IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Bourne Industrial Park, Bourne Road, DARTFORD, DA1 4BF

The Environment Agency's flow measurement station on the River Cray.

Somebody has amused themselves stuffing old plastic bags into the mesh on this derelict gate.

Crayford Baptist Church in Bexley Lane, just off the Roman Watling Street, was founded in 1810. In 1866 the foundation stones of the present church were laid and it was formally opened in May 1867 by the famous Baptist minister Charles Haddon Spurgeon, known as the Prince of Preachers. Crowds flocked to Crayford to see him and more than 400 people had to wait outside the new church because it was full. Spurgeon invited the crowds to donate towards the cost of the new church, putting in £10 himself and offering a further £5 for every £100 donated. As a result, almost all the £1,300 cost of the building was raised that day. This view looks along Bexley Lane to Watling Street (now called London Road at this point)

The plumes of smoke were the reason why I was here at the junction of Bourne Road with Crayford Road. Although the fire appears to be behind the houses, it was actually about a mile away, as evidenced by this report found by Nigel Cox. "Fire brigades from Dartford, Bexley and Sidcup were called yesterday to fight a fire at an oil and rosin refinery at Jolly Farmers Wharf, Crayford in Kent. At one time 50 firemen were engaged, but later more men and machines were called for until there were 80 men and 15 appliances in action. Oil drums exploded on the wharf as flames spread. Trains using the railway line alongside the depot were slowed down. Some traffic was diverted and extra police called in to control the crowds. The fire was later brought under control. A fire brigade official said that damping down operations would go on all night." (from "The Times" 14 July 1964). Image scanned from an Ilford FP3 35mm monochrome negative.