Dartford is a town in northwest Kent, England.  It is situated in the London Basin, approximately 16 miles from central London.  Dartford lies in a valley, close to where the Roman road from London to Dover crosses the River Darent.  Its name is formed from the river’s name – Darent – and the word ‘ford’, meaning crossing.  However, its history reaches back far further than the Romans, and archaeological digs have recovered items from the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age in the area.  Although agriculture was central to Dartford’s early economy, the town has supported a range of industries from beer brewing to chalk-mining and paper-making.  Many of Dartford’s manufacturers used the nearby supply of water from the River Darent to power their machinery.  In the 18^th century, the economy revolved around heavy engineering and machinery production.  The onset of World War I brought about a demand for weapons, many of which were produced at the local Vickers factory.  The town is now the location of a power station and several industrial estates.