Bexleyheath

Coordinates: 51°27′32″N 0°08′18″E / 51.4589°N 0.1384°E / 51.4589; 0.1384

Bexleyheath is a town in the London Borough of Bexley approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) east-southeast of Charing Cross, the traditional centre of London. The town is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London. Bexleyheath is in the historic county of Kent.

History

Until the early 19th century, Bexley Heath comprised an area of scrub-land with few buildings, although Bexley Heath windmill stood at the corner of what is today Erith Road and Mayplace Road. The heath bordered Watling Street. In 1766 Sir John Boyd had Danson House built in parkland (now Danson Park between Bexleyheath and Welling). In 1814 the land to the north of Bexley that would become Bexleyheath became subject to an Enclosure Act. In 1859 architect Philip Webb designed Red House for the artist, reforming designer and socialist William Morris on the western edge of the heath, in the hamlet of Upton—before Upton became largely developed as a London suburb. The National Trust acquired the house in 2003. Morris wanted to have a "Palace of Art" in which he and his friends could enjoy producing works of art. The house is of red brick with a steep tiled roof and an emphasis on natural materials. Red House is in a non-historical, brick-and-tile domestic style. It is now a Grade I listed building. Morris lived with his wife Jane in the house for five years, during which time their two daughters, Jenny and May, were born. Forced to sell the house for financial reasons in 1865, Morris vowed never to return to it—he said that to see the house again would be more than he could bear.

Bexleyheath (UK Parliament constituency)

Bexleyheath was a parliamentary constituency in south-east London, which returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

It was created for the February 1974 general election, and abolished for the 1997 general election.

History

This safe Conservative seat was represented for its entire existence by Sir Cyril Townsend.

Boundaries

1974-1983: The London Borough of Bexley wards of Brampton, Christchurch, Danson, East Wickham, Falconwood, St Michael's, and Upton.

1983-1997: The London Borough of Bexley wards of Barnehurst, Barnehurst North, Brampton, Christchurch, Danson, East Wickham, Falconwood, St Michael's, and Upton.

This constituency in the London Borough of Bexley was centred on the district of Bexleyheath. It was split in 1997 when the Boundary Commission for England recommended an extra seat for the paired boroughs of Bexley and Greenwich. It was largely replaced by the new constituency of Bexleyheath and Crayford, with about a third of the constituency being added to the existing Old Bexley and Sidcup constituency.