Purley
OS grid reference	TQ313615
London borough	Croydon
Ceremonial county	Greater London
Region	London
Constituent country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	PURLEY
Postcode district	CR8
Dial code	020
Police	Metropolitan
Fire	London
Ambulance	London
UK Parliament	Croydon South
London Assembly	Croydon and Sutton
European Parliament	London
List of places: UK • England • London

Coordinates: 51°20′14″N 0°06′51″W / 51.3373, -0.1141 Image File history File links Greater_london_outline_map_bw. ... Image File history File links Red_pog. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... The districts of England are a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Ceremonial counties of England are areas of England that are appointed a Lord-Lieutenant, and are defined by the government with reference to the metropolitan and non-metropolitan counties of England. ... Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... The region, also known as Government Office Region, is currently the highest tier of local government subnational entity of England in the United Kingdom. ... Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ... Constituent countries is a phrase used, often by official institutions, in contexts in which a number of countries make up a larger entity or grouping; thus the OECD has used the phrase in reference to the former Yugoslavia[1], the Soviet Union and European institutions such as the Council of... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Unified  -  by Athelstan 927 AD  Area  -  Total... This is an alphabetical list of the sovereign states of the world, including both de jure and de facto independent states. ... A post town is a required part of all UK postal addresses. ... UK postal codes are known as postcodes. ... The CR postcode area is a group of nine postal districts in southern Greater London, which are subdivisions of eight post towns. ... The UK telephone numbering plan, also known as the National Numbering Plan, is regulated by the Office of Communications (Ofcom), which replaced the Office of Telecommunications (Oftel) in 2003. ... 020 is the dial code for Greater London in the United Kingdom. ... The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) is the name currently used by the territorial police force which is responsible for Greater London other than the City of London (the responsibility of the City of London Police). ... A Fire Appliance belonging to the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service The fire service in the United Kingdom has undergone dramatic changes since the beginning of the 21st century, a process that has been propelled by a devolution of central government powers, new legislation and a change to operational... The London Fire Brigade (LFB) is the statutory fire and rescue service for London, England. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The London Ambulance Service (LAS) is the largest ambulance service in the world that does not directly charge its patients for its services. ... The United Kingdom House of Commons is made up of Members of Parliament (MPs). ... Croydon South is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Greater London is divided into a number of constituencies for London Assembly elections. ... Croydon and Sutton is a constituency represented in the London Assembly. ... This is a list of Members of the European Parliament for the United Kingdom in the 2004 to 2009 session, ordered by name. ... London is a constituency of the European Parliament. ... List of cities in the United Kingdom List of towns in England Lists of places within counties List of places in Bedfordshire List of places in Berkshire List of places in Buckinghamshire List of places in Cambridgeshire List of places in Cheshire List of places in Cleveland List of places... This is a partial list of places in London, England. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Purley is a place in the London Borough of Croydon. It is a suburban development situated 11.7 miles (18.8 km) south of Charing Cross. The name derives from "pirlea", which means 'Peartree lea'. Purley has a population of about 72,000. This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Victorian Eleanor Cross at Charing Cross The name Charing Cross, now given to a district of central London in the City of Westminster, comes from the original hamlet of Charing, where King Edward I placed a memorial to his wife, Eleanor of Castile. ... Lea is an Old English word meaning a clearing, an open piece of grassland or a grove. It is common in English town names, in the north it generally uses the pure form of -lea whilst in the south it generally uses a changed spelling such as -ley, -leigh or... To help compare different countries, cities, etc. ...

History

Local government

Under the Local Government Act 1894, Purley became part of the Croydon Rural District of Surrey. In 1915 Purley and the neighbouring town of Coulsdon formed the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District which in 1965, under the London Government Act 1963, was abolished and its area transferred to Greater London and used to form part of the London Borough of Croydon. The Local Government Act 1894 (57 & 58 Vict. ... Croydon Rural District was a rural district in north east Surrey from 1894 to 1915. ... Should not be confused with Surry. ... Coulsdon is a place in the London Borough of Croydon on the Brighton Road (A23). ... Coulsdon and Purley Urban District was a local government district of Surrey from 1915 to 1965. ... The London Government Act 1963 was an Act of the UK parliament which led to the official recognition of the conurbation known as Greater London. ... Greater London is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England. ...

