Most overlooked London walk - Erith to Dartford Creek (4K)

One of the most surprising parts of London - along the Thames foreshore from Erith to Dartford Creek. Please subscribe for regular videos: bit.ly/1EJjIB8
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This was the final stage of the walk I did for Chapter 3 of my book This Other London - from Erith, along the pier then across the salt marshes - the Erith Saltings to the confluence of the River Darent and the Thames at Dartford Creek.
Erith in the London Borough of Bexley is place of great history. There are traces of Neolithic trackways and settlement, Bronze Age 'Beaker People' burials, it was where the rebellious Barons met with King John to discuss the terms of Magna Carta in 1215. Henry VIII had a naval dockyard at Erith. The original pier was built in the 1840's and later a grand Pier Hotel and pleasure garden. The pier has been retained and a walk along Erith Pier is one of the great experiences in London.
The walk ends at Howbury Moat - a Saxon Manor house built around 900.
Woolwich to Thamesmead via Lesnes Abbey - Green Chain Walk (4K) • Woolwich to Thamesmead...
Music
Amber - VYEN
Drifting at 432 Hz - Unicorn Heads
Fern - Ann Annie
Lens - Bobby Richards
Eureka - Huma-Huma
Little Drunk, Quiet Floats - Puddle of Infinity
Map: Open Street Map “© OpenStreetMap contributors” using data available under the Open Database Licence
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Shot in 4K on a Olympus OM-D EM-1 mark 2 with audio recorded with a Rode Wireless GO
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[@christoguichard4311]

I know this place SO well... I've sat on that pier many times over the years, just staring out to sea, and watching the boats drift by...😊

[@cjr6564]

As someone born and bred in Erith I never considered it as part of London Erith has a Kent Postcode. I remember being at school when the London County Council expanded and took over the Local Education Authority. All the school Rubbers (Erasers) and Pencils that used to have the Invicta Rampant Horse Motif on were changed to the bland and boring LCC printed ones. We cherished our Invicta Erasers and Books! My father worked in the coal yard you mentioned from the age of 14 and learned to drive a Steam Lorry there. Edward Butler designed the first internal Combustion powered machine The "VeloCycle" and patented it in 1884 some two years before Karl Benz did. Butler drove his later version the "Petrol Cycle" along Manor Road in Erith. Erith can rightly lay claim to be considered the birthplace of the Motor Vehicle!

[@Limabelasun]

i used to live there in erith, crayford and dartford and worked on the river thames, cray and both marshes. the forest remains can be seen on lower tides. ive walked amongst the roots. still find nuts and antler in the eroded bank. the pier hotel also had a zoo. erith was a seaside town and the mud flts have only developed as the foreshore was industrialised, before it was sand with paddling and swimming. my great nan use to holiday there in the early 1900s. vickers and maxim were based in erith and crayford and used the marshes for testing. the moated manor house remains were built in 1086 for bishop odo, cousin of william the conquer, although the area had a much older settlement. i see you turned off back to slade green train station. had you carried on, you would end up in crayford creek and come out on thames road a206. this is now the highest tidel reach of the river cray. cross the bridge and follow the creek back around into dartford marsh and you come to dartford creek. again , steeped in history. The battle of crayford was a bloodbath when the saxons came back. revenge!!!! the brits had several battles , beating horsa & hengist & catagerrn, all the way back to thanet. the saxons came back on mass and a large battle at crayford ensued were 4000 brits were killed. in the mid 1800s builders found the remains of a twin deck galleon under what is now roman way in crayford. The river cray you see today was dug in 1650. Hall place, dog track, sainsburys, town hall tower retail park etc etc all sit on the silted river crays tidal reaches. The marshes of stanham farm are infact the original tidal route with the Cray FORD being under the town hall area. I'll shut up now lol. so much history in that area. One last thing, the first non stop flight across the atlantic, was in a vimy built in crayford. The spirit of st loui is hollywood and was about the 90th flight.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Brilliant thanks S T - I wondered whether the Vickers that flew to Australia in 1919 had been tested here as well

[@bigdave141]

wow, I've done so much googling from this comment. Great info, thanks!

[@stephenwestdevoncottagerental]

My beautiful home town of 60 years. I lived just by the river 12 floors up over looking the Thames. My mum aged 86 still looks over the Thames from her riverside flat.

[@andycooke6231]

I was born in Woolwich and have never heard your pronunciation of Lesnes Abbey amongst south east londeners, they tend to say "lezness" as one word. Enjoy watching your walks.

