New Cross Turnpike, BEXLEY, London

These licensed premises are situated on the Roman road London to Dover, known as Watling Street. In the early 18th century, the newly formed New Cross Turnpike Trust repaired the road and, until 1865, charged a toll for its use. At that time, along this section of the road, there were market gardens and several houses. By the late 1930s, swathes of new housing covered both sides, although the old numbers 53, 55 and 57 remains. One was the home and practice of the physician and surgeon Miss Mary Love. By 1970, they had been replaced. The new number 55 was a NatWest bank and became a Wetherspoon free house in 1998.

These premises were refurbished by JD Wetherspoon and reopened in February 2016.