North Cray

North Cray is an area in South East London, England, within the London Borough of Bexley. It is located east of Sidcup and south of Bexleyheath and is south-east of Charing Cross, the traditional centre of London in the Metropolitan Green Belt.

History

Early history

North Cray was previously a civil parish in the Hundred of Ruxley, Sutton-at-Hone Lathe. The settlement Ruxley had its own parish but it was abolished in 1557 and the area was absorbed into North Cray parish.

Modern history

North Cray was within Kent until the creation of Greater London in 1965. From 1894 to 1934 North Cray was within the Bromley Rural District, then it was in the Chislehurst and Sidcup Urban District from 1934 to 1965; then finally the London Borough of Bexley from 1965 which remains today.

Transport

Buses

492 to Bluewater via Bexley, Bexleyheath, Crayford, Dartford, Stone & Greenhithe or to Sidcup via Ruxley & Foots Cray. Operated by Arriva London for London Buses.
Rail

The nearest National Rail stations to North Cray are Sidcup and Bexley, which both provide services to London Charing Cross, Dartford and Gravesend. The stations are connected to North Cray via the 492 London bus service.

Notable people

North Cray briefly became the centre of international attention in August 1822 when Robert Stewart, Viscount Castlereagh, the Foreign Secretary, committed suicide at his country home Loring Hall.
Other notable people associated with the area include geologist Joshua Trimmer, colonial administrator Harry Ord, and cricketer John Gosling, all of whom were born in North Cray.