In March 1970 as The Dartford Lapidary Society was formed however three years later,
it moved to new quarters at the Sidcup Arts Centre and the name was changed to
the SIDCUP LAPIDARY AND MINERAL SOCIETY (S.L.M.S).
It remained with the Arts Centre until 2014 and when the Adult Education Centre moved to a new location in Brampton Road the SLMS moved too.
The Society now meets every Tuesday evening from September to July at the Learning Centre, Brampton Road, Bexleyheath.
The Society promotes an interest in Lapidary work (as the SLMS has a range of machines for Members to use) and in the Earth Sciences, i.e. mineralogy, palaeontology (fossils), gemmology and geology etc.
Field trips take place regularly during the year.
We also promote the society by attending events:
e.g. Festival of Geology at the UCL London,
Dartford Steam Fair, Essex Rock & Minerals' Show.

Back in 2000 the Society put on a BEXLEY GEM & MINERAL SHOW, which was opened by the Mayor of Bexley, Councillor Linda Bailey, at Crook Log Sports Centre, Brampton Road, Bexleyheath on Saturday, 1st April 2000. This was the first big Show of its kind in the area. Three more shows followed in 2001, 2002 and 2003, after that date the Crook Log hall was not available due to renovation, then we were unable put the event on again. The society continues to hold smaller shows each year at The Emmanuel Church Hall, Sidcup in November/December.