Planning & Architecture Services in Bexley London Borough

London Borough of Bexley History

Before the 19th century, the region now comprising the borough was sparsely inhabited, with very few of today’s settlements even mentioned in the Domesday Book. Notably, the village of Bexley can be traced back to a charter dated 814 AD. Erith, once a port on the River Thames, maintained its maritime significance until the 17th century. However, the establishment of sewage works at nearby Crossness in the late 19th century transformed Erith into an industrial town.

The present settlement layout is a consequence of the gradual expansion of London’s influence. Up until the 19th century, the area was characterized by scattered structures, including the Georgian Danson House. The advent of railways spurred rapid construction, yet the region still comprises numerous separate settlements intermingled with open spaces and parks.

The London Borough of Bexley was created in 1965, in accordance with the London Government Act of 1963. It was formed by merging the Municipal Boroughs of Bexley and Erith, the Crayford Urban District, and a portion of the Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District. All of these were entirely within the boundaries of the historic county of Kent. Initially, the council convened at Erith Town Hall before constructing purpose-built Civic Offices on the south side of the Broadway in Bexleyheath in 1980. In 2014, new Civic Offices were established at the former headquarters of The Woolwich.

The council presently adopts the name “London Borough of Bexley” in alignment with its formal title. It previously identified as “Bexley London Borough” until 1999, likely to maintain a connection with its predecessor, the Bexley Municipal Borough. From 1999 to October 2007, it referred to itself as “Bexley Council” before reverting to its full formal name along with the introduction of a new Council logo featuring this name alongside the 1965 Coat of Arms.