IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Corinthian Road, ERITH, DA8 1AU

As seen from Image This dual carriage way leads from Thamesmead, towards Erith and Slade Green. In the background is the spire of Image

The plaque reads: "This wall was erected in the jubilee year of the reign of her Majesty Queen Victoria 1887". See Image for context. For context, see Image

There must have been some tree felling or storm damage here. Bits of wood were all over the place around the lych gate and in the churchyard at St John the Baptist's Church. A team with a shredder was clearing it up. The Green Chain long distance path passes here.

As seen from Image This railway leads from central London (via Belvedere) to Dartford (via Erith). On the right is the A2016 Bronze Age Way (dual carriage way) leading from Thamesmead to Erith.

The most surprising feature about St John the Baptist Church is its setting between the busy Lower Road and West Street on one side and the dual carriageway of Bronze Age Way on the other. Despite this the churchyard is very attractive and if the traffic can be ignored then it still has the feel of the country churchyard it once was. John Newman in The Buildings of England: West Kent and The Weald describes St John the Baptist Church as "Longish, lowish, and not very attractive inside or out. In a heavy and silly restoration of 1877, the south porch and north side were added ... all windows renewed, and the west tower largely rebuilt." There are, however, Norman traces, especially inside the chancel. This is the entrance through the lych gate from Jessett Close.

The ragstone wall borders the churchyard of St John's church Image It can be dated to 1887 from a plaque Image The shadow on the wall is that of the nearby footbridge Image

An attractive display of bluebells sets off the war memorial. The houses beyond the churchyard are in Lower Road.

parish church of St John the Baptist, Erith (Anglican) with its lych gate

This feature across the road from Erith parish church is a bit of a puzzle. The best guess is that it is associated with the culverted Bedon Stream, which appears to outfall through the river wall at the end of Corinthian Manorway, the road in the foreground. It is of oblong section, the small dimension is seen in this view. Perhaps it is an access to the sewer, elevated to prevent flood in the event of water backing up at high tide.