Purley, London
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| Purley | |
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| OS Grid Reference: | Template:Gbmappingsmall |
| Administration | |
| Borough: | Croydon |
| County: | Greater London |
| Region: | Greater London |
| Nation: | England |
| Other | |
| Ceremonial County: | Greater London |
| Traditional County: | Surrey |
| Post Office and Telephone | |
| Post town: | PURLEY |
| Postcode: | CR8 |
| Dialling Code: | 020 |
- For other places called Purley see Purley (disambiguation).
Purley is a place in, and a suburb of, London (population about 72,000). The name derives from "pirlea", which means 'Peartree lea'.
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History and description
Purley and its neighbouring town Coulsdon used to be Coulsdon and Purley Urban District Council, within the County of Surrey. Now they are part of the London Borough of Croydon.
Kenley Aerodrome, to the east of the town, nowadays home to a gliding club, was one of the most important fighter stations - together with Croydon Airport and Biggin Hill - during World War II.
Purley grew rapidly in the 1920s and 1930s, providing spacious homes in a green environment. Northeast Purley stretches into the chalk hill spurs of the North Downs. The Webb Estate made headlines in a 2002 survey, which found that it had over the years attracted the highest-earning residents in the UK.
One road, Promenade de Verdun, created by William Webb, has a distinction all of its own. It is 600 yards (550 m) long and has on both sides Lombardy poplars planted in soil mixed with English and French earth specifically shipped over to the UK, and a plaque at one end with the inscription "Aux soldats de France morts glorieusement pendant la Grande Guerre", as a memorial to the alliance of World War One and the soldiers who died. At the other end of the road stands an obelisk carved from a single piece of stone.
The town hall-type offices in their Colonial-style building (see below right) were opened in 1930, but were passed to Croydon Council when the two authorities merged. The building has recently been sold to developers and converted into housing.
Purley_Council_Office.jpg
Purley used to have many different kinds of retail shops such as greengrocer's, butcher's, fishmonger's, card shops, sport shops, etc., but since the opening of Sainsbury's in the early 1980s (now closed) and, more significantly, a Tesco superstore in the early 1990s the majority of the retailers have closed down, leaving predominantly charity shops, estate agents and restaurants.
The town centre, having become very run-down thanks to a lack of local businesses, is now set to begin a regeneration project spearheaded by the congregation of the Purley Baptist Church.
Political Issues
Purley has consistently returned Conservative Party MPs to the seat of Croydon South and habitually returns Tory members to the local council. Since the north of Croydon tends to return a majority of Labour Party councillors who form a majority on the council — although Croydon Central has in the 2005 General Elections also returned a Conservative MP by the narrowest of margins of 75 votes — the two halves of the borough are often at loggerheads. Consequently, there is a strong will within Purley to leave the borough and return to independent district status which would mean planning decisions (the most controversial issue) would be made by local citizens. The sale and conversion of the Purley town hall (pictured) which might have quashed such ambition has instead increased the resolve of many local residents to secede from the London Borough of Croydon.
Transport links
Purley Cross roundabout connects routes leading east to East Grinstead and Eastbourne (the A22), west to Epsom and Kingston, south to Redhill and Brighton (the A23), and north to Croydon and London. The A23 north from Purley forms the Purley Way, which leads to Croydon's trading and industrial hinterland and also to the former Croydon Airport, the predecessor of the present London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport.
The town is on the main London-to-Brighton railway line and is served by Purley and Purley Oaks stations on that line, and Reedham station on the Tattenham Corner Line. There are plans to extend Tramlink to Purley.
Purley in the media
On television the town became known in the sitcom, Terry And June where Terry and June Medford (Terry Scott and June Whitfield), had moved after the characters' previous series, Happy Ever After. The sitcom was set on the cusp of Purley and Wallington (on Church Road in a house within sight of St Mark's Church) and the opening credits featured them dancing around the (now unrecognisable) Whitgift Centre - a local shopping precinct.
Purley is also famous due to a reference in the "Nod, nod, wink, wink, say no more!" sketch by Monty Python.
Nearest places
Nearest railway stations
- Purley railway station
- Purley Oaks railway station
- Riddlesdown railway station
- Reedham (Surrey) railway station
- Sanderstead railway station
External link
- Local Gov. Site Promenade de Verdun (http://www.croydon.gov.uk/leisure/parksrecreation/parks/openspaces/promenadedeverdun?a=5441)