[@williamsdaf]

John "You have a rare gift for turning the seemingly mundane into the most majestic"

[@stellaluv2]

I am proud to have Erith on my Birth Certificate and have been a Member of Erith Rotary since 1982. In 2011 we celebrated the tercentenary of the arrival of Alexander Selkirk returning from the Island of Juan Fernandez Island in the Pacific Ocean and Erith was his final docking place on his return.

[@robbojax2025]

"Magical" is never a hackneyed word on your walks. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@brucegoatly]

I have to confess I wasn't very impressed by Erith when I set out on the London LOOP section to Bexley, but your fascinating description of its history has put it into perspective - when I go back to complete my second circuit of the LOOP I'll take my time and be less dismissive. By the bye: Linda Smith came from Erith and observed that the town wasn't twinned with anywhere, but it had a suicide pact with Dagenham.

[@davidjohnson00001]

Aah, the late, great Linda Smith. What she would make of the state of the world today.

[@brucegoatly]

@@davidjohnson00001 She'd have something caustic but hilarious to say, that's for sure.

[@bentp4891]

It does have a lot of history. That doesn't stop it being a shithole now though, unfortunately.

[@gilldanier4129]

@@bentp4891 There is a shithole right behind you mate, it goes wherever you do.

[@daroldcarold3443]

I live in erith. Trust me, it’s not worth anybody’s time.

[@amandajane8227]

A few years ago I walked Sidcup to Erith via the river cray to the Thames. It was fabulous if rather hot as it was very exposed close to the Thames. Then it was a simple train ride back to Sidcup.

[@meruliouslacrimens5154]

I used to work in Erith ( 1977 ) and lived in Dartford and played as a kid on Dartford marshes. There used to be Joyce Green isolation Hospital on the marshes, my mother went there with scarlet fever in the 1930s. When the hospital was knocked down and turned into a housing estate Kew Gardens removed some rare trees, but i believe the cemetary behind the hospital is still there and still has victims of the plague buried there never to be disturbed. We used to make rafts from driftwood and have fires on the shore.

[@barrycarrigan5584]

Thank you John , my Sunday is now complete.

[@samskidoodle4768]

Oh, this couldn’t be more timely; some friends and I walked from Woolwich to Thamesmead last Sunday, mainly in search of former film locations, and then looped around to Abbey Wood to catch the train westward. The river was like glass, no wind and so peaceful. Sadly we missed the tour of the Crossness Pumping Station but only because we’d no idea it was happening until quite by chance, we bumped into an acquaintance who’d been lucky enough to visit. I can recommend the Dial Arch (a Young’s pub) at Woolwich Arsenal for an excellent pre-walk Sunday lunch. In Swedish “näs” also indicates a promontory so this “ness” might well be of Nordic origin.

[@MetropolitanSoul]

...and we cast a Shetland yacht adrift. I wonder where it is now?

[@DayTripperAdventures]

Thanks John - I love this area sometimes looks bleak but so much history and you tell the stories so well 👍😄

[@mwoods96]

John thank you so much for your enthusiasm once again great vid

[@JohnRogersWalks]

cheers Mirror Woods

[@teddyboy9116]

I've driven through Erith every week since the mid 90s and I didn't even know that pier was there!! Cheers John

[@denismichaeljames]

My freedom pass is due in January and I’ve all your walks saved. They’ve been so knowledgable. Ive passed through many of these areas and not known their true value and history. You certainly bring them to life. London is full of treasures. Thank you.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Wonderful to hear Den - happy exploring

[@crasslee]

Only just watched this, and realised I did the same walk with friends, but starting in Slade Green just six days later on the 30th. It was primarily a Shroom hunting trip. Although we failed in that regard, but did see the remnants of the neolithic forest, pick a lot of apples, and spotted some some seals on the shoreline. All in all a lovely afternoon.

[@richardpicking4459]

Hi John. There is something quite special about the lower reaches of the Thames before the likes of Canvey Island. It feels unexplored, mysterious and inaccessible. But because of this it has its very own charm. You get the river to yourself with so few people about.

[@keithallen4313]

Right in my back yard and where I ride. Real shame there is not a bridge over the mouth of the Darenth to join the paths up. I still miss the Little brook power station chimney.

[@jackpayne4658]

Living in Richmond, near the upper limit of the tidal Thames, Erith seems like a disreputable uncle at a family wedding.

[@GreyGhost.]

bordering on perfection ......... Thanks John.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks very much Paul

[@peterlangbridge4286]

Watching this video from Spain, where I live. Nearly fifty years ago we used to bunk off school in Tottenham to walk the Lea from Stonebridge lock, sometimes as far away as Ware or Broxbourne. Later, I got into a load of trouble at school for missing so many days.

