DAFFODILS NEAR LESNES ABBEY
Looking at this lovely springtime picture one gets the impression of being in the heart of the country. These woods are, in fact, on the very edge of London at Erith, once a place of maritime importance on the Thames and a resort of Londoners, but now the centre of numerous industries, mainly engineering, with Woolwich Arsenal close by. As may be expected from its connection with the early history of England, Kent possesses a larger than average number of monastic foundations. At Abbey Wood, to the west of Erith, are the remains of Lesnes (sometimes spelt Lessness) Abbey, which was founded in 1178 and belonged to the Augustinian canons.