Like many other areas of South East London the development of Welling is closely related to the evolution of the London to Kent road. In fact it is thought that the Welling name was derived from the horse-drawn vehicle era. Legend has it that by the time you reached the area you were said to be ‘well in’ Kent. A more modern theory is the name developed from the word ‘Welwyn’ (meaning ‘place of the spring’), due to the existence of an underground spring located at Welling Corner.
Welling today is similar to most South East London suburbs but remnants of its historic past can be seen throughout the area such as, the Russian Cannon. The cannon is a reminder of Welling’s early association with the Royal Arsenal who fought bravely in the Crimean War (1854 to 1860).
