and laying cables for the energy and telecommunications sectors, it's the market leader, also thanks to the acquisition of Draka Holding...
.
During the First World War Erith was an extremely important area for the manufacture of guns and ammunition, largely due to the presence of the large Vickers
Vickers
Vickers was a famous name in British engineering that existed through many companies from 1828 until 1999.-Early history:Vickers was formed in Sheffield as a steel foundry by the miller Edward Vickers and his father-in-law George Naylor in 1828. Naylor was a partner in the foundry Naylor &...
works in the Fraser Road area.
In the Second World War, Erith found itself in the thick of the conflict, being directly on the German bombing routes from Europe to London, and also because of the nearby armament factories.
Sport and leisure
A new swimming pool was recently built adjoining the sports centre and the David Ives Stadium, which is home to Bexley Athletic Club and Erith Town F.C.Erith Town F.C.
Erith Town Football Club is a football club based in Erith in the London Borough of Bexley, England. In their previous guise as Erith Town, they had reached the Second Round of the FA Vase five times in their history...
('The Dockers'), who play in the Kent League
Kent League
The Kent League is an English football league for teams based in Kent and south east London, which was established in 1966. It was also the name of a similar league which existed from 1894 until 1959.-History:...
. (Note Erith & Belvedere F.C.
Erith & Belvedere F.C.
Erith & Belvedere F.C., established 1922, is a football club representing Erith, in the London Borough of Bexley. They are currently members of the Kent League Premier Division after being relegated from the Southern League Division One East in 2005.They were also founder members of the Corinthian...
play in Welling
Welling
Welling is a district in the London Borough of Bexley, South East London. It is a suburban development situated between Shooter's Hill and Bexleyheath north of the A2 road and 10.5 miles east south-east of Charing Cross.-History:...
.) Erith Rugby Club play at Northumberland Heath
Northumberland Heath
Northumberland Heath is a neighbourhood and electoral ward within the London Borough of Bexley, south east London, England. Northumberland Heath is often referred to locally as "North' Heath" and is often considered to be part of upper Erith.-History:...
Recreation Ground.
In 2007, the Tour de France passed through Erith during the London leg of the Tour.
The Erith Playhouse
Erith Playhouse
Erith Playhouse is a non-professional theatre based in Erith, in the London Borough of Bexley. Set on the bank of the River Thames in South-East London, in between The White Hart and The Cross Keys public houses on Erith High Street, it is the largest public theatre in the London Borough of...
Theatre is the largest in Bexley
London Borough of Bexley
The London Borough of Bexley lies in south east Greater London, and is a borough referred to as part of Outer London. It has common borders with the London Borough of Bromley to the south, the London Borough of Greenwich to the west, across the River Thames to the north it borders the London...
. There was a museum but it has now closed. A new library with meeting room opened in Spring 2009 opposite the Health Centre.
The Erith Symphony Orchestra ceased to exist in 1972 and it was almost 30 years before another orchestra was heard in the town, when the Dartford-based, Orchestra of the Thames Gateway gave a concert there in 2004 and in subsequent years.
Erith is home to the longest pier
Pier
A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...
in London, on the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. It has been recently adapted from commercial to leisure use, and is popular with anglers. The annual Erith Riverside Festival has been held for a number of years in Riverside Gardens alongside the Thames. Erith Rowing Club is a successful and friendly club located in former police premises on the waterfront, accessed from Erith High Street. Downstream, Erith Yacht Club is very active in both competitive and social sailing, based on the edge of Crayford Marshes with consent for a new clubhouse.
Erith is the starting point for the LOOP (London Outer Orbital Path
London Outer Orbital Path
The London Outer Orbital Path — more usually the "London LOOP" — is a signed walk along public footpaths, and through parks, woods and fields around the edge of Outer London, England, described as "the M25 for walkers"...
) and one of the starting points for the Green Chain Walk. The Thames Path National Trail which runs to the source of the River Thames at Kemble
Kemble, Gloucestershire
Kemble is a village in Gloucestershire, England.It lies four miles from Cirencester and is the settlement closest to Thames Head, the source of the River Thames. Kemble Church is part of the Thameshead benefice, comprising the communities of Kemble, Ewen, Poole Keynes, Somerford Keynes, and...
begins at nearby Crayford Ness.
