Foots Cray Meadows

Foots Cray Meadows is an area of parkland and woodland 97 hectares (240 acres) in size, within the London Borough of Bexley, England.[1] It borders the suburbs of Albany Park, Sidcup, Foots Cray, North Cray and Ruxley. The River Cray runs through it in a north-easterly direction. The London Loop, a public recreational walking path around London, also known as the "M25 for walkers", runs through the meadows parallel to the river from Sidcup Place, just south of the meadows. Two notable bridges cross the River Cray in the meadows: Five Arches bridge and the smaller Penny Farthing Bridge.

Foots Cray Meadows
Foots Cray Meadows

The Meadows are a Local Nature Reserve[2][3] and a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.[4] They have also received a Green Flag Award.[5] There is access from Rectory Lane, among other places. Adjacent to the meadows is what was the kitchen garden and stables of the Foots Cray Place estate and which included a boules alley with a summer house which is still standing.

History

The area was originally a part of the Foots Cray Place estate, and during the 18th century the Five Arches bridge was built. At the same time, an almshouse was built adjacent to the woods, which, as of 2008, was being excavated by archaeologists belonging to Bexley Archaeological Group. Bexley Archaeological Group

On 18 October 1949 Foots Cray Place caught fire and the house was destroyed. The ruins were subsequently demolished and the grounds became Foots Cray Meadows, a public park.

In the early 2000s, Five Arches bridge was renovated with new stone, along with the 'Penny Farthing' bridge just upstream.[6]

  • Foots Cray Meadows
    Foots Cray Meadows
  • Lake in Foots Cray Meadows
    Lake in Foots Cray Meadows
  • River Cray in Foots Cray Meadows
    River Cray in Foots Cray Meadows
  • The 18th century Five Arches bridge after its renovation in the 2000s
    The 18th century Five Arches bridge after its renovation in the 2000s
  • Five Arches in winter
    Five Arches in winter
  • Sweet chestnut tree at the Meadows, one of the oldest documented trees in the region
    Sweet chestnut tree at the Meadows, one of the oldest documented trees in the region
  • Fallen masonry
    Fallen masonry

References
  1. London Borough of Bexley, Bexley Civic Offices (19 March 2009). "Foots Cray Meadows". Archived from the original on 2016-08-12. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  2. "Foots Cray Meadows". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  3. "Map of Foots Cray Meadows". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  4. "The River Cray". Greenspace Information for Greater London. 2006. Archived from the original on 24 December 2012. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  5. London Borough of Bexley, Bexley Civic Offices (19 March 2009). "Foots Cray Meadows". Archived from the original on 2016-08-12. Retrieved 29 October 2016.
  6. A History of Foots Cray Place Archived 2009-04-15 at the Wayback Machine

Copies of A History of Footscray can be purchased from Bexley Archaeological Group Bexley Archaeological Group

Bibliography

51.4258°N 0.1271°E / 51.4258; 0.1271

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