South Erith takes up much of East Northumberland Heath and stretches from the east of Bexley Road to the Southeastern railway line from Erith to Slade Green, the heart of suburban Erith. The area is located at the top of the high ground, a fairly consistent and homogeneous suburban area, surrounded by industrial estates just outside the area, but otherwise a coherent residential neighbourhood. The elevation also explains the winding roads, which define the neighbourhood, creating a lot of open green space between houses. The area has two schools – King Henry and Normandy Primary School, both of which have decent-sized sports playing grounds. There are also some allotments and a large sports field near the railway line. Other than these particular facilities, the area is predominantly residential, being almost exclusively made up of terraced and semi-detached housing, primarily of the post-war stock.

Northumberland Heath was developed during the Victorian and interwar period, where it became a residential suburb and shopping centre. The area possessed a windmill, whose prominent position made it a useful landmark for shipping on the Thames. The area was also the terminus for trams in the area. Erith was in fact a riverside resort during the mid-19th century, with the pier and nearby hotel catering to the daytrippers, who visited the area either by Thames pleasure boats or the railway. On account of this, the area became a thriving hub in east London located by the Thames, and this was the case up until the end of London’s shipping industry heyday in the 1960s.

The name associated with this neighbourhood and its surroundings, stems from at least the 13th century, derived from the Old English word humber, meaning river or stream. Northumberland, therefore, means ‘the land north of the stream’; despite this, the district was often known as ‘Spike Island’, due to a workhouse (known as a spike) being situated here in the 19th century. Did you also know that owing to the port, the town was predominantly underlain by the engineering industry, with companies such as Vickers being an important employer in the town. This was alongside Callenders Cables, who laid an underwater pipeline across the English Channel – which was used by Allied forces during the D-Day landings in the Second World War.

The area is partially disconnected from Erith town centre and the riverbank due to the presence of the railway line and the wide road, which has few crossings. This makes pedestrian (and even some vehicular) access particularly difficult for residents who are headed towards the town centre.

There have been some development projects in the area, particularly along the river bank. One such project is The Quarry, which is comprised of over 800 units of 2, 3 and 4- bedroom terraced, semi-detached and detached houses, intended to be released across several phases, on the disused Erith Quarry site. The development will include a brand new primary school opening in 2023, new open space, community facilities, and certain ecological sites will be conserved and enhanced. The latest phase will deliver a total of 145 new homes, comprising 32 apartments for sale and 113 affordable homes, for rent and Shared Ownership. Another development in the area is Park East by Orbit Homes and Watses, which will include 1 and 2 bedroom homes divided into 77 Shared Ownership properties and 64 private sale properties. Overall, the area is seeing some regeneration as industrial and warehousing areas recede and housing stock is built in the area. The Elizabeth Line, which runs up to nearby Abbey Wood, will also bring investment into the neighbourhood.