page_title: Dartford
section_title: Geography
hierarchical_section_title: Dartford / Geography
caption_attribution_description: The Bluewater is a large shopping mall, built in a redundant chalk quarry in Dartford is a town in North Kent, England. The entry road descending into the chalkpit, showing the surface carparking, the chalkcliffs Camera location 51°&#160;26′&#160;29.04″&#160;N, 0°&#160;16′&#160;11.28″&#160;E View this and other nearby images on: Google Maps - Google Earth - OpenStreetMap (Info)
context_page_description: Dartford is the principal town in the Borough of Dartford, Kent, England. It is located 18 miles south-east of Central London, and
  is situated adjacent to the London Borough of Bexley to its west. To its north, across the Thames estuary, is Thurrock in Essex, which can be reached via the Dartford Crossing.
  The town centre lies in a valley through which the River Darent flows, and where the old road from London to Dover crossed: hence the name, from Darent + ford. Dartford became a market town in medieval times and, although today it is principally a commuter town for Greater London, it has a long history of religious, industrial and cultural importance. It is an important rail hub; the main through-road now by-passes the town itself.
  Dartford is twinned with Hanau in Germany and Gravelines in France.
context_section_description: Dartford lies within the area known as the London Basin. The low-lying marsh to the north of the town consists of London Clay, and the alluvium brought down by the two rivers—the Darent and the Cray—whose confluence is in this area. The higher land on which the town stands, and through which the narrow Darent valley runs, consists of chalk surmounted by the Blackheath Beds of sand and gravel.
  As a human settlement, Dartford became established as a river crossing-point with the coming of the Romans; and as a focal point between two routes: that from west to east being part of the main route connecting London with the Continent; and the southerly route following the Darent valley. As a result, the town's main road pattern makes the shape of letter 'T'. The Dartford Marshes to the north, and the proximity of Crayford in the London Borough of Bexley to the west, mean that the town's growth is to the south and east. Wilmington is contiguous with the town to the south; whilst the almost continuous Thames Gateway development means that there is little to show the town boundary in an easterly direction.
  Within the town boundaries there are several distinct areas: the town centre around the parish church and along the High Street; the Joyce Green area; Temple Hill estate constructed in 1927; the Brent; Fleet Downs; as well as two important areas of open space and several industrial estates. The open spaces are Central Park, alongside the river; and Dartford Heath.
caption: The quarry at Bluewater, showing the underlying chalk
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