# Bexley
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{{Short description|Area of Greater London, England}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{About|the area|the borough|London Borough of Bexley|other uses}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Bexley
| country = England
| region = London
| static_image_name = Bexley High Street - geograph.org.uk - 1053630.jpg
| static_image_caption = Bexley High Street
| population =
| population_ref =
| os_grid_reference = TQ465755
| coordinates = {{coord|51.441|0.149|display=inline,title}}
| post_town = BEXLEY
| postcode_area = DA
| postcode_district = DA5
| dial_code = 020
| dial_code1 = 01322
| constituency_westminster = [Old Bexley and Sidcup](/source/Old_Bexley_and_Sidcup)
| charingX_distance_mi =
| charingX_direction =
| london_borough = Bexley
}}
'''Bexley''' is an area of south-eastern [Greater London](/source/Greater_London), [England](/source/England) and part of the [London Borough of Bexley](/source/London_Borough_of_Bexley). It is sometimes known as '''Bexley Village''' or '''Old Bexley'''[Bexley Council road signs indicate this: www.bexley.gov.uk] to differentiate the area from the wider borough. It is located {{convert|13|mi|km}} east-southeast of [Charing Cross](/source/Charing_Cross) and south of [Bexleyheath](/source/Bexleyheath).
Bexley was an ancient parish in the county of [Kent](/source/Kent). As part of the suburban growth of London in the 20th century, Bexley increased in population, [becoming a municipal borough](/source/Municipal_Borough_of_Bexley) in 1935 and has formed part of Greater London since 1965.
==History==
[[File:Freemantle Hall, Bexley Village.jpg|thumb|The [Victorian](/source/Victorian_architecture) Freemantle Hall, Bexley]]
The name Bexley derives from the [Old English](/source/Old_English) ''byxelēah'' meaning '[boxtree](/source/boxtree) wood or clearing'.[http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Kent/Bexley]
Bexley was an [ancient parish](/source/ancient_parish) in [Kent](/source/Kent), in the [Diocese of Rochester](/source/Anglican_Diocese_of_Rochester), and under the [Local Government Act 1894](/source/Local_Government_Act_1894) formed part of [Bexley Urban District](/source/Bexley_Urban_District). The urban district gained further status in 1935 as a [municipal borough](/source/municipal_borough). [Kent County Council](/source/Kent_County_Council) formed the second tier of local government during that time. In 1965, [London County Council](/source/London_County_Council) was abolished and replaced by [Greater London Council](/source/Greater_London_Council), with an expanded administrative area that took in the metropolitan parts of the [Home Counties](/source/Home_Counties). Bexley Municipal Borough, Erith Municipal Borough, Crayford Urban District Council and Chislehurst & Sidcup Urban District Council were merged (less areas of Chislehurst and Sidcup that became part of the new London Borough of Bromley) into a new [London Borough of Bexley](/source/London_Borough_of_Bexley).
==Geography and landmarks==
thumb|upright=0.8|St. Mary's Church spire
Bexley's main [landmark](/source/landmark) is the [Anglican church](/source/Church_of_England_parish_church) of [St. Mary](/source/Mary%2C_mother_of_Jesus) which lends its name to the London Borough of Bexley [electoral ward](/source/electoral_ward) containing the [village](/source/village). The [ancient church](/source/Church_(building))'s most distinctive exterior feature undoubtedly is its unusual [spire](/source/spire) which resembles an octagonal cone balancing on top of a truncated pyramid. Originally built in the [Middle Ages](/source/Middle_Ages), its monastic-style [interior](/source/Church_architecture) survived from the [Reformation](/source/Protestant_Reformation)[{{CCEd |type=location |id=29 |name=Parish (church): Bexley |accessed=28 October 2024 }}] until the 18th century, before refurbishment in [Victorian times](/source/Victorian_times). Among others, the German-born scientist [Henry Oldenburg](/source/Henry_Oldenburg) was buried in the [churchyard](/source/churchyard) in 1677.
[Hall Place](/source/Hall_Place), a former [stately home](/source/stately_home) beside the [River Cray](/source/River_Cray) on the Bourne Road out of Bexley towards Crayford, is where the [Austen baronets](/source/Austen_baronets) lived. It lies to the north of Bexley at the foot of the road (Gravel Hill) up onto Bexley Heath (now covered in the modern day town of Bexleyheath). The [house](/source/Manor_house) is unusual in that its two halves are built in highly contrasting architectural styles with little attempt at harmonising them.[{{Cite web |url=http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3942 |title=Hall Place and Gardens |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717143600/http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3942 |archive-date=17 July 2013 |access-date=19 March 2013}}] The house and grounds are now owned by the London Borough of Bexley, and are open to the public. The gardens include a [topiary](/source/topiary) display of [traditional heraldic figures](/source/Queen's_Beasts). Three walking routes pass Hall Place, the local council-sponsored Shuttle River Way and Cray River Way and the Mayor of London's ["London LOOP" walk](/source/London_Outer_Orbital_Path), which, shortly after its start at [Erith](/source/Erith), follows the Cray River Way from [Crayford](/source/Crayford) to [Foots Cray](/source/Foots_Cray).