The initial broadcasts of pirate radio
Pirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
station West and North Kent Radio (WNKR) took place at Norvic House, Larner Road, Erith, during the bank holiday weekend in August 1987, on a frequency of 91.8FM. The station now transmits pre-recorded music shows on the medium wave (198 metres/1512 kHz) at weekends, with some Internet streaming options offered since 2000.
People
- A traditional (anonymous) rhyme has it that:
-
- "There are men in the village of Erith that nobody seeth or heareth,
- and there looms on the marge of the river a barge, that nobody roweth or steereth".
- John DowntonJohn Downton (English artist)John Downton was an English artist, philosopher, musician, and poet.Born at Erith. Kent, Downton drew well from an early age. At age fifteen he won the youth silver medal of the Royal Drawing Society. He was educated at Queens' College, Cambridge , first in English and then in Art History, and...
, artist, poet and philosopher. - The late Linda SmithLinda Smith (comedian)Linda Helen Smith was a British stand-up comic and comedy writer. She appeared regularly on Radio 4 panel games, and was voted "Wittiest Living Person" by listeners in 2002...
, comic and writer, came from Erith. She joked it wasn't twinned with any town but did have a suicide pact with DagenhamDagenhamDagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...
. - Wendy CopeWendy CopeWendy Cope, OBE is an award-winning contemporary English poet. She read history at St Hilda's College, Oxford. She now lives in Ely with the poet Lachlan Mackinnon.-Biography:...
, poet - Edward ButlerEdward Butler (inventor)Edward Butler was an English inventor who produced an early three-wheeled automobile, the Butler Petrol Cycle, which is accepted by many as the first British car....
, inventor - Sir William AndersonWilliam Anderson (engineer)Sir William Anderson was director-general of the Royal Ordnance factories.-Life:...
, engineer and philanthropist - StuckistStuckismStuckism is an international art movement founded in 1999 by Billy Childish and Charles Thomson to promote figurative painting in opposition to conceptual art...
artist Philip AbsolonPhilip AbsolonPhilip Absolon is a British artist and a founder member of the Stuckists art group, exhibiting in the group shows, including The Stuckists Punk Victorian at the Walker Art Gallery in 2004, and taking part in Stuckist demonstrations against the Turner Prize...
, Motor racing driver Tony BriseTony BriseAnthony William Brise was a British racing driver from England. He won two of the three British Formula Three Championships in 1973...
, cartoonist Mike JuppMichael JuppMichael Jupp is an English cartoonist, designer and illustrator.Jupp studied at the West Sussex College of Art and Design at Worthing, West Sussex gaining qualifications in Art and Animation, plus diplomas in Art and Advertising Design. Jupp started his career in London working for E.F...
and author James LeasorJames LeasorJames Leasor was a prolific British author, who wrote historical books and thrillers. Leasor's 1978 book, Boarding Party, about an incident that took place in the Second World War, was turned into a film, The Sea Wolves, starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore and David Niven.-Biography:Leasor was born...
were all born in Erith. - 19th century engineer Anthony ReckenzaunAnthony ReckenzaunAnthony Reckenzaun was an electrical engineer who worked in the UK and the US.Reckenzaun worked on electric tramcars and electric boats. He is probably best known for applying worm gear drive to tramcars...
worked at the Erith Ironworks and set up evening classes for the workmen.
Representation
The largest part of Erith is in the Erith ward of the London Borough of BexleyLondon Borough of Bexley
The London Borough of Bexley lies in south east Greater London, and is a borough referred to as part of Outer London. It has common borders with the London Borough of Bromley to the south, the London Borough of Greenwich to the west, across the River Thames to the north it borders the London...
