The River Darent or River Darenth is a Kentish tributary of the River Thames in England. Its name is believed to be from a Celtic word meaning 'river where oak-trees grow'. The tidal part of the river is known as Dartford Creek.
Fed by springs in the greensand hills south of Westerham in Kent and below Surrey it flows for 21 miles (34 km) eastwards and then northwards past the villages of Otford and Shoreham, past the castle and ruined Roman villa at Lullingstone, past Eynsford, Farningham, Horton Kirby, South Darenth, Sutton-at-Hone,Darenth, and through the large town of Dartford. North of Dartford the Darent receives the waters of the River Cray from the west as it passes through Dartford Marshes and Crayford Marshes, where it forms a boundary betweenGreater London and Kent . The Darent joins the Thames near Crayford Ness.
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