[@peterlangbridge4286]

@Hitogokochi Nowhere in my comment do I say anything about England being "so great ". It's simply an anecdote that may or may not be of interest to the people who watch these videos. For the record, I live in Spain because the general quality of life is higher than in England.

[@neilhogbin7252]

Romantic Erith, especially Slade Green! Cheers John for bringing it all back.

[@ianmaddams9577]

Just when I thought we wasn’t getting a video this Sunday…. Whenever I have been in Erith it has always felt very industrial with its recycling and big open yards n works . Thanks John All the best for the coming week 👍🏻

[@JohnRogersWalks]

It's certainly a place of contrasts Ian

[@Gallywomack]

Yesterday I scratched an itch that this video started when I watched it months ago - I cycled up to Crayford and then along the marsh path beside the Darent, up to the confluence/barrier then along the Thames path all the way to Greenwich. A wonderful ride if slightly sketchy on the gravel path with my road tyres! Such an evocative landscape with the mixture of industry (current and former) and natural beauty of the river and marshes. A real treat.

[@pwd63]

Thank you for doing this walk John, I grew up in Erith in the 1970s, brought back so many memories for me, really enjoyed it.

[@roxysimmons]

Yay! I was born there, 1970. Lived in Slade Green until my hippie parents upped and left with us for squatting cottages in the West Country haha. I still have family down that way though… we had tons of relatives/ancestors around Woolwich and all that area.

[@pwd63]

I moved to West Sussex many years ago, but have great memories of the Riverside swimming pool, Erith Market and the old cinema.

[@roxysimmons]

@@pwd63 I think we used to go to the cinema too… we also lived in a big old house on Queen’s Road - Saturday mornings my sister and I would go and see a film. I think it was the Saturday morning pictures? Absolute MAYHEM! I remember kids just shouting and being crazy. We went by ourselves… my sister was probably 10 and I was 4. Can you imagine that today?! We went everywhere by ourselves 😂

[@fishkettle586]

I was born in Erith and grew up in Barnehurst, so this is really interesting to me. I hate it, when people mis-pronounce Erith as 'Eh-rith'. It was originally called 'Earhythe' (or something like that), hence the pronunciation.

[@djrudog1158]

Thanks John for another great vid 👍

[@JohnRogersWalks]

hope you enjoy it Grant

[@fredm5245]

Watching this from New Zealand and born in Erith. Born a stones throw from the Thames barge pic on the White Hart.

[@dambrooks7578]

I am almost certain that part of Rainham marshes you pointed out at the bend is where Joseph Conrad began his book "The Heart of Darkness." It is where the boat stops on the first night of the narrators journey. Obviously this story, tale and myth making of the British Empire, was then made into Apocalypse Now, which in its own, and strikingly similar, way could be applied to what the US was doing in Vietnam...

[@saraofegham]

In the 1950s Wells Fireworks were made in the various huts on Dartford marshes and the smallpox isolation hospital was still in use. We used to walk along the creek and it was all wildflowers and grasshoppers.

[@penelopeoliver1019]

I was born in Dartford, names are familiar. So interested in the history. I live in California (since 1984), and love to go on these walks with you! Thank you!

[@seanjamescameron]

Having walked this as part of The London Loop section 1 it was great to see again. My favourite part is at the crossroads where you turned right, but I turned left and walked around to the village of Crayford where there is a traditional pie and mash shop. It was good to see what was down the road to Slade Green. Another great Sunday night viewing

[@formdemon]

I love the walk from Woolwich to Erith (and the Robinson Crusoe connection with Erith). I did the walk in the summer. One of the many ways you have inspired me with my walking excursions. This is a great addition - thanks John.

[@LoisDavidsonArt]

Quite possibly my favourite so far, a visual and historical feast, thanks so much John. Now where did I put my paint brushes... ;-)

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks very much Lois - the walk I did in 2012 never left me so it was great to go back and find it still as magical

[@michaelgoodwin1891]

Lovely walk John thanks again

[@dannybb2000]

Evening 👍

[@JohnRogersWalks]

good evening Dan - hope you enjoy the video

[@vishalpattani2200]

Nice one again

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Vishal

[@buddha1736]

0:08 that roundabout & Thames Road is lethal. 😉☠️💀

[@sirroy3693]

Thank you for the memories from we in Spain

[@medwaypeninsulaMR]

