Foots Cray Meadows is an area of parkland and woodland 97 hectares (240 acres) in size, within theLondon Borough of Bexley,England.[1] It borders the suburbs ofAlbany Park,Sidcup,Foots Cray,North Cray andRuxley. TheRiver Cray runs through it in a north-easterly direction. TheLondon Loop, a public recreational walking path around London, also known as the "M25 for walkers", runs through the meadows parallel to the river from Sidcup Place, just south of the meadows. Two notable bridges cross the River Cray in the meadows: Five Arches bridge and the smaller Penny Farthing Bridge.
The Meadows are aLocal Nature Reserve[2][3] and aSite of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.[4] They have also received aGreen Flag Award.[5] There is access from Rectory Lane, among other places. Adjacent to the meadows is what was the kitchen garden and stables of theFoots Cray Place estate and which included aboules alley with a summer house which is still standing.
The area was originally a part of theFoots Cray Place estate, and during the 18th century the Five Arches bridge was built. At the same time, an almshouse was built adjacent to the woods, which, as of 2008, was being excavated byarchaeologists belonging to Bexley Archaeological Group.Bexley Archaeological Group
On 18 October 1949Foots Cray Place caught fire and the house was destroyed.[citation needed] The ruins were subsequently demolished and the grounds became Foots Cray Meadows, a public park.
In the early 2000s, Five Arches bridge was renovated with new stone, along with the 'Penny Farthing' bridge just upstream.[6]
Copies of A History of Footscray can be purchased from Bexley Archaeological GroupBexley Archaeological Group
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51°25′33″N0°07′38″E / 51.4258°N 0.1271°E /51.4258; 0.1271
