The River Cray

A journey from the source, going downstream...

The numbers on the maps correspond to the photographs below. Photograph '658' is the source of
the 12.6km long River Cray as it flows on its way to join the River Darent at Dartford as a main tributary,
and eventually the River Thames, between Crayford Marshes and Dartford Marshes.

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The source of the River Cray is from a natural spring that feeds the upper pond in the Priory Gardens at Orpington. It is formed by the geological feature of a chalk aquifer on the North Downs.

In very dry spells the spring has been known to fail, causing the pond to dry up. This is the largest of the three ponds in the Priory Gardens and contains a large island in the middle.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 136kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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The upper pond in the Priory Gardens at Orpington then flows in to the lower pond via a 0.5m high waterfall. There is a footbridge over the waterfall, from where this photograph was taken.

There is also an overflow side pond, but this does not form part of the watercourse for the River Cray.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 126kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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The lower pond in the Priory Gardens at Orpington is where the River Cray goes underground for the first time.

It disappears under the south side of the A208 "High Street", through an outlet pipe located on the boundary wall, that can be seen in the top right hand corner of this photograph.

This is the dirtiest of the three ponds. Being next to a public footpath, this pond often ends up with drinks cans, shopping bags, traffic cones and shopping trolleys being thrown in it.

It is around here that the 18^th century Orpington Mill was supposed to have been located, probably where the current parade of shops stand.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 136kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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This is the outlet pipe located on the boundary wall where the river disappears under the south side of the A208 "High Street"

While underground the river travels north under the A224 "Orpington Bypass" and "Cray Avenue" for about half a mile.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 134kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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The River Cray reappears from under the east side of the A224 "Cray Avenue" after about half a mile.

At this stage the river is about 3m wide, but only about 15-20mm deep, and is flowing to the east. It has a shingle bottom that is mostly weed free at this stage. The banks are lined with bamboo, wildflowers, rushes, grasses and mature trees.

This is the River Cray 'proper'.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 127kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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After about 30m the River Cray drops over a man-made 0.5m high waterfall.

The reason for this is that the local council wanted to create a small area of about 30m square of marsh land to the south of the river, between the outlet and the waterfall, suitable for school 'nature' lessons. It also helps to aerate the water.

It is the area at the back of this photograph.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 127kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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Another 30m on past the waterfall, the River Cray turns back to its northern route.

Here the shingle bottom can be easily seen. The far bank at this point is lined with the large-leafed plant "Gunnera".

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 127kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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As the River Cray travels north, it widens slightly and gets a bit slower.

It is about here that the shingle bottom starts to be covered in aquatic vegetation, such as Cabomba caroliniana.

Just off to the west at this point is a 'boating pond'.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 129kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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As the River Cray continues to travel north, paralleling the A224 "Cray Avenue", it has to pass under the "Kent Road".

This is a modern 'concrete' road bridge with design features!

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 128kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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The River Cray reappears from under the "Kent Road" in to a 'wooded walk'.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 128kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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The River Cray then narrows to under 2m wide and is quite shallow but faster flowing. This means there is little aquatic growth on the shingle bottom.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 120kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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Further on the River Cray widens slightly, but the bank on both side becomes inaccessible.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 120kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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At this point the River Cray drops down almost 2m as it disappears under several houses on the west side of the St. Mary Cray "High Street". Between the river and the road is a 'paddling pool'.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 126kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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The River Cray then reappears, running between the St. Mary Cray "High Street" and the "Nugent Shopping Park".

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 127kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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Here the banks of the River Cray become badly overgrown on both sides. At some points the river almost disappears beneath the undergrowth.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 121kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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Although the banks of the River Cray are still overgrown on both sides, the river starts to widen out again and becomes slower flowing, with lots of aquatic growth.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 124kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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Here the River Cray drops down over a very small waterfall, before disappearing under "Mill Brook Road B258", to reappear on the east side of the road, 100m further north.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 127kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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After the River Cray reappears on the east side of "Mill Brook Road B258", it flows north down a man-made culvert, passing underneath the railway bridge, before flowing underneath "Station Road B258".

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 132kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on July 28, 2010

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Here the River Cray flows underneath "Station Road B258". Just to the right at this point is the very pretty St. Mary's C of E Church.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 143kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on September 11, 2011

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On the north side of "Station Road B258" the River Cray reappears, still in a man made culvert. At this point the river is fairly fast flowing, and has a good gravel bed covered in aquatic plants.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 148kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on September 11, 2011

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Around 150m after passing under "Station Road B258", the River Cray disappears from view. It is hidden from view on the west side by units on an industrial estate, and on the east side by houses and 2m high overgrown metal railings. You can just see the top of one railing in the top right hand corner of this photo!

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 116kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on September 11, 2011

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What a surprise! With the overgrown metal railings replaced with a shorter wooden fence, a photo taken 'sight unseen' over this fence revealed a stream and a lake. The lake is fairly extensive and runs north/south.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 124kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on September 11, 2011

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At the north end of the lake, looking south, is a wear. Here the outflow of the River Cray flows back in to a man made channel.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 124kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on September 11, 2011

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This man made channel meanders several hundred metres north, through sculpted park landscape.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 154kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on September 11, 2011

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Between the lake and "Main Road", there is a separate small stream.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 122kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on September 11, 2011

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And the reason for this separate small stream is as a water source for a man made water meadow. This could be a nice area if it wasn't for the plastic bags, beer cans and broken bottles.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 119kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on September 11, 2011

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At the north end of the park land, the outflow from the lake and the water meadow stream recombine, just before disappearing beneath "Main Road". The water meadow stream can been seen appearing from an overflow on the right hand side of the concrete support wall.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 144kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on September 11, 2011

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At the north side of "Main Road" the River Cray reappears in a very deep man made culvert. At this point the river is very slow moving and with little aquatic growth. There are industrial units on both side of the river at this point.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 144kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on September 11, 2011

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50m further north and the River Cray is back to a natural watercourse. This continues for several hundred metres until disappearing behind a tall metal fence. This marks the boundary of the Ruxley Gravel Pits, near Crittall's Corner, part of a 40 acres nature reserve. Guided walks are organised by Kent Wildlife Trust and the London Borough of Bromley.

Photograph taken with a digital camera using auto settings. Click the photo for the full image which is 128kb.

Photographed by G6CSY on September 11, 2011