# St Mary Cray > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/St_Mary_Cray > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/St_Mary_Cray.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary_Cray > Source revision: 1349607515 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Area of south-east London, England}} {{Use British English|date=November 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}} {{Infobox UK place | country = England | region = London | static_image_name = Southern Face of the Church of Saint Mary, St Mary Cray.jpg | static_image_caption = The Church of St Mary in St Mary Cray | official_name = St Mary Cray | london_borough = Bromley | constituency_westminster = [Orpington](/source/Orpington_(UK_Parliament_constituency)) | post_town = ORPINGTON | postcode_area = BR | postcode_district = BR5 | dial_code = 01689 | os_grid_reference = TQ466680 | coordinates = {{coord|51.3920|0.1080|display=inline,title}} | population = | population_ref = | charingX_distance_mi = 13 | charingX_direction = NW }} '''St Mary Cray''' is a suburb of [Orpington](/source/Orpington) within the [London Borough of Bromley](/source/London_Borough_of_Bromley), [Greater London](/source/Greater_London). Historically it was a [market town](/source/market_town) in the county of [Kent](/source/Kent). It is located north of Orpington town centre, and {{convert|13|mi|km}} south-east of [Charing Cross](/source/Charing_Cross). ==History== thumb|left|Building that formerly housed the Blue Anchor, a pub with fifteenth-century origins The name Cray possibly derives from the Anglo-Saxon ''crecca'', meaning brook or rivulet, though it also relates to the Welsh word ''craie'', meaning fresh water. The name may also derive from the Latin word ''creta'', meaning chalk, as the [River Cray](/source/River_Cray) flows over a chalk bed. The village name derives from the dedication of the parish church to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Roman and Saxon remains have been found in the Fordcroft area. An excavation in 1960 was conducted by members of Bromley Museum in Orpington. Members of the Orpington and District Archaeological Society (ODAS) have excavated further sites that have become available. St Mary Cray developed into a market town. The privilege of holding a market on Wednesdays was granted by Edward I (1272 - 1307). The district being an agricultural one, the small population worked on its many fruit farms and hopfields.{{cite book |title= The Book of Orpington |author= Dorothy Cox |publisher= Barracuda Books |date=1983 |isbn= 978-0860234241}} The most famous of the early industries were the 17th-century foundries of Hodson and Hull where several famous bells were cast. Christopher Hodson made bells for Canterbury Cathedral and Oxford.3. Article by Tony Lathey in A Cray Compendium, editors Jerry Dowlen and Mike Floate, Cray 150 Publications 2014 {{ISBN|9780956829351}}5. London Borough of Bromley Official Guide, published by authority of the Council of the London Borough of Bromley, 1971/74 The advent of the Industrial Revolution saw brewing and paper manufacturing grow into principal industries beside the River Cray. Three mills are mentioned in Domesday (1087). From the early 1800s until the Depression in the 1930s, many local workers were employed at the Joynson and the William Nash paper mills. thumb|left|91 High Street, a building with possible sixteenth-century origins With the expansion of the railways, the population increased rapidly. The building of the railway viaduct across the Cray Valley is considered to be the origin in 1860 of [Cray Wanderers F.C.](/source/Cray_Wanderers_F.C.) who are London's oldest association football club. Migrant workers came to the district to help construct the giant earth embankments for what became the London, Chatham & Dover Railway. Games of football started at Star Lane, today the site of a cemetery.4. Forever Amber, Cray Wanderers FC 1860 – 2010 The History of London's Oldest Football Club by Jerry Dowlen, Peter Goringe and Mike Floate, Cray 150 Publications 2011, {{ISBN|9780956829306}} In the 1930s the farmlands of Poverest on the west side of the river were turned over to the construction of industrial and office buildings. The factories along Cray Avenue were engaged in industries ranging from paint and ink manufacture to baking and preserved foods. During and after the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War), Star Lane cemetery was to become the burial ground for several airmen of the [RAF](/source/Royal_Air_Force) and Commonwealth Air Forces. Three [Polish](/source/Poland) airmen were also buried here, one of them being [Stanisław Grodzicki](/source/Stanis%C5%82aw_Grodzicki), who was killed in an air crash over Croydon.