The background or ancestry of Erith dates back to the days of the Anglo-Saxons or the Battle of Hastings.The Anglo- Saxons won the Battle of Crayford and after some time claimed the whole of Kent.
The town and country estates of the Roman bureaucrats gave way to a network of villages, occupied by warriors and farmers. Erith was one of these villages, and is a word meaning "muddy harbour" or "gravelly landing place". Interestingly, Henry VIII brought changes to Erith and he is even thought to have spent a night at Erith on his way to France.
He founded his naval dockyard at Erith. During the Victorian era Erith developed rapidly as both an industrial and residential centre. The main reason for this was the growth of the town, because of the opening of Erith railway station on the North Kent Line in 1849 the building is still standing to this day.
The railway allowed easy access to London from Erith for many potential wealthy residents and it was not long before more changes upstretched .this interested many manufacturers in nineteenth century, to forge their skill to build steam engines, armaments, stoneware and mining this contributed to a bigger propose which intended to help people an example of this is the Erith railway station present, their skills helped Erith to become be what it is now.
During the First World War Erith was an extremely important area for the manufacture of guns and ammunition, because of this at the end of the last century Erith had become a thriving industrial and retail centre. Public services continued to achieve high heights with a new public library built in Walnut Tree Road in 1906 (which exists to this day at the same location) and Erith Hospital that was opened by the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VIII, in 1924.
During the 2nd world war sadly, Five hundred and seventy two properties were destroyed and 10,904 damaged, 750 of them severely. There were 109 people killed, and 1,381 people injured, 509 of them seriously enough to be detained in hospital. Two thousand five hundred children were evacuated and 2,911 homeless people were accommodated in rest centres.
The town is located to the north-east of Bexleyheath and lies on the south bank of the River Thames. Erith town centre has undergone modernisation and an increase in dwellings since 1961. Recent growth in Erith includes a pop-up lighthouse which was hosting dining and family-friendly events.
The Erith Lighthouse was at the Riverside Gardens from August 10 to 27 and then at Erith Pier from September 7 to 24. There were very honourable and famous chefs , the program included 17 chefs hosting 17 dinners inspired by Erith’s riverside setting.
Among the chefs will be Steve Kielty, Master Chef Runner up from Woolwich, who will be hosting a British classics menu. Councillor Linda Bailey, Bexley’s cabinet member for regeneration and growth said: “Erith will be one of the first places to benefit from our ambitious growth plans, with a programme of regeneration aimed at developing the area into a thriving riverside community.
“The Erith Lighthouse is a chance for local people to celebrate the rich heritage of their area. It’s also an opportunity for Erith to show those Londoners who haven’t yet had the chance to visit, just how fantastic a place it is.”
written by - Ashna Dhaliwal
School - Haberdashers askes Crayford Academy
