Bexley
From Free net encyclopedia
- For other uses, see Bexley (disambiguation).
Template:Infobox London place Bexley is a place in south east London in the London Borough of Bexley. It is located on the banks of the River Cray south of the Roman Road Watling Street. There are two parts to the town - Old Bexley, still with the appearance of a village, and more recent suburban areas that blend into Bexleyheath where the main administrative offices of the London Borough of Bexley and council chamber are located.
The main landmark is the church of Saint Mary's which gives its name to the electoral ward containing the village. The church's most distinctive feature is probably the unusual spire which resembles an octagonal cone balanced precariously on top of a truncated pyramid. (see below)
Hall Place is a former stately home, beside the River Cray to the east of Bexleyheath and north-east of Old Bexley. The house is unusual in that its two halves are built in highly contrasting architectural styles, with little attempt at harmonizing them.
Bexley was once home to one of the most famous architectual families in London during the 19th century, Shaw & Hardwick. The Shaws were from Bexley and John Shaw Senior (1776-1832) is buried at St Mary's church. Image:Bexley Church.JPG The house and grounds are now owned by Bexley borough council, and are open to the public. The gardens include a topiary display of traditional heraldic figures. The "London LOOP" walk passes Hall Place on its way through Bexley, following the River Cray from Crayford to Foots Cray.
Danson Park where Danson House is situated, are two of the main popular attractions in Bexley.
Bexley was an ancient parish of Kent and under the Local Government Act 1894 formed part of Bexley Urban District. The urban district gained further status in 1935 as a municipal borough. The municipal borough was abolished in 1965 and its former area transferred to Greater London to be combined with that of other districts to form the present-day London Borough of Bexley.
One of London's finest architectual families in the 19th Century came from Bexley, the Shaws, John Shaw Senior and Shaw Junior. Shaw Senior worked on Lamorbey Park and was a well known architect in Kent. He is buried at the famous church of Saint Mary's; his son lived in the nearby area of Crayford for a short period of time. For more information check: www.shaw-hardwick.co.uk