The village of Bexley in Kent dates back to at least the Fifth century in the Anglo-Saxon times. When it was known by the descriptive name of Byxlea which indicated a settlement in a clearing of box trees. There is also an early mention in the charter of 814 A.D.When the Domesday Book was compiled the village area contained 2 sulungs which is equivalent to 240 acres in present day measurements.The total population comprised 41 villagers and 15 small holders, and the villagers owned a total of 10 ploughs and 100 pigs. There was a church and 3 mills, the woodlands contained an area of 8 acres. The domesday valuers, set the value of the village at £20. At the time the village formed part of the Ruxley Hundred, which in turn formed a section of the Half-Lathe of Sutton. The Domesday Book refered to a church that was on the present day site of St Mary's Church, parts of the present church dates back to the twelfth century. Of the three mills mentioned one was on the same site on the river Cray now occupied by the present 'Old Mill' that was burnt down in 1970 rebuilt as a public house and restaurant retaining the theme of a water mill.
In this period the village developed around the site now occupied by the Manor House. From the ninth to the sixteenth centuries successive Archbishops of Canterbury were non-resident lords of the manor, hiring out their lands leasing it to tenants to farm. The main crop in those days were of various types of grain. Most of the land was in a patchwork of various shapes and sizes unlike the rest of Kent that used a system of enclosed holdings. There were also records showing employed drovers, shepherds and swineherds.These were hard times for the serfs and villagers with little comfort in their life.The villagers only form of relaxation were at the times of the Church festivals when they were summoned by the bells of the Church to attend worship. The Church stood on the site of the present St. Mary's Church which show details of the original twelth century Church like the carvings on the Norman arch of the south door. The river Cray has always ran through the village with a water mill situated in its present position. There has always been a Manor House on the same site as today. To the south-east of the village in the woods and fields were found a great deal of dene holes which were deep shafts with several galleries radiating from the bottom. It is strongly believed they were dug to obtain chalk that was used for soil fertility. In the sixteenth century the history of Bexley was affected by the social and religious changes that the Tudors reign brought about in the country. It was a time when the properties showed interior changes by the addition of new brick chimneys and the insertion of a upper floor above the great halls.
Parts of the "Kings Head" public house in the High Street date back to the sixteenth century,
as it is basically a timber-framed construction, although changes have occured since the
sixteenth century with low ceilings and inglenooks it gives the impression of days past.
(as shown above)
At the death of William Camden in 1623, who owned the manor and surrounding land he bequested
the property to the University of Oxford but full possession did not take place until 99 years
after his death. Today much of the land around Bexley is still owned by the University
Bexley did not seem to be affected be the Civil War but they did have some Royalist
sympathisers who were noted by Cromwells men in old documents from 1656. Sir Richard Ford was buried in
1678 at St.Mary's church, an entry in the register stated he was buried in woollen, refering to the
new act of Parliment that corpses can only be buried in a garment of wool, this was to assist
the wool industry. The fine for breaking the law was £5.
Park House at the west end of the High Street is an example of Queen Anne architecture from that
period. Until recently it had been used as premises for a solicitors practice. It has now been
purchased by a private buyer and it has been returned to its original use as a family residence.
There has been extensive renovation work carried out on this unique property.
Adjacent to the church is the house accupied by John Thorpe the antiquary and historian.
At the time he was one of the most outstanding members of the Bexley community.
He lived in the house from 1750 to 1789, during his time in the house he made several
alteration and additions to the original property. There is proof that the the building
in some form dates back to at least to the fourteenth century. His house can be recognised
by the blue plate by the front door stating the house its owner and their histories.
The Bexley Mill has stood on its present site since before the records of the Domesday Book.
At that time it was owned by the Lord of Manor and it formed the heart of the village. Although
the present building was burnt down in 1966, it was restored to it original design as in 1779.
The Old Mill as its now known is used as a restaurant and public house.
In 1886 saw the railway extend the line to Bexley from London, this made changes in the village
in that it brought the new middle classes to live in the new villas to the north west of
the village. As the population increased this created the need for further churchs, shops, and
schools to spring up in the area. In Bourne Road a brewery was established in 1874, this continued
brewing until closure in 1956.
The Freemantle Hall in the centre of the High Street dates back to 1894, when it was built by
public subscription on a site donated by William Freemantle in 1891. The original cost in 1894,
for the building amounted to £1,519. It was used as a Cinema De Luxe when moving pictures
become popular. The first film shown was "Around the World in 80 Days" of course that is the
silent version, when the charges for admission were 2d. downstairs and princely sum of 4d.
for the circle. It's remembered by an older inhabitant that films where shared with a cinema
in Bexleyheath, as each reel of film was shown a runner took the film to the other cinema for
their showing of the film.
A strange business was started in 1905 in Salisbury Road in the garden of a semi-detached house.
Mr Newman used his garden to breed butterflies and moths on the trees and bushes, these he
supplied to collectors, zoos and laboratories. This venture continued to florish until 1964,
in the latter years being taken over by his son.
In the 2000's the village is an interesting place to visit, to view the
styles of the older buildings such as the almshouses, public halls, churchs,and
schools, the old watermill that now houses a restaurant and bars. Visitors
can also view the diverse types of houses going back several centurys,
including the house of John Thorpe the celebrated antiquary and historian. The church
of St. Mary with the lych-gate through which it's thought that John Wesley walked
to visit the church. In its present day appearance with the old buildings from days
gone by, all of which present the village to the visitor with a certain Old World charm.
In the evening the village is transformed into a place for entertaining,
socialising, and meeting friends, with the restaurants and public houses
being the most popular places to visit.
At the last count there were ten public houses and twelve restaurants
which cater for most types of ethnic tastes including.
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Moving down the High Street on the left are the very picturesque Styleman's Almshouses
built in 1755. On his death in 1743 John Styleman of Danson left provision for the erection
of twelve dwellings for the poor of Bexley, even today they remain and retain their charitable
purpose.
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e-mail me on: argee.h@btinternet.com Last updated: 14th July 2000 By argee.h