Description
The northern boundary of the parish of Erith is the Thames, and the riverside was once the site of one of Henry VIII's naval dockyards. St John the Baptist Church has existed here from Norman times, with some parts of the building, including the tower, dating from the C13th and the north aisle from the C19th. The Wheatley Chapel was the burial place of successive Lords of the Manor of Erith. The churchyard contains a number of interesting tombs and has a wooden lych-gate from where a path leads to the church porch.
Practical Information
| Previously known as | Erith Parish Church |
|---|---|
| Site location | West Street, Erith |
| Postcode | DA8 1AX |
| What3Words | ///maker.branch.title |
| Type of Site | Churchyard |
| Borough | Bexley |
| Open to Public | Yes |
| Opening Times | unrestricted |
| Events | Concerts in church |
| Public Transport | Rail: Erith. Bus: 229, 469 |
| Research Updated | 1 April 2015 |
| Last Updated | 18 October 2026 |
Full description
St John the Baptist Church has served as a place of worship for Erith from at least Norman times. The stone and flint building dates largely from the C12th, with some parts, such as the tower, dating from the C13th. The steeple has wooden shingles but the main part of the church roof is tiled. In the C19th the north aisle was added when the whole building was restored by Habershon and Pite architects.
The northern boundary of the parish of Erith is the Thames, and the riverside was once the site of one of Henry VIII's naval dockyards. Although Erith remained important for shipping even in the late C18th the town consisted of one small street. It did not develop significantly until the arrival of the railways in the mid C19th, with Erith station opening in July 1849. Much of the area was formerly the estate lands of the Manor of Erith, which had numerous illustrious owners over the centuries, many of whom were buried in St John's. In 1734 the Manor was bequeathed to John Wheatley and the family estate was located where the current town centre now lies. Avenue Road was laid out c.1769 to form the driveway to the newly built Manor House, which was eventually demolished in 1858 and the Wheatley Estate was sold in 1874. The Wheatley Chapel in St John's is the burial place of successive Lords of the Manor of that family. The church also has a number of fine brasses and a striking memorial to Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury (d.1567), who once held the manor.
The churchyard contains a number of interesting tombs and monuments, including memorials to John Harris (d.1752) and to George William Brown (d.1848). Enclosed within a stone wall, trees screen the churchyard from the nearby main road to the north. A picturesque wooden lych-gate leads to a tarmac path to the church porch. The atmosphere on a Sunday afternoon recalls a country church, reflecting the area before the advent of high density housing. The Green Chain Walk leading to Franks Park (q.v.) runs past the entrance to the churchyard.
The northern boundary of the parish of Erith is the Thames, and the riverside was once the site of one of Henry VIII's naval dockyards. Although Erith remained important for shipping even in the late C18th the town consisted of one small street. It did not develop significantly until the arrival of the railways in the mid C19th, with Erith station opening in July 1849. Much of the area was formerly the estate lands of the Manor of Erith, which had numerous illustrious owners over the centuries, many of whom were buried in St John's. In 1734 the Manor was bequeathed to John Wheatley and the family estate was located where the current town centre now lies. Avenue Road was laid out c.1769 to form the driveway to the newly built Manor House, which was eventually demolished in 1858 and the Wheatley Estate was sold in 1874. The Wheatley Chapel in St John's is the burial place of successive Lords of the Manor of that family. The church also has a number of fine brasses and a striking memorial to Elizabeth Countess of Shrewsbury (d.1567), who once held the manor.
The churchyard contains a number of interesting tombs and monuments, including memorials to John Harris (d.1752) and to George William Brown (d.1848). Enclosed within a stone wall, trees screen the churchyard from the nearby main road to the north. A picturesque wooden lych-gate leads to a tarmac path to the church porch. The atmosphere on a Sunday afternoon recalls a country church, reflecting the area before the advent of high density housing. The Green Chain Walk leading to Franks Park (q.v.) runs past the entrance to the churchyard.
Further Information
| Grid Reference | TQ507787 |
|---|---|
| Site Ownership | Archdeaconry of Bromley and Bexley |
| Site Management | Archdeaconry of Bromley and Bexley |
| Dates | C12th onwards |
| Listed Structures | LBII*: St John the Baptist Church |
| On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens | No |
| Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965 | No |
| Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931 | No |
| Local Authority | Bexley |
| In Conservation Area | No |
| Tree Preservation Order | No |
| Nature Conservation Area | No |
| Green Belt | No |
| Metropolitan Open Land | No |
| Special Policy Area | Yes - Area of Archaeological Priority |
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.
Nearby parks and gardens
Franks Park was established after the land was purchased by Erith Council in 1920. It is named after Frank Beadle, a local philanthropist, who donated money for its purchase. It comprises an area of woodland that was formerly part of the estate of Belvedere Park, which stood near Upper Park Road, the house used as the Royal Alfred Merchant Seaman's Institution between 1865-1959 .
Erith's Riverside Gardens lie on a rectangular site alongside the river promenade that has fine views to the opposite bank of the Thames and towards the Thames Estuary. The gardens opened in the 1940s on what had been the riverside site of Cannon & Gaze flour mills, much of which was destroyed in a fire in 1937. The original gardens had a formal layout. They were later enlarged as a result of a transfer of a parcel of land in 1967 by coal merchants William Cory & Son. This was eventually added to Riverside Gardens in 1982/3 when flood defences were built. The gardens are laid out with lawns, trees and shrub beds, with an area of raised beds with flowers and shrubs around a flagpole.
Christ Church was built in 1874 to serve the growing population of Erith, which only developed significantly after the railway arrived in 1849. The area was formerly estate lands of Erith Manor and the Wheatley Estate, the latter situated where the town centre now lies. The churchyard has not been used for burials and is laid largely to grass, planted with specimen trees including a row of lime on the Victoria Road boundary. Within the churchyard is the 1920s War Memorial in the form of a marble cross on a stepped plinth.