The urban district council was based in a colonial-style building opened in 1930. The building, on the A23 Brighton Road near Reedham Station, became the property of the London Borough of Croydon and has recently been sold to developers and converted into housing. The A23 road, in its original form, was a major road running between London to Brighton, England. ... Reedham station is a railway station in the south of Purley in the London Borough of Croydon. ...

Aviation

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. RAF Kenley (or Kenley Aerodrome) was a station of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I and the RAF in World War II. Its active phase commenced in 1917 and ceased in 1959 when Fighter Command left the aerodrome for good. ... The control tower of Croydon Airport in 1939, with the BOAC de Havilland DH 91 Albatross Fortuna alongside Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary of what are now the London Borough of Croydon and the London Borough of Sutton. ... Biggin Hill is a place in the London Borough of Bromley in London, England. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Suburban growth

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. The 1920s is a decade that is sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or the Roaring Twenties, usually applied to America. ... Face The 1930s (years from 1930–1939) were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles, as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression, also known in Europe as the World Depression. ... The North Downs in England are a ridge of chalk hills that stretch about 100 mi (160 km) from Hampshire through Surrey and Kent. ...

Former offices of Coulsdon and Purley Urban District on Brighton Road, Purley

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. Notably, the town was home to Von Ribbentrop when he was ambassador before WWII, and he is understood to have ensured that the town was never bombed. Download high resolution version (1407x1101, 464 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (1407x1101, 464 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Coulsdon and Purley Urban District was a local government district of Surrey from 1915 to 1965. ...

A comprehensive history of Purley and its growth around Caterham Junction (now Purley Station) with the coming of the railways some 150 years ago is found in the Bourne Society's 'Purley Village History' and in its Local History Records publications.

The CR8 postal district was named in 2003 as having the highest average earning residents in the UK. [1]

Retail and commerce

Purley used to have many different kinds of retail shops such as greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers, card shops, sport shops, etc. The old Sainsbury's was closed in the early 1980s (and the site remains derelict, though it was purchased in 2005 by the congregation of Purley Baptist Church for redevelopment). Since the opening of Sainsbury's in the early 1980s (now closed late 90s) and, more significantly, a Tesco superstore in the early 1990s, the majority of the retailers have closed down, replaced by predominantly charity shops, estate agents and restaurants. In 2006, further change is on the cards as Tesco propose to replace the store with a 6-story building containing affordable flats above a new store. Tesco plc is a UK-based international grocery and general merchandising retail chain. ...

The town centre has become run-down thanks to a lack of local businesses and the fact that the traffic intended for the long abandoned M23 extension has been routed through the town, which is now dominated by Tesco and the road system. But Purley is now set to begin a regeneration project spearheaded by the congregation of the Purley Baptist Church who, under the banner of 58:12 (a company and charity set up by the Church) are planning to redevelop the Purley Island Site. Other partners in the development of a strategy for the regeneration of central Purley include the Purley & Woodcote Residents' Association and Purley Rotary who actively participate in the Neighbourhood Partneship forums hosted by Croydon Council.

Politics

Purley has consistently returned Conservative Party MPs to the local seat of Croydon South and has also returned Conservative members to the local council. Since the north of Croydon tends to return Labour councillors, the two halves of the borough are often at loggerheads. In the 2006 local elections the Conservatives were returned to power in Croydon removing Liberal Democrats and replacing Labour from the local political scene. Prominent members of the new Council are residents of Purley & of Woodcote (now part of Coulsdon West Ward) The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), the largest in terms of public membership, and the oldest political party in the United Kingdom. ... Croydon South is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... The Labour Party has been, since its founding in the early 20th century, the principal political party of the left in England, Scotland and Wales. ...

Notable references in fiction

• 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 shopping precinct in central Croydon.
• One of the houses used in Footballer's Wives is in Purley.
• Purley is famous due to a reference in both the "Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more!" and "Kilimanjaro Expedition" sketches by Monty Python.