I lived in Crayford and Dartford and didn’t know about the moated building. Enjoyed the trip to my old area John 😃👍🏾 Cheers Kev

[@TheIainMay]

Great walk thanks John

[@JohnRogersWalks]

my pleasure Iain

[@morriganwitch]

Near our neck of the woods , apple crumble this time xxx good to see you xxx

[@JohnRogersWalks]

wonderful

[@leeclark8790]

i love your videos always makes me calm in a chaotic world

[@JohnRogersWalks]

that's great to hear Lee

[@hikingdenbiking6245]

Another great walk, Always astounded by the amount of hidden history there is in the UK

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Den

[@MeTheRob]

Fine dreamy walk to take me away from grim and stormy Scotland. Much of it familiar, but I have never seen that pier.

[@gparry42]

Once again, wonderful walking. Thanks John !

[@gjfaux]

You only just missed the 310th anniversary, October 14 1711, of Alexander Selkirk, inspiration for Defoe's Robinson Crusoe, landing in Erith after being marooned on a deserted island off the coast of Chile for four years.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

that's a great bit of info gjfaux

[@MeTheRob]

Well I never. I didn't know that.

[@VisionsofChina]

My dad has always said he had a bit of paper that showed we were related to Alexander via his mum whose maiden name was Selkirk and had Scottish ancestry - but as of yet I have never seen the paper and my dad's 94 so it might just be family mythology. (but I have been known to mention it to make myself seem more "interesting". Ha!

[@evaa-w5399]

Looks like a beautiful place and I'm hoping to move here

[@chrismccartney8668]

Superb as expected ! Well done John….

[@chunkyleejones3831]

👍Thanks for sharing mr John

[@damedavidfrith55]

Thanks for another lovely trip and a history lesson look 4d to it each week

[@spalftac]

I did this walk a couple of years back hoping I’d get to the bridge at Dartford but didn’t reckon on the creek spoiling my plans. I should have done some research before setting off I suppose but did manage to do the last bit the following week. Lovely video bringing back some good memories and the Erith pier was one of them.

[@Ben_Mdws]

Each time you mention your book John, it reminds me I must read it a second time. Lovely video too.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks very much Ben

[@X-HyperlapseTravelChanne-jz9ww]

Well thought and made video! Kudos to the creator's hard work to bring us awesome video to watch!

[@musehic1953]

Marvellous end to another terrific walk.

[@ivanrainbird2416]

great stuff john keep it going loved the marshes great for the wildlife

[@tcpip9999]

Wonderful to see this part of the Thames

[@mamnisel4815]

So interesting John,Never thoight about Erith having so much history and a lovely walk in remote places which you have spurred me on to investigate!!!!

[@jackysmith1763]

A lovely walk John ,even more special as I am in the middle of your wonderful book. Thank you.😀

[@clivelangham435]

Thank you so much for this. As ever, so enjoyable. It really makes my Monday! Take care.

[@annenewton5403]

Loved it,very special,thank you.

[@peterjackson4132]

Another fascinating tour John from a place I have never heard of. Very informative thanks buddy

[@ralphwinter6421]

Nice One John, Cheers mate..

[@JohnRogersWalks]

cheers Ralph

[@TimothyHalkowski]

Love the walks along the Thames!

[@XHyperlapseTravelChannel-vr8ph]

Can tell by the content how the creator loves his channel! Thanks for the share! Returning viewer here!

[@jenniferlevine5406]

Wonderful walk! Beautiful landscape. Thank you for all the history, it makes the walk very special indeed.

[@lizstevenson7801]

Thank you John, great history. I had never been there before so this was very interesting. 💕🇦🇺

[@vermeerofdelftscotlandwalk3294]

I really enjoy your videos John. I love to learn about a part of the UK that I have visited but have since learned much more by watching your videos. You do know, of course, that the first people to visit Britain settled in the Orkney Islands. There was no border then and everyone gathered at Stonehenge for the Summer Solstice.

[@mikethedigitaldoctorjarvis]

Always love the music in your videos,for some reason it brings a nostalgia in me !

[@forevertipsy3550]

another amazing video mate. love the choices of music you put in them.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks very much - took a while to find the right music for this one

[@goldieandblackie]

Another lovely walk John,keep well.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Mary

[@derekpyne]

Thanks John. Did enjoy this Sunday walk and it's an area where I seldom go , even when I was living in East London 😊 👍

[@howdymartin6258]

John - my Sunday is complete. As I have said before, I love your riverside walks - especially the Thames towards the estuary. Keep up the good work!

