This neighbourhood is 18 miles south-east of central London and stretches between both Crayford and Dartford, the easternmost town in the borough of Bexley, crossing the border into Dartford, Kent. South Crayford is a calm residential neighbourhood characterised by quiet roads lined with mature trees and greenery. Even the A-road in this area, Dartford Road, is predominantly residential – though homes here are interspersed with a varied selection of shops, chemists, takeaway restaurants, bars and cafes. Chinese food, Indian food, fish and chips and a well-reviewed pub, the Ship, are all within a stone’s throw of one another in this friendly, pleasant area.

South Crayford is home to none other than the Swanscombe Man, the oldest human skull in the UK – he dates to the interglacial age, 400,000 years ago. In the 15th century, Henry V marched one of British history’s most momentous armies through this area – the soldiers who would defeat the French at Agincourt in 1415. Later, as South Crayford began to flourish during the industrial revolution, its mustard factory became known as ‘the largest in the kingdom.’

Keith Richards and Mick Jagger are both from this area, and their childhoods can be tracked all over the town. They attended primary school together in the 1950s, but afterwards lost touch. One October morning in 1961, however, they met again on platform 2 at the nearby Dartford train station. They recognised each other, started talking about music and the rest was history!

Modern cement production was invented in this area when Joseph Aspdin patented it in 1824. Plus, Margaret Thatcher cut her teeth here when she stood as the country’s youngest Conservative candidate for election in 1950 – she lost, and was not elected until she stood in Finchley in 1959.

One local told us that there is ‘an uncomfortably fast turnover of private businesses’ in this area. He also mentioned an increase in the number of shops standing empty and redundant, after the arrival of the Bluewater shopping centre. However, he also said that the area is extremely family friendly and, from his point of view, an enjoyable place to live. He moved to South Crayford 11 years ago and has no plans to move.

The local council has identified Crayford as a growth area as London continues to expand eastward along the Thames Gateway. The development potential of these areas is hoped to be unlocked through redeveloping the town centre, building over 1,000 new homes, and increasing access to the River Cray, which the council aims to ‘re-naturalise’. This process will also create a wealth of employment opportunities throughout the neighbourhood. Bexley Council’s 2021 site allocations has identified the former Electrobase/Wheatsheaf Works site as an area for potential development. A design proposed by Alan Camp Architects could deliver 359 new homes on the site if it moves forward. The scheme also delivers a new river walk and cycle, which would run alongside the River Cray and form a new access to the Crayford Rough, a local open space that is currently difficult to access.

New development in the area is on the rise, prompted by the regeneration plans for Dartford Town Centre. In 2019, a proposal was submitted for the redevelopment of a disused industrial site in Crayford into 35 affordable homes by Bellway London Partnerships, along the banks of the River Cray. In late 2022, a planning application was also submitted to Bexley council to construct 568 homes in the area.