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

[@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...😊

[@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.

[@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!

[@Rawdog88]

Your dads a nonce

[@SpiritBlueFezST]

It has a Dartford postcode, relating to the sorting office that sorts it's mail. It's London zone 6, part of the London borough of Bexley and 32 boroughs that make up London. Historically Kent.

[@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.

[@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!

[@Rawdog88]

Way too many blks now

[@williamsdaf]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@barrycarrigan5584]

Thank you John , my Sunday is now complete.

[@neilhogbin7252]

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

[@mwoods96]

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

[@JohnRogersWalks]

cheers Mirror Woods

[@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.

[@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.

[@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 😂

[@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

[@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.

[@DayTripperAdventures]

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

[@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.

[@GreyGhost.]

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

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks very much Paul

[@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.

[@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

[@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?

[@djrudog1158]

Thanks John for another great vid 👍

[@JohnRogersWalks]

hope you enjoy it Grant

[@leeclark8790]

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

[@JohnRogersWalks]

that's great to hear Lee

[@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.

[@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

[@michaelgoodwin1891]

Lovely walk John thanks again

[@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.

[@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.

[@XHyperlapseTravelChannel-vr8ph]

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

[@gparry42]

Once again, wonderful walking. Thanks John !

[@mikethedigitaldoctorjarvis]

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

[@TheIainMay]

Great walk thanks John

[@JohnRogersWalks]

my pleasure Iain

[@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.

[@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!

[@sirRoyM]

Thank you for the memories from we in Spain

[@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

[@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.

[@hikingdenbiking6245]

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

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Den

[@magicplum]

I've lived in S.E London all my life, early years in Dulwich, then 11 in Crayford, 3 in Erith and 1 in Thamesmead, worked in Dartford for 6 years, and have now lived in Plumstead for 20 years - and I never knew about the Howbury Moat wall and several other things you mentioned in this video. Have arranged to meet an old friend and do this walk in a couple of weeks. Thanks so much for this video, very friendly and engaging and very interesting. Have subscribed!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks magicplum - wonderful to hear, hope you enjoy the walk

[@teddyboy9116]

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

[@morriganwitch]

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

[@JohnRogersWalks]

wonderful

[@iainmacvicar5858]

Just wow! The end was thrilling, for me. I now reside in Scotland but lived for two decades near the north Kent (Medway) marshes'. Heartfelt appreciation for this.

[@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.

[@TimothyHalkowski]

Love the walks along the Thames!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@jenniferlevine5406]

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

[@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.

[@paulvarnsverry11]

One of the few KZbin channels where I am happy to sit through the ads without hitting “skip”. John Rogers earns and deserves every penny of the revenue this generates for him.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Thanks very much Paul

[@brianthomson528]

Hadn't realised the poster earns a little ( I'm sure it's not a fortune! ) if you don't skip the ads. If this is true I shall endure them to support my favourite content providers

[@paulvarnsverry11]

@@brianthomson528 I haven’t looked into the actual amount. It might be fractions of a penny/cent per ad viewed, but if sufficient numbers of viewers and supporters of the channel watch the ads, it will soon accumulate. There are other channels I watch where the content producers appear to be earning well, and their numbers of subscribers are not significantly higher than this channel.

[@paulvarnsverry11]

You are very welcome,@@JohnRogersWalks.

[@fredm5245]

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

[@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.

[@vishalpattani2200]

Nice one again

[@JohnRogersWalks]

thanks Vishal

[@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.

[@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

[@tcpip9999]

Wonderful to see this part of the Thames

[@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

[@clivelangham435]

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

[@jackysmith1763]

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

[@nelliemelba4967]

Thanks for highlighting my old stomping ground, where I used to walk. There is so much history here and yet it gets so overlooked or dismissed. It's so peaceful and feels so remote. i love the big open sky views. The river Darent through the Darenth Valley is a beautiful walk if you need any suggestions for future walks.

[@ralphwinter6421]

Nice One John, Cheers mate..

[@JohnRogersWalks]

cheers Ralph

[@briancox144]

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

[@peterjackson4132]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@damedavidfrith55]

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

[@X-HyperlapseTravelChanne-jz9ww]

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

[@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.

