Crossness
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2015}}
{{Infobox UK place
| country = England
| map_type = Greater London
| region = London
| population =
| official_name = Crossness
| constituency_westminster =
| london_borough = Bexley
| dial_code = 020
| coordinates = {{coord|51.508288|0.138295|display=inline,title}}
| static_image_name = River Thames, Cross Ness lighthouse - geograph.org.uk - 574923.jpg
| static_image_caption = Crossness lighthouse, built 1895 by Trinity House, now operated by the Port of London Authority.
}}
Crossness is a location in the London Borough of Bexley, close to the southern bank of the River Thames, to the east of Thamesmead, west of Belvedere and north-west of Erith. The place takes its name from Cross Ness, a specific promontory on the southern bank of the River Thames. In maritime terms, the tip of Cross Ness, in the past referred to as 'Leather Bottle Point', marks the boundary between Barking Reach and Halfway Reach. An unmanned lighthouse on Crossness is a navigational aid to shipping.
Sewer
Crossness is the location of the Crossness Sewage Treatment Works, which includes the historic Victorian Crossness Pumping Station, built at the eastern end of the Southern Outfall Sewer as part of the London sewerage system designed by Sir Joseph Bazalgette and constructed between 1859 and 1865.
Lighthouse
Crossness lighthouse is a steel lattice structure. The light is at an elevation of 41 feet (12.5 m) and gives a white 5-second flash visible for 8 miles (12.9 km).{{Cite web|url=https://www.mycetes.co.uk/a/page7.html|title=London river lights|last=|first=|date=|website=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190408100720/http://www.mycetes.co.uk/a/page7.html|archive-date=8 April 2019|access-date=1 April 2019|url-status=dead}} In 2024, the Port of London Authority consulted on replacement of the lattice structure with a light on a drop-down mast.{{cite web |title=Margaretness, Crossness & Coldharbour Lighthouses replacement and upgrade |url=https://pla.co.uk/margaretness-crossness-coldharbour-lighthouses-replacement-and-upgrade |website=Port of London Authority |access-date=29 March 2025}}
Access and recreation
Crossness Nature Reserve is east of the sewage works.
The Ridgeway path, owned by Thames Water and built on top of the southern outfall sewer, stretches {{convert|3.5|mi|adj=off}} between Plumstead railway station and the Crossness sewage treatment works. The nearest station to Crossness is Abbey Wood, almost {{convert|2|mi|adj=off}} away.
The Thames Path Extension - from the Thames Barrier to Crayford Ness - runs along the southern bank of the river through Crossness.{{Cite book|title=Thames Path in London|last=Clapham|first=Phoebe|publisher=Aurum Press|year=2012|isbn=978-1-84513-706-9|location=London|pages=136–51}}