Reynolds Cross to Priory Gdns

White Swan with the Licensee Pring family

THIS IS the Lease Agreement between James Chapman Elder and James Chapman jnr and Thomas Heckstall Smith for the land at Reynolds Cross (also known as Smiths Cross) 19th May,1835. It has the two families wax seals and top left a lead seal for Kent County.

The lost Anglesea Arms

THE crossroads at the top of the High Street at the south end is known as Reynolds Cross. The area was known as Reynold(s) Smith and was a small Hamlet between St. Mary Cray and Orpington. The Red Lion public house was included in this hamlet and the cross roads were either known as Reynolds Cross or Smiths Cross. There was a Poor House here between 1816 to about 1844. The intersection is dominated by the Anglesea Arms building as was. Chelsfield Road leads up to Derry Downs where some of the important people of the area once lived. W. Joynson; W. Cook; Mary Crowhurst; Rev Ellis, Catholic; Rev Hayland, St. Andrews; Rev Lewis, Congregational and many others. Along Wellington Rd., is a pub the Beech Tree, down Kent Road is the White Swan and along Lower Rd. is The Royal Albert.

Here is the location of the Poor House In St. Mary Cray opposite the White Swan.

This is the location where the Poor House was. It is possible that this is the building or includes part of the structure.

St Andrews

Along Lower Road is Saint Andrews Church. The Allotments run along the other side adding a bit of green space.

The Rosecroft Social Club is on the left side of the crossroads.There is a variety of shops from just above the cross roads then down Kent Road to the junction with Lower Road.\