[@DamoSuzuki66]

Owing to your inspiration John, I have just completed 16 sections of the LOOP since mid summer this year and am now a highly addicted walker...thank you so much, this has been a complete life changer! I have to say that I look upon Section 1 very fondly as the contrasts of scenery including the BIG industrial area's are all very dramatic...also love the local folk, great character's. Keep up the great work!

[@JohnRogersWalks]

That’s brilliant to hear Michael - once you start you can’t stop. Happy walking

[@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...

[@greybeardmodels]

Remember walking this as the start of the London Loop in 2013, and I really must do it again!

[@MRoderick89]

I had my little sister watching this with me today and she really enjoyed it as did I. Yet again like always a great video John you never disappoint 👍

[@JohnRogersWalks]

many thanks Michael - glad your sister enjoyed it too

[@MRoderick89]

@@JohnRogersWalks your very welcome mate

[@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!!!!

[@davidwormleighton2839]

Hi John I’ve just come across your channel and what a great channel it is, I don’t live far from Erith and the way you described the whole area downstream was both fascinating and enlightening. Keep up the good work John and thank you for uploading, and I look forward to viewing both your new and archived videos having just subscribed 😀 stay safe David 👍👍

[@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

[@runningforasthma_]

Have done this walk a couple of times, the flood relief barrier really is a magnificent structure (almost worth the visit for alone)

[@musehic1953]

Marvellous end to another terrific walk.

[@chrismccartney8668]

Superb as expected ! Well done John….

[@malcolmrichardson3881]

An engrossing walk, full of interest. Thank you.

[@JohnRogersWalks]

glad you enjoyed it Malcolm

[@MeTheRob]

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

[@josephinebennington7247]

Further to my earlier comment. In the 70s I worked at Burroughs Wellcome. The Darenth passed right through the middle of the works and actually stopped being tidal there. There was a pool and wharf to which pharmaceutical raw materials were brought in by barge. Indeed, that waterborne access is why BW chose Dartford for their factory. I could watch small tugs drag barges up the Darenth at high tide, from the Thames, but turn into the river Cray with grain for the flour mills just outside Crayford. BW had fields on the eastern side of the Darenth marshes where they grew digitalis for the heart medicine. Was a frequent lunchtime walk for me out to the Thames shore.

[@robertbarling5601]

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

[@JohnRogersWalks]

Many thanks Bob

[@Mullet94]

The first long walk I did after discovering your videos was the London Loop section 1 between Erith and Bexley. As a North West London Harrow lad born a bred the salt marshes along the Thames Estuary felt like an alien and fascinating World for someone used to leafy suburbs on the edge of London. It's amazing all the different landscapes you can find around the city.

[@stevegasparutti8341]

Thank you for this - another lovely walk. Please come out to Gravesend and do a historical walk around my lovely town. Those ferries out to Gravesend terminated at Rosherville pier which was a Victorian themed gardens, in some way, comparable to the Crystal Palace at Norwood. We have so much history down here. We also have the biggest Sikh temple in the country.

[@Darkangel-A-c8z]

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

[@maryreichle7623]

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

[@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. 🇯🇪

[@ReelFilm2016]

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

[@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 . 😊👍

[@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!

[@garphykeks]

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

[@stephenquinn6485]

Brilliant vid John i went had a good explore of Burnham on crouch yesterday and lunchtime today amazing tour and on the roof of Millienium Mill old factory in royal victoria dock

[@JohnRogersWalks]

sounds like you've had a great weekend Stephen

[@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 😊 👍

[@annenewton5403]

Loved it,very special,thank you.

[@ivanrainbird2416]

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

[@halinaeynon7703]

My father worked for Stephenson and Clarke shipping during the 1960's. His ship 'Friston' would sometimes anchor on the Thames at Erith and I remember going to meet him there. Interesting to see how it has altered. Thank you.

[@john80c]

Superb video John. Great that some of the marshes have survived the developers. Bring back jingling as an Olympic sport.

[@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 👍