Dartford
Dartford
Dartford is the principal town in the Borough of Dartford, Kent. Dartford is situated in the western part of Kent and borders with Gravesham to its west, Borough of Thurrock in Essex to its east and Sevenoaks District in the south. Dartford also borders Greenhithe and Swanscombe that lie next-door in the borough of Dartford. Dartford is a post town and has a railway station served by Southeastern services between London Charing Cross, London Cannon Street as well as Longfield, Meopham, Gravesend, Ebbsfleet International and Gillingham stations.
Dartford developed around a ford on the River Darent (which at various times had different names). This river flows through Dartford on its way from Dartford Heath along its 51-mile journey to the Thames Estuary. Dartford also developed around two smaller Saxon settlements which were united in 932 AD by King Athelstan who encouraged Bretwealda of Kent to create a market where the settlement was at the crossing over the river Darent.
Until 1889 Dartford was an urban district but it then was given the status of a municipal borough (the Dartford Borough as it is now known). Dartford was one of the first areas outside London to be developed as an industrial zone and became home to many industries such as fertiliser production, petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals.
Created: 30 October 2021 Edited: 29 November 2023
Dartford
Local History around Dartford
There are some historic monuments around including:
Medieval woodland boundary in Darenth WoodPalaeolithic sites near Baker's HoleRoman enclosure SE of VagniacaeDene holes in Hangman's WoodA major Roman villa, an Anglo-Saxon settlement and prehistoric remains 600m SSE of Darenth Court FarmDeserted medieval manorial settlement of CossingtonCrop mark complex, OrsettPurfleet magazineNeolithic sites near EbbsfleetRoman granary 250yds (230m) W of St Mary's ChurchSpringhead Roman siteSite of moated manor house E of St Michael's Church, AveleyBishop Bonner's Palace, OrsettMonastic grange at Friary CourtAspdin's kilnMedieval moated site and associated fishpond, Franks Hall.Icehouse at Clock House, Green Street GreenSpringfield style enclosure and Iron Age enclosures south of Hill House, Baker Street.Dovecote at High House, PurfleetAnglo-Saxon cemetery at Darenth ParkA preceptory of the Knights Hospitallers, known as St John's Jerusalem, and an associated fishpond at Sutton-at-HoneA Romano-British villa and a possible Iron Age farmstead at Franks.