{{cite web|url=http://www.ww2guards.com/ww2guards/Cemeteries_-_England_O-Z/Pages/ORPINGTON_(ST._MARY_CRAY)_CEMETERY,_ENGLAND.html|title=Orpington (St Mary Cray) Cemetery, England|publisher=ww2guards.com|access-date=20 February 2015}} In 1971 the St Mary Cray Action Group was founded. It erected a new village sign, at Sandway, in 1992. [John Horam](/source/John_Horam), then the MP for Orpington, recorded in 1999: "The Crays are truly a slice of Kent, on the edge of London, once rural, now full of housing and commerce."{{cite book |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Illustrated-Guide-Mary-Upper-Valley/dp/B001886HKA |title= An Illustrated Guide to St Mary Cray and the Upper Cray Valley |author=John Blundell |publisher= St Mary Cray Action Group 1999 |asin= B001886HKA}} ==Notable events== {{multiple image | align = right | image1 = St Mary Cray War Memorial (I).jpg | width1 = 200 | alt1 = | caption1 = | image2 = Head of the St Mary Cray War Memorial.jpg | width2 = 200 | alt2 = | caption2 = | footer = The twentieth-century war memorial in St Mary Cray, now a Grade II listed structure }} ===Cray Wanderers FC=== {{Further|Cray Wanderers F.C.}} St Mary Cray was the original home of Cray Wanderers FC, claimed to have been having been formed in 1860, which may be the oldest football club in London. ===The Romany=== St Mary Cray has the largest settled [Romani groups](/source/Romani_people) community in the UK.[http://poweredby.jobsgopublic.com/media/layouts/146/recruitmentinfopack_management.pdf "Working for Bromley ... making a difference", Recruitment Information Pack for Management Grade Posts, London Borough of Bromley] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227065735/http://poweredby.jobsgopublic.com/media/layouts/146/recruitmentinfopack_management.pdf |date=27 February 2007 }} Accessed 29 September 2007 In the past, hop and soft fruit farms in the area employed large numbers of itinerant workers. ===Battle of St Mary Cray=== On Saturday 24 April 1954 a clash between [Teddy Boys](/source/Teddy_Boys) or Edwardians, as they were then known, attracted attention. The ''Orpington & Kentish Times'' had the headline: "Gang Battle" at Railway Station: Edwardian Youths in Half-Hour Fight: Wooden Stakes, Sand-Filled Socks as Weapons". The two gangs were from [Downham](/source/Downham%2C_London) and [St Paul's Cray](/source/St_Paul's_Cray), and sported stovepipe trousers, crepe shoes and drape jackets. Trouble had started earlier in the evening when a "rowdy" party of youths and a few girls from [Downham Estate](/source/Downham_Estate), Bromley, arrived at St Paul's Cray Community Centre, where a dance was being held. The paper reported "a knife was drawn when a member of the band objected to being jostled", and "a man had a glass of orange juice thrown in his face during an exchange of words." The MC, George Couchman said: "I warned the crowd police were standing by and also took the precaution of the band playing calming music – no quicksteps." The crowd dispersed at 11 o'clock, but a fight broke out at the local station, and 40 youths were held over night.{{cite book|title=''Family Britain 1951–1957''|first=David|last=Kynaston|author-link=David Kynaston|publisher= Bloomsbury|date= 2009|page=381}}{{ISBN|978-1-4088-0083-6}} ===Local government=== St Mary Cray was an ancient parish in the county of [Kent](/source/Kent). It formed part of the [Bromley Rural District](/source/Bromley_Rural_District) from 1894 and was absorbed by the [Orpington Urban District](/source/Orpington_Urban_District) in 1934. The Orpington Urban District was abolished in 1965 and the area became part of the [London Borough of Bromley](/source/London_Borough_of_Bromley) in [Greater London](/source/Greater_London). St Mary Cray is represented by the [St Mary Cray ward](/source/St_Mary_Cray_(ward)) which elects three councillors to [Bromley London Borough Council](/source/Bromley_London_Borough_Council). ==Retail== thumb|right|The nineteenth-century 231 High Street in St Mary Cray Like nearby [St Paul's Cray](/source/St_Paul's_Cray), it has been somewhat overshadowed by the growth of [Orpington](/source/Orpington), which now provides local communities with their main shopping and business facilities. Today it is mostly suburban housing, to a large amount of working class and ex traveller people. Originally the main feature of the town was its small [parade of shops](/source/parade_of_shops) which was once longer than Orpington High Street. Today, it is the Nugents Retail Park on Cray Avenue which include several large stores including [Marks and Spencers](/source/Marks_and_Spencers) and [Next](/source/Next_plc). However, before Nugents opened, the industrial estates of both St Mary Cray and St Paul's Cray were a dominant feature on Cray Avenue and Sevenoaks Way. Many of these grew as part of the new 'light electrical industries' which were springing up. Throughout the 1950s, the area now known as The Nugent housed two large [Morphy Richards](/source/Morphy_Richards) factories. Their business began in the small factory which used to be by the railway embankment, on the opposite side of