Greenhithe History
Ingress Abbey I
Ingress Abbey II
HMS Worcester
A Victorian Resort

A Victorian Resort

In Victorian times Greenhithe was a popular resort within easy reach of London by pleasure craft or railway. In 1842 Greenhithe Pier was built. Pleasure steamers called here carrying passengers to Gravesend and to other coastal towns. It was said to have been, "one of the prettiest on the river".

"The appearance of Greenhithe from the river is eminently picturesque. Its red brick cottages and tall white cliffs, project boldly forward from the dark woods of Swanscombe, which stretching far away inland, bound the distant horizon. The pier is much after the same fashion as that at Erith. The village may claim precedence for cleanliness, and the neighbouring country is not a whit less beautiful or interesting. We are not in fact, familiar with any spot within a like distance of the metropolis, and so easy of approach, where a quiet holiday could be more agreeably spent than amidst its rural and
sylvan scenes."
'Summer Excursions in the County of Kent along the Banks of the Thames and Medway.' published in 1847

It cannot be claimed that Queen Elizabeth slept here but on 11 Aug 1863 it was reported that Queen Victoria did board the Royal Yacht "Victoria and Albert" which was moored off Greenhithe amid the eager applause of a large gathering of young and old.

The Royal Thames Yacht Club held its sailing races off Greenhithe, The chairman of the Worcester Committee its Commodore with the White Hart Inn as its clubhouse.

Original Artworks