. The local councillors are, Chris Ball (Labour), Edward Boateng (Labour) and Margaret O'Neill ( Labour). The eastern part of Erith is in North End
North End (Bexley ward)
North End is an electoral ward in the London Borough of Bexley which consists of Slade Green, the eastern part of Erith and a tiny part of Barnehurst, along with parts of Northend. Community interests are represented by , which is a registered charity...
ward and the southern part in Colyers ward
Colyers ward
Colyers is an electoral ward in the London Borough of Bexley. It consists of parts of Barnehurst, Erith and Northumberland Heath. Ward Councillors are Brian Bishop, Maxine Fothergill and Chris Taylor ....
.
Most of Erith lies within the Erith and Thamesmead constituency. The current M.P. is Teresa Pearce (Labour). The eastern part of Erith is within the Bexleyheath and Crayford
Bexleyheath and Crayford (UK Parliament constituency)
-Elections in the 2000s:-Elections in the 1990s:-See also:*List of Parliamentary constituencies in Greater London*David Evennett Wikipedia page**Howard Dawber Wikipedia page**-References:...
constituency. The M.P. is David Evennett
David Evennett
David Anthony Evennett is the Conservative Member of Parliament for Bexleyheath and Crayford.-Early life:He was educated at Buckhurst Hill County High School and the London School of Economics where he was awarded an MSc in Economics...
(Conservative).
Erith is in the Bexley and Bromley London Assembly
Bexley and Bromley (London Assembly constituency)
Bexley and Bromley is a constituency represented in the London Assembly.It consists of the combined area of the London Borough of Bexley and the London Borough of Bromley...
constituency and is represented on the London Assembly
London Assembly
The London Assembly is an elected body, part of the Greater London Authority, that scrutinises the activities of the Mayor of London and has the power, with a two-thirds majority, to amend the mayor's annual budget. The assembly was established in 2000 and is headquartered at City Hall on the south...
by James Cleverly
James Cleverly
James Spencer Cleverly is Leader of the Conservative group on the London Assembly, the Chairman of the London Waste and Recycling Board and until February 2010 was the Mayor of London's Ambassador for Youth. He was elected for the Bexley and Bromley constituency in May 2008 as a candidate of the...
(Conservative).
Community interests are represented by Erith Town Forum. In the eastern part of Erith (in North End ward) community interests are also represented by Slade Green Community Forum.
Education
- For education in Erith see the main London Borough of Bexley article
Places of worship
Christadelphian Hall, Lesney Park Rd. ErithChrist Church, Victoria Rd. Erith
Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness, Fraser Rd, Erith
Northend Baptist Church, Larner Rd, Erith
Northumberland Road Baptist Church, Belmont Road, Erith
Our Lady of the Angels, Carlton Road, Erith
Queen Street Baptist Church, Erith
St. Augustines Church (Slade Green), Slade Green Rd, Erith
St. Johns the Baptist Church, West Street, Erith
St. Paul's Church, Mill Road, Erith
The Treasure House, Bexley Road, Erith
Nearest places
- BelvedereBelvedere, LondonBelvedere is a suburban and largely working class area and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bexley in Southeast London.-History:The area which is today known as Belvedere was originally part of Lesness Heath, which originally stretched from the area of Lesnes Abbey to Erith and constituted...
- BexleyheathBexleyheathBexleyheath is a main suburban district of Southeast London, England, in the London Borough of Bexley with a small percentage of the district itself being in the London Borough of Greenwich. Bexleyheath is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is east south-east of Charing Cross...
- Northumberland HeathNorthumberland HeathNorthumberland Heath is a neighbourhood and electoral ward within the London Borough of Bexley, south east London, England. Northumberland Heath is often referred to locally as "North' Heath" and is often considered to be part of upper Erith.-History:...
- ThamesmeadThamesmeadThamesmead is a district of south-east London, England, located in the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley. It is situated east of Charing Cross....
- Slade GreenSlade GreenSlade Green is a place in south- east London closer to the edge of London located in the London Borough of Bexley. It is a suburban development situated east-southeast of Charing Cross and lying south of the River Thames slightly to the west of the River Darenth and River Cray.-History and...
- WellingWellingWelling is a district in the London Borough of Bexley, South East London. It is a suburban development situated between Shooter's Hill and Bexleyheath north of the A2 road and 10.5 miles east south-east of Charing Cross.-History:...
