Ruxley, Bexley/Bromley
A predominantly rural area with some light industry beside the main roads, situated immediately east of Foots Cray; the terrain rises further east to around 100 feet above sea level at Upper Ruxley, on the Kent border
The former chapel, now a barn, at Ruxley Manor
This was Rochelei in Domesday Book, and the name may have indicated a place frequented by rooks. In the Middle Ages Ruxley was the centre of the local administrative district, known as a hundred. The small and basic parish church of St Botolph was built in the early 14th century and survives (barely) as a barn at Ruxley Manor, which is now home to a garden centre.
The parish was combined with that of St James, North Cray, in 1557. The hamlet of Ruxley is said to have been abandoned at that time, possibly as a result of bubonic plague.
Ruxley gravel pits were dug from 1929 to 1951 and now constitute one of London’s few areas of relatively undisturbed water south of the Thames. The River Cray flows through three of the pits and a fourth is fed by springs. The surrounding swamp and fen vegetation supports a remarkable diversity of birds, butterflies, dragonflies and beetles. Access is only possible by prior arrangement with the warden.
To the east of the lakes lie Ruxley Wood, Ruxley Park golf course and Bromley Ski Centre.
