Petts Wood

Petts Wood
Kent
Location
Grid reference:	TQ445675
Location:	51°23’19"N, -0°4’34"E
Data
Population:	13,651  (2011 (Petts Wood and Knoll Ward))
Post town:	Orpington
Postcode:	BR5
Dialling code:	01689
Local Government
Council:	Bromley
Parliamentary constituency:	Orpington

Petts Wood is a suburb of Orpington in Metropolitan Kent, lying to the north-west of the town.

History

The name appeared first in 1577 as "the wood of the Pett family", who were shipbuilders and leased the wood as a source of timber (a pub, The Sovereign of the Seas, is named after a ship built at Woolwich to a design by Phineas Pett).

William Willett, a campaigner for daylight saving time, lived in nearby Chislehurst for most of his life, and is commemorated by a memorial sundial in the wood; another pub, The Daylight Inn, is named in his honour.

Most of Petts Wood was built in the early 20th century by the developer Basil Scruby together with Master builder, Noel Rees, as a high quality estate in a rural setting only a short train journey from the city, with the east side being built first: the first building in place was the railway station (situated between Orpington and Bickley), and the rest of the town developed from there. Noel Rees's name is still used as a selling point by estate agents; his houses can be found in Great Thrift, The Covert, Prince's Avenue, Wood Ride, Kingsway, Chislehurst Road, The Chenies and many other roads in Petts Wood.

The Daylight Inn, 2011

The generally higher quality of large homes built to the east of the railway line, as compared to smaller and more dense to the west, gave rise to the local references of "Half Crown" or "Five Bob" sides.

The area between Petts Wood and Bickley sustained heavy bombing during Second World War because of its proximity to an important railway junction.

The Jubilee Country Park is to the north-west of the main shopping area. Before this park was created, the area was known as 'The Gun Sites', as it had been the location for anti-aircraft guns in Second World War, and was the home of the 1st Petts Wood scout group.

Many residents of Petts Wood worked in Fleet Street, as it was the most affordable area with the latest last train for them to catch home after putting the morning's papers to bed (see Keith Waterhouse, "Streets Ahead").

In 2009, the local Woolworths store had the privilege of writing the last word in the history of that chain in the UK, when its manager, realising his was the last one to close, gathered the remains of the Pick 'n' Mix sweet section and auctioned the bagful of sweets, which would normally have retailed for a couple of pounds, for £14,500.

The woods

The wood itself survives and is managed by the National Trust. Originally just 88 acres were bought by public subscription and donated to the Trust in 1927. This asset expanded when the neighbouring Hawkwood Estate and Edlmann Wood, comprising a further 250 acres (100 hectares), were donated to the Trust by landowners Robert and Francesca Hall in 1957. The woodland features oak, birch, rowan, alder, ash, hornbeam and sweet chestnut.

Notable people

The William Willett memorial sundial

• Cerrie Burnell, actress, singer, playwright, and television presenter for the BBC children's channel CBeebies.
• Colin Cowdrey, Kent and England cricket captain.
• Jack Dee, comedian
• Charles De Gaulle, French general, statesman and future President of France who led the Free French Forces during Second World War. He rented a home at 41 Birchwood Road for four months before moving his family further inland to Shropshire later in 1940.
• Sir Geraint Evans, baritone or bass-baritone noted for operatic roles including Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, and the title roles in Falstaff and Wozzeck. Lived in Birchwood Road.
• Pixie Lott, singer and songwriter (born 1991)
• John Loveday, physicist
• Ian Mortimer, historian
• David Nobbs, comedy writer and the creator of the successful 1970s sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin
• Major Phil Packer, is a British soldier who was rendered paraplegic in 2008 by injuries sustained while serving in Iraq. He has since raised over a million pounds through charitable fundraising efforts which have garnered him several national awards.
• Arthur Seldon, economist.
• Dame Antoinette Sibley DBE, British Prima Ballerina
• Ivor Spencer, toastmaster
• William Willett, promoter of Daylight Saving

Nearby areas

Petts Wood borders Chislehurst to the north; St Paul's Cray to the north-east; St Mary Cray to the east; Orpington to the south-east; Locksbottom to the south; Bromley Common to the south-west; Southborough to the west; and Bickley to the north-west.

Transport

Petts Wood station serves the area with services to London Victoria via Herne Hill, London Charing Cross via Grove Park, London Cannon Street via Lewisham, Orpington and Sevenoaks. Petts Wood is served by several Transport for London bus services connecting it with areas including Bromley, Biggin Hill, Catford, Chislehurst, Hither Green, Lewisham, Orpington and St Mary Cray.

Sports facilities

• Petts Wood Recreation Ground
• Willett Recreation Ground
• Petts Wood Snooker Club (above Morrisons)
• Orpington Ojays Swimming Club
• Oakley Fitness (Above Oakley Coffee)
• Orpington & District Amateur Boxing Club

Blue Plaques

• Sir Geraint Evans (1922–1994) 34 Birchwood Road