The town of Welling in the borough of Bexley has one of the longest high streets anywhere in London.
At almost a mile long, Welling High Street has dozens of supermarkets, department stores, speciality shops, bars and restaurants.
The beautiful Danson Park is only a few minutes walk from the town centre.
Welling was originally called Wellyngs, probably meaning the place of the spring', and was first mentioned in a document dated 1362.
The growth of the area, like that of Bexleyheath, was tied up with Watling Street, the Roman road from London to Dover.
Trade came from travellers who used the road, and old coaching inns such as the Guy, Earl of Warwick and the Nag's Head survive today although not in the original buildings.
Slowly shops and other amenities grew up beside the inns and a high-class residential area called Belle Grove was built.
The local economy was originally sustained by farming and in particular market gardening.
The arrival in 1849 of the North Kent railway line meant that perishable produce such as soft fruits could be transported to the London markets a great deal more quickly. The town spread out more during the 1902s and 30s as many more houses were built.
Today Welling is predominantly a residential suburb, with vast swathes of 1930s housing.
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