- Abbey WoodAbbey WoodAbbey Wood is a district of South-East London, England, located mostly in the London Borough of Greenwich, and partly within the London Borough of Bexley. It is situated east of Charing Cross.-Development:...
Rail
Erith railway station is only a short walk from the town centre. Peak service includes trains to London Charing Cross and London Cannon Street, via Woolwich and Greenwich, every 15 minutes. Peak service to the east includes trains every 15 minutes to Dartford, and a limited service to Crayford or Gravesend and Gillingham. Trains on a Sunday run twice an hour. There is a 24hr cab service at the gate of the station.Nearest railway stations
- Erith railway stationErith railway stationErith station serves Erith in the London Borough of Bexley, southeast London.The station stands between Belvedere and Slade Green on the North Kent line...
- North Kent lineNorth Kent LineThe North Kent Line is a railway line which connects central and south east London with Dartford and Medway.-Construction:The North Kent Line was the means by which the South Eastern Railway were able to connect its system to London at London Bridge... - Slade Green railway stationSlade Green railway stationSlade Green railway station is in the London Borough of Bexley, southeast London, on the North Kent Line. The station, and all trains serving it, is operated by Southeastern.- Services :The typical off-peak service from the station is:...
- North Kent line - Belvedere railway stationBelvedere railway stationBelvedere railway station is a railway station in South East London between Abbey Wood and Erith. It is served by Southeastern. A level crossing beyond the platforms' western limits was closed prior to the westerly extension of platforms circa 1994 and the ticket office and passenger shelters were...
- North Kent line - Barnehurst railway stationBarnehurst railway stationBarnehurst railway station serves Barnehurst, London Borough of Bexley: it is 13.9 miles from Central London on the Bexleyheath Line...
- Bexleyheath lineBexleyheath LineThe Bexleyheath Line runs for 8 miles from Blackheath to Dartford in Kent operating between the North Kent Line just to the east of Blackheath station and to the same line south of Slade Green in Dartford.-History:...
Buses
- 99 - BexleyheathBexleyheathBexleyheath is a main suburban district of Southeast London, England, in the London Borough of Bexley with a small percentage of the district itself being in the London Borough of Greenwich. Bexleyheath is located on the border of Inner London and Outer London. It is east south-east of Charing Cross...
Town Centre and WoolwichWoolwichWoolwich is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.Woolwich formed part of Kent until 1889 when the County of London was created...
Shopping Centre - 229London Buses route 229London Buses route 229 is a Transport for London contracted bus route in London, England. The service is currently contracted to Go-Ahead London.-History:...
- ThamesmeadThamesmeadThamesmead is a district of south-east London, England, located in the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley. It is situated east of Charing Cross....
Town Centre and SidcupSidcupSidcup is a district in South East London in the London Borough of Bexley and small parts of the district in the London Borough of Greenwich.Located south east of Charing Cross, Sidcup is bordered by the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bromley and Kent County Council, and whilst now part of...
Queen Marys Hospital - 428 - Erith Town Centre and Bluewater Shopping Centre
- 469 - Erith Town Centre and Woolwich CommonWoolwich CommonWoolwich Common is an area of military land located to the south of the town centre of Woolwich in South East London England.It is bounded on the south side by the A207 Shooter's Hill Road, and on the east by Academy Road that the former Royal Military Academy fronts. Situated to the west is the...
Queen Elizabeth Hospital - B12 - Erith Town Centre and Joydens WoodJoydens WoodJoyden's Wood is one of over 1,000 woodlands in the UK looked after by the Woodland Trust. The first records of a wood on this site go back to 1600 AD making it an Ancient Woodland site.-Location:...
- N89 - Erith Town Centre and Trafalgar SquareTrafalgar SquareTrafalgar Square is a public space and tourist attraction in central London, England, United Kingdom. At its centre is Nelson's Column, which is guarded by four lion statues at its base. There are a number of statues and sculptures in the square, with one plinth displaying changing pieces of...
External links
- erithtown.net - an introduction and guide to Erith, with comprehensive directory
- Bexley Local Studies Note 11 - Erith - gives a good outline history of the area
- North West Kent Family History Society - Erith Parish Page