[@Blackhatsax55]

I dont know how i came across your youtube, but i am converted! Your easy delivery style and knowledge is just a pleasure to watch and listen to. Cant wait for more. Nice one.

[@briancox144]

Brilliant walk never been there but a place on my list great views of the Thames estuary beautiful video John enjoyed very much

[@jamesianbarber]

Another great end to the weekend - I have walked the other side of the road but I'm not sure I'm brave enough as a West Ham fan to go into South London - have a great week John.

[@_....J........................]

I was in Erith in (December) 2011. Lovely film, John. Thank you.

[@davesnelling3812]

Yet another corker John, superb walk matey, its like you're opening a window to the past and we are all peering in, thank you so much for sharing with us. Dave in Thailand.

[@ReelFilm2016]

Really enjoyed this. I grew up in Welling but lived all over Kent.

[@StephenGrew]

Love it, super!

[@robertbarling5601]

Thank you John for a thoroughly interesting and informative video. Wonderful as always. Bob.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks Bob

[@maryreichle7623]

Thanks for another downriver Thames walk. Hope you continue walks on this bank of the Thames towards the estuary.

[@terryflynn1956]

Thank you for this remarkable film that contains so many interesting facts of historical and geographic articles. A moody rugged place is Erith captured so well in this film . 😊👍

[@michaelbennett6778]

Fabulous John … lit up a previous run I did in February this year with your additional knowledge and information! We went to Erith from 5 Arches near Sidcup along the Cray Riverway and we went on to the pier to finish the route before returning our way back 20 miles out and back 👍

[@louistracy6964]

Quite like the idea of sitting on a deck waiting for instructions.

[@stanleyharrison7031]

I’m an English pirate

[@martystacey4429]

Making heavy industry 'romantic'😆👌 I particularly appreciate your music/editing John👏 Well played indeed🖤

[@Tom_J23]

Thanks John!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

cheers Tom

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

An engrossing walk, full of interest. Thank you.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

glad you enjoyed it Malcolm

[@drainspotter4751]

Thanks John for another great walk, really apricate the work you put in to these films, all the best from kernow.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks to you in your wonderful part of the land

[@michaelmiller641]

I studied building construction at Erith technical college in the 70s, I remember the old Erith high street on a hill, with a branch of Woolworths with wooden floorboards, I took a load of photos in the early 70s along the foreshore at erith, and put the film in fixer instead of dev. it all got lost!

[@mickeythompson9537]

It's real 'edgelands' here, isn't it. Excellent video, John. The deep history of this area is amazing - the prehistoric forest (which I have seen at low tide,) the moated manor, and behind it a 16th century tithe barn, along to the 19th century railway village of Slade Green. That concrete structure was munitions storage - very solid walls, corrugated iron roof - in case the contents blew up. There's a YT video showing seals on the mud here.

[@ashleyjarvis954]

As ever , great film thank you. Ive known and oddly loved this area of London for it for its urban serenity for decades here. It’s the not the natural beauty that is the draw but the layers of history that Conrad, Dickens or even Elliot could point too.

[@tracik1277]

You were blessed with some amazing skies on this walk, John, some lovely filming of surprising vistas. It sounds weird to me though when you call this South London - it feels very East from where I am. I had a very minor brush with death in Dartford, so it’s all a bit nostalgic as well!

[@ivanhockenhull2604]

Parts of the landscape reminded me of Oban and the views of Mull and the surrounding isles. Erith seems ethereal and crammed with history. Nice musical backdrop as well, John. 🇯🇪

[@TheKevswife]

I don’t remember any hotel where Morrison’s is. But I do know that where Morrison’s car park is used to be the old Pier Road. There were a row of large houses in which two of my brothers and myself was born. The old Police station used to have boats on the river there was an old pier with a few little cottages. I loved Erith as it used to be before they started pulling it apart.

[@M7MXE]

Hi John. I’m just up to this part in your book and thought I’d watch your video again. I’m loving the book and I’m following your journey with a London A-Z. I am hoping to embark on your walks, when time permits. Keep up the great work, John and thank you for the escapes, lessons and discoveries you provide.

[@jonhaslam3699]

Thanks for this. I’ve cycled this route many times from my starting point by the Cutty Sark. I usually turn left where you turned right and find my way home mainly via the Darenth River. I’ll look out for the many features you pointed out that I have been up to now oblivious to.

[@DryerFryer]

It's amazing how you have made me re-evaluate my teenage haunts in this. Beautiful film making.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks so much Dan - very much appreciated