insideKENT Magazine Issue 39 - June 2015 | Page 109

TOWNSPOTLIGHT
S P O T L I G H T

O N

Bexleyheath

BY LISAMARIE LAMB

Bexleyheath, with its large shopping centre, huge range of restaurants, proximity to London,
green spaces to enjoy, and fascinating architectural, historical, and social heritage, has a little
of everything. It has a growing, diverse population, with more people joining the area and
its thriving community every year – so much so that in 2012 the Mayor of London, Boris
Johnson, unveiled plans to invest £3.2 million into Bexleyheath’s transport and public realm
improvements; there's an exciting future ahead for Bexleyheath, and its residents.
History in Brief

Things to Do

Bexleyheath is a relatively new town;
before the beginning of the 19th century
there were only a handful of buildings in
the area, including a windmill, and the rest
of the town was still scrubland (the heath
from which it takes its name). Sir John
Boyd began the urbanisation of the area
in 1766 when he had Danson House built
in what is now known as Danson Park. It
was another 50 years until more building
works took place, after the area became
part of the Enclosure Act in 1814. This Act
was widespread across the country, and
meant that areas that had previously been
open such as common land – Bexley’s
heath in this case – suddenly became
enclosed, ready to be urbanised.

Salt Cave – This chain of clinics provides
completely natural, risk free, and very effective
salt therapy treatments – and it’s easy too. All its
visitors need to do is to sit in a treatment room,
and relax. The microclimate of the natural salt
caves is reproduced here to give the ultimate in
holistic healing, and not only does it work – it’s
safe for everyone, including children. Ailments
that a salt cave treatment can treat include COPD,
asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis and emphysema.
Hall Place – Hall Place is a Grade-I listed building
in Bexley. Built in 1537 for Sir John Champneys,
former Lord Mayor of London, it is considered to
be one of the best examples of a complete Tudor
house in the area with its intricate interiors and
beautiful checkerboard-pattern outer walls. At
Hall Place, you can enjoy the house itself, as well
as 65 acres of stunning gardens.

Bexley Museum – This diverse and fascinating
museum is located in Hall Place, and it hosts two
superb exhibitions each year, in addition to its
collection of over 50,000 interesting objects. The
exhibition could be anything from history to
anthropology, furniture making to ecology, but
whatever it is (the last exhibition was all about
wartime Bexley), it will be sure to give you an
insight into the subject in a way you had never
looked at it before.
Luna Cinema – In the summer months, Luna
Cinema comes to Hall Place. Luna Cinema is an
exciting outdoor film event that shows classic
films (Pretty Woman and Ghostbusters feature in
Hall Place's line up this summer) with delicious
hot food, a bar, and even VIP seating for priority
ticketholders. Bring something comfy to sit on (or
pre-book a fleece and inflatable cushion when
buying your tickets) and relax in beautiful
surroundings.

Red House

Salt Cave
Luna Cinema, Hall Place

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