the road. They eventually moved out of the area in the 1960s. The [art deco](/source/art_deco) tower of the [Allied Bakery](/source/Associated_British_Foods), formerly [Tip Top Bakeries](/source/Tip_Top_Bakeries), is a local landmark. Just along from the bakery is Lagoon Road, so named because in the 1930s there was an outdoor [lido](/source/Lido_(swimming_pool)) called the Blue Lagoon. ==Nearby areas== St Mary Cray borders [St Paul's Cray](/source/St_Paul's_Cray) to the north west and north, [Swanley](/source/Swanley) to the north east, [Crockenhill](/source/Crockenhill) to the east, [Orpington](/source/Orpington) to the south east, south and south west, and [Petts Wood](/source/Petts_Wood) to the west. ==Transport== thumb|right|Railway arch passing through St Mary Cray ===Rail=== [St Mary Cray station](/source/St_Mary_Cray_station) connects the area with [Southeastern](/source/Southeastern_(train_operating_company)) services to [London Victoria](/source/London_Victoria_railway_station), [Ashford International](/source/Ashford_International_station) via [Maidstone East](/source/Maidstone_East_station) and to [Gillingham](/source/Gillingham_railway_station_(Kent)), as well as [Thameslink](/source/Govia_Thameslink_Railway) services to [London Blackfriars](/source/London_Blackfriars) via [Catford](/source/Catford_station) and to [Sevenoaks](/source/Sevenoaks_station). ===Buses=== * 51 to [Woolwich](/source/Woolwich) via [St Pauls Cray](/source/St_Pauls_Cray), [Foots Cray](/source/Foots_Cray), [Sidcup](/source/Sidcup), [Blackfen](/source/Blackfen), [Welling](/source/Welling) & [Plumstead Common](/source/Plumstead) OR to [Orpington](/source/Orpington). Operated by [Go-Ahead London](/source/Go-Ahead_London) for [London Buses](/source/London_Buses). *273 to [Lewisham](/source/Lewisham) via St Pauls Cray, [Chislehurst](/source/Chislehurst), [Mottingham](/source/Mottingham), [Grove Park](/source/Grove_Park%2C_Lewisham), [Horn Park](/source/Horn_Park), [Lee](/source/Lee%2C_London) & [Hither Green](/source/Hither_Green) OR to [Petts Wood](/source/Petts_Wood) via [Poverest](/source/Poverest). Operated by [Stagecoach London](/source/Stagecoach_London) for London Buses. *477 to [Dartford](/source/Dartford) via [Crockenhill](/source/Crockenhill), [Swanley](/source/Swanley), [Hextable](/source/Hextable) & [Wilmington](/source/Wilmington%2C_Kent) OR to Orpington. Operated by [Arriva Kent Thameside](/source/Arriva_Kent_Thameside). *N199 to [Trafalgar Square](/source/Trafalgar_Square) via Orpington, Petts Wood, [Bromley](/source/Bromley), [Downham](/source/Downham%2C_London), [Bellingham](/source/Bellingham%2C_London), [Catford](/source/Catford), [Ladywell](/source/Ladywell), Lewisham, [Greenwich](/source/Greenwich%2C_London), [Deptford](/source/Deptford), [Surrey Quays](/source/Surrey_Quays), [Canada Water](/source/Canada_Water), [Bermondsey](/source/Bermondsey), [London Bridge](/source/Southwark) & [Aldwych](/source/Aldwych). Night service. Operated by Stagecoach London for London Buses. *B14 to [Bexleyheath](/source/Bexleyheath) via St Pauls Cray, Sidcup, [Albany Park](/source/Albany_Park%2C_Bexley) & [Blendon](/source/Blendon%2C_London) OR to Orpington. Operated by Stagecoach London for London Buses. *R1 to St Pauls Cray OR to [Green Street Green](/source/Green_Street_Green) via Orpington & [Chelsfield](/source/Chelsfield). Operated by Go-Ahead London for London Buses. *R3 to [Locksbottom](/source/Locksbottom) via Poverest & Petts Wood OR to Orpington. Operated by Go-Ahead London for London Buses. *R4 to Pauls Cray Hill OR to Locksbottom via Orpington & [Farnborough](/source/Farnborough%2C_London). Operated by Go-Ahead London for London Buses. *R6 to Orpington. Operated by Go-Ahead London for London Buses. *R11 to Sidcup via St Pauls Cray & Foots Cray OR to Green Street Green via Orpington. Operated by Go-Ahead London for London Buses. ==Notable people== * [Allan Octavian Hume](/source/Allan_Octavian_Hume) (1829-1912) - notable ornithologist and founder of the [Indian National Congress](/source/Indian_National_Congress), born in St Mary Cray.Moulton (2004); ''[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica)'' and some older sources give his birthplace as [Montrose](/source/Montrose%2C_Angus), [Forfarshire](/source/Forfarshire). ==References== {{Reflist}} {{LB Bromley}} {{Areas of London}} {{Irish Travellers}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Mary Cray}} Category:St Mary Cray Category:Areas of London Category:Districts of the London Borough of Bromley Category:Market towns in London Category:Irish Travellers in England Category:Romani communities in the United Kingdom Category:Former civil parishes in the London Borough of Bromley --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [St Mary Cray](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary_Cray) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Mary_Cray?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.