Originally a stronghold of the Cray family, it has passed through the D'Arenbergs to its present owners, the princes of Caraman-Chimay.
From its pleasant situation in a hilly, wooded district near the headwaters of the Cray stream, Orpington has become in modern times a favourite residential locality for those whose business lies in London.
Navigation is also carried on by the Medway to Tonbridge, on the lower parts of the Darent and Cray, from Dartford and Crayford, and on the Wey up to Guildford and Godalming.
Among the principal modern industries are paper-making, carried on on the banks of the Darent, Medway, Cray and neighbouring streams; engineering, chemical and other works along the Thames; manufactures of bricks, tiles, pottery and cement, especially by the lower Medway and the Swale.
And then there are those wild-card celebrities that go for the statement-making "cray cray" in eyewear fashion--like Lady Gaga--which in many cases are custom designs just for them.