[Danson House](/source/Danson_House) and the surrounding [Danson Park](/source/Danson_Park) in [Welling](/source/Welling) are two of the main popular attractions in the London Borough of Bexley. The Shaw family, celebrated 19th-century architects came from Bexley: [John Shaw](/source/John_Shaw_Sr.) (1776–1832) worked on [Lamorbey Park](/source/Lamorbey_Park) and was a well-known architect in [Kent](/source/Kent) and [Middlesex](/source/Middlesex), being one of the first designers of semi-detached housing in the capital. He is buried at St. Mary's Church; his son, [John Shaw Jr](/source/John_Shaw_Jr), lived in nearby [Crayford](/source/Crayford) for a short time and owned a [villa](/source/villa) which was demolished in the early 20th century.
==Places of worship==
thumb|upright=0.8|St John the Evangelist, late 19c neo-gothic design
* St. Mary the Virgin Church, Bexley[{{Cite web |url=http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11192 |title=Borough of Bexley: Churches of Interest |publisher=Government of the United Kingdom |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711114125/http://www.bexley.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=11192 |archive-date=11 July 2012 }}][{{Cite web |url=http://www.stmarysbexley.co.uk/ |title=St. Mary the Virgin Church, Manor Road |publisher=Stmarysbexley.co.uk |access-date=10 August 2012}}]
* Albany Park Baptist Church, Stansted Crescent[{{Cite web |url=http://www.albanyparkbc.org.uk |title=Albany Park Baptist Church |access-date=19 March 2013}}]
* [St. Augustine's Church](/source/St._Augustine's_Church%2C_Slade_Green), Slade Green Road[{{Cite web |url=http://www.staugustines-sladegreen.church |title=St. Augustine's |access-date=8 August 2018}}]
* St. John the Evangelist, Parkhill Road[{{Cite web |url=http://www.stjohnsbexley.org |title=St. John the Evangelist |access-date=19 March 2013}}]
* Strict [Baptist](/source/Baptist) Chapel, Bourne Road[{{Cite web |url=http://bexleybaptistchapel.org/ |title=Old Bexley Baptist Chapel |website=bexleybaptistchapel.org}}]
* [United Reformed Church](/source/United_Reformed_Church), Hurst Road[{{Cite web |url=http://bexley-urc.co.uk/ |title=Bexley United Reformed Church, Bexley, Kent - Bexley URC |website=bexley-urc.co.uk}}]
* [Our Lady of Angels Church](/source/Our_Lady_of_the_Angels_Church%2C_Erith), Bexley Road[{{Cite web |url=https://www.olaerith.org.uk/ |title=Our Lady of the Angels RC Church |website=Our Lady of the Angels RC Church}}]
* [St. Paulinus Church](/source/St._Paulinus_Church%2C_Bexley), Bexley[{{Cite web |title=St Paulinus, Crayford {{!}} Bexley Care Services and Resources |url=https://careservices.bexley.gov.uk/Services/837/St-Paulinus-Crayfor |access-date=2023-08-03 |website=careservices.bexley.gov.uk}}]
==Transport==
[Bexley railway station](/source/Bexley_railway_station) serves the area with services to [London Charing Cross](/source/Charing_Cross_railway_station) via [Sidcup](/source/Sidcup_railway_station) and to [Gravesend](/source/Gravesend_railway_station). Bexley is served by several [Transport for London](/source/Transport_for_London) [bus](/source/bus) services connecting it with areas including [Abbey Wood](/source/Abbey_Wood), [Bexleyheath](/source/Bexleyheath), [Bromley](/source/Bromley), [Crayford](/source/Crayford), [Chislehurst](/source/Chislehurst), [Dartford](/source/Dartford), [Eltham](/source/Eltham), [Erith](/source/Erith), [North Greenwich](/source/Greenwich), [Sidcup](/source/Sidcup), [Thamesmead](/source/Thamesmead), and [Welling](/source/Welling).
==Culture==
[[File:War Memorial, Bexley.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|Bexley War Memorial with its [Cross of Sacrifice](/source/Cross_of_Sacrifice)]]
{{For|education in Bexley|London Borough of Bexley#Education}}
* [Old Dartfordians'](/source/Dartford_Grammar_School) [War Memorial](/source/War_Memorial) clubhouse, Bourne Road (home to the DA5 Club). This is home to both Dartfordians' Rugby Club and Dartfordians' Cricket Club.
* Bexley Cricket Club is based on Manor Way.[{{Cite web |url=http://www.bexleycc.co.uk/ |title=StackPath |website=bexleycc.co.uk}}]
* Burnt Ash (Bexley) Hockey Club are also based at Manor Way, and play their home matches here, at Hurstmere School or at Erith School.[{{Cite web |url=http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/burntashhc/ |title=Burnt Ash (Bexley) Hockey Club |access-date=16 March 2013}}]
== Twin towns and sister cities ==
Bexley is [twinned](/source/sister_city) with:
* [Arnsberg](/source/Arnsberg), [North Rhine-Westphalia](/source/North_Rhine-Westphalia), Germany[{{Cite web |date=21 August 2024 |title=Mapped: Twin Towns Of All London Boroughs |url=https://londonist.com/london/features/mapped-london-borough-twin-towns |access-date=20 February 2026 |website=Londonist}}]
* [Évry](/source/%C3%89vry%2C_Essonne), [Île-de-France](/source/%C3%8Ele-de-France), France