Editing Erith (section)

===Anglo-Saxons===
After the collapse of [[Roman Empire|Roman rule]] in the early 5th century, Britain was colonised by [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] invaders from northern Europe. The ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' records that they won the [[Battle of Crecganford]] (thought to be modern [[Crayford]]) in 457 and shortly after claimed the whole of [[Kent]]. Their different way of life was reflected in their settlement pattern. The town and country estates of Roman bureaucrats gave way to a network of villages occupied by warriors and farmers. Erith was one such and has a Saxon name, originally ''Ærre hyðe'' meaning "old haven".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hasted |first=Edward |title='Parishes: Erith', in The History and Topographical Survey of the County of Kent: Volume 2 |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol2/pp227-263 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102173932/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-kent/vol2/pp227-263 |archive-date=2 January 2016 |access-date=1 January 2016 |website=British History Online |publisher=Canterbury |pages=227–263 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

There was probably a church on the site of the present St John the Baptist's in the Anglo-Saxon period.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 May 1953 |title=Parish Church of St John the Baptist – Bexley – Greater London – England |url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-198724-parish-church-of-st-john-the-baptish-bex |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126072846/http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-198724-parish-church-of-st-john-the-baptish-bex |archive-date=26 January 2012 |access-date=24 August 2012 |publisher=British Listed Buildings |df=dmy-all}}</ref> The early settlement was based around it, meaning that the centre of Erith was once west of its current location.