Property for sale in Avenue Road, Lesney Park, Erith, Kent, DA8

Our area guide for Erith and Northumberland Heath offers a brief overview of the town and its attractions, properties, schools, history, council tax and public transport links.

Overview

Erith and Northumberland are located in the London Borough of Bexley. They are bordered by Barnehurst, Bexleyheath, Belvedere, Slade Green and Crayford. Erith town centre fronts the River Thames. Giving the area a good balance is a diverse mix of people, from young families to retirees. The De-Luci Fish - a 7.5 metre-high mosaic sculpture marks the entrance of Erith town on the Bexley Road roundabout, and is the area’s most recognisable landmark.

Shopping

Erith town centre has a shopping precinct, which has undergone a multi-million pound renovation. In 1999, a large Morrisons supermarket opened. Later additions to Erith town centre include well-known stores such as Wilkinsons, Matalan, Peacocks and Argos. Among the shopping facilities is also a selection of independent shops.

Northumberland Heath also has a high street, offering a great mix of chain stores and independent shops. These include a recently opened Co-op supermarket, a greengrocer, a florist, a haberdashery store, a pet shop, bakers and even a dance-ware shop.

In both areas, you’ll find a selection of banks, hair and beauty salons and pharmacies. Most of the Erith and Northumberland Heath neighbourhoods also boast their own parade of local shops, where you’ll typically find a newsagent, convenience store, pharmacy and various take-away outlets. Bluewater - one of Europe’s largest shopping centres, which is approximately 15 minutes drive away, and can also be accessed from Erith by bus.

Attractions

Home to London’s longest pier, Erith riverfront is a popular attraction. At one point, it was one of Henry VIII’s naval dockyards. The friendly and successful Erith Rowing Club is located in the former police premises on the riverfront and is accessed from Erith High Street. Further downstream, you will find Erith Yacht Club, which is active in both social and competitive sailing. The annual Erith Riverside Festival is a popular event, which has been enjoyed by visitors from all around, for many years. A short walk from the pier is the Erith Playhouse, which is the largest non-professional theatre in the London Borough of Bexley.

Erith is home to a recently-built sports centre and the David Ives Stadium, which is home to Bexley Athletics Club and Erith Town F.C. (known to locals as ‘The Dockers’). Erith Rugby Club plays at Northumberland Heath Recreation Ground. Both Erith and Northumberland Heath have their own libraries and the Thames Path National Trail, which runs to the source of the River Thames at Kemble, begins at nearby Crayford Ness.

Food and Drink

Located on Erith’s picturesque riverfront is the Running Horses pub, which has a carvery restaurant on the first floor and views of Riverside Gardens. Both Erith and Northumberland Heath are home to a good selection of pubs - many of them serving traditional ‘pub grub’, plus there’s a wide range of restaurants and take-away outlets in both neighbourhoods, including Indian, Chinese, and fish and chips.

History

The name Erith dates from Saxon times and is thought to mean ‘muddy harbour’ or ‘gravelly landing place’. The earliest reference to the area is in a Latin charter of 695, recording a grant by the Bishop of the East Saxons of certain lands at Erith. The reign of Henry VIII brought changes to Erith. The King founded part of his naval dockyard at Erith and his famous warship, Henri Grace à Dieu Great Harry, was fitted out there in 1515. For a short period, during the middle of the 19th century, Erith was a riverside resort. The Victorian period saw the town become one of the most important industrial areas in south-east England.

Property Market

The property market in Erith and Northumberland Heath is buoyant. This is mainly due to it being one of the more affordable areas in the Bexley Borough. Most of Northumberland Heath consists of Victorian houses, 1930s semis and popular ‘Vickers’ style homes.

Erith is fast becoming a popular choice with first-time buyers due to new build flats being built in the area. Some of these are being sold on ‘shared ownership’ schemes; an innovative way of providing affordable housing and a platform for first-time buyers to get on the property ladder. Erith and Northumberland Heath’s close proximity to London makes it an attractive and affordable alternative to the more expensive London Boroughs.

Council Tax

Erith and Northumberland Heath are in the Bexley borough and these are the Council Tax valuation details for London Borough of Bexley for the year 2011/2012.

Education

Northumberland Heath and Erith (and their surrounding neighbourhoods) are home to many schools, including:

• Barnehurst Infant (Foundation) School
• Barnehurst Junior (Foundation) School
• Belmont Primary School
• Christ Church C of E Primary School
• Normandy Primary School
• Northumberland Heath Primary School
• Northwood Primary School
• Parkway Primary School
• Peareswood Primary School
• Slade Green Infant School
• Slade Green Junior School
• St Fidelis Catholic Primary School
• The Business Academy (Bexley)

Hospitals

Erith and District Hospital is based in Park Crescent, Erith. Larger hospitals are Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, Darenth Valley Hospital in Dartford and Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

Transport Links

Erith, Northumberland Heath and their surrounding areas all have excellent transport links. There are mainline train stations in Erith, Slade Green and Barnehurst, all with journey times of approximately 35 minutes into central London. There are also nearby road links to the A2, M25 and Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. Several bus routes go through the areas, giving access to larger areas such as Bexleyheath, Dartford, Sidcup and Lewisham.