June Whitfield and Terry Scott on Terry and June Terry and June was a popular British sitcom, broadcast on the BBC from 1979 to 1987. ... Terry Scott Terry Scott (May 4, 1927 - July 26, 1994) was an actor and comedian who appeared in seven Carry On films. ... June Whitfield CBE 1925 in Streatham, London) is a well-known English actress. ... Happy Ever After was a British sitcom starring Terry Scott and June Whitfield. ... Wallington is also the name of township near Geelong, Victoria, Australia. ... The Whitgift Centre is a large shopping centre in Croydon, London, which officially opened in 1970. ... Footballers Wives is a UK television drama surrounding the private lives of a group of professional footballers. ... Nudge nudge is a sketch from the third Monty Pythons Flying Circus episode, How to Recognise Different Types of Trees From Quite a Long Way Away. Spoiler warning: Idles character gets on the nerves of Jones character. ... Jimmy Blenkinsop, George Head and Arthur Wilson Kilimanjaro Expedition is a sketch from the episode of Monty Pythons Flying Circus The Ant, an Introduction, also appearing in the Monty Python film And Now For Something Completely Different. ... Monty Python, or The Pythons, is the collective name of the creators of Monty Pythons Flying Circus, a British television comedy sketch show that first aired on the BBC on 5 October 1969. ...

Notable residents

• June Brown, actress, lives in Purley.
• Nigel Harman, actor, was born and grew up in Purley.
• Sir Bernard Ingham, Margaret Thatcher's former press secretary, lives in Purley.
• Francis Rossi, Lead Singer with Status Quo, lives in Purley.

June Brown (born 16 February 1927) is an English actress and director, best known as Dot Branning in the BBC soap opera EastEnders. ... Harman as Dennis Rickman in EastEnders. ... Sir Bernard Ingham (born June 21, 1932) is a journalist best known as Margaret Thatchers former press secretary. ... Francis Rossi Francis Rossi (Francis Dominic Michael Nicholas Rossi) was born 29 May 1949 in Forest Hill, London and is co-founder of the British rock band Status Quo, where he sings lead vocals and plays lead guitar. ...

Transport

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. East Grinstead (archaically spelt Grimstead[1]) is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. ... Shown within East Sussex Geography Status: Borough Region: South East England Historic County: Sussex Admin. ... The A22 is a major road in England. ... Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England, to the south of Greater London. ... Kingston upon Thames, part of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, is an ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned, and is now a lively suburb of London. ... Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. ... Brighton is located on the south coast of England, and together with its immediate neighbour Hove forms the city of Brighton and Hove. ... The A23 road, in its original form, was a major road running between London to Brighton, England. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Purley Way is a section of the A23 trunk road in the London Borough of Croydon, in the areas of Purley, Waddon and West Croydon, and has given its name to the out-of-town shopping area alongside it with a catchment area covering most of South London. ... The control tower of Croydon Airport in 1939, with the BOAC de Havilland DH 91 Albatross Fortuna alongside Croydon Airport was an airport in South London which straddled the boundary of what are now the London Borough of Croydon and the London Borough of Sutton. ... “LHR” redirects here. ... Gatwick Airport (IATA: LGW, ICAO: EGKK) is Londons second largest airport and the second busiest airport in the UK after Heathrow. ...

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. The Brighton Main Line is the railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. ... Purley Station viewed from Whitecliffe Road South Purley railway station serves Purley in the London Borough of Croydon, on the main London to Brighton line, in Travelcard Zone 6. ... Purley Oaks railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London. ... Reedham station is a railway station in the south of Purley in the London Borough of Croydon. ... The Tattenham Corner Line is a railway line in Southern England. ... Tramlink (initially known as Croydon Tramlink) is a public transport tramway in south London, operated by FirstGroup on behalf of Transport for London. ...

Nearest places

• Coulsdon
• Kenley
• Riddlesdown
• South Croydon
• Sanderstead
• Wallington
• Carshalton
• Croydon
• Banstead

Coulsdon is a place in the London Borough of Croydon on the Brighton Road (A23). ... Kenley is a district in the south of the London Borough of Croydon. ... Riddlesdown is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, one mile east from the centre of Purley. ... // South Croydon South Croydon is a locality in suburban Surrey, the area surrounding the valley south of central Croydon about 1 km in radius, centred on the Red Deer public house on the Brighton Road. ... All Saints church, Sanderstead Sanderstead (pronounced ) is a village in South-East England. ... Wallington is also the name of township near Geelong, Victoria, Australia. ... Carshalton is a suburb of London, part of the London Borough of Sutton, located 10 miles (16. ... It has been suggested that Central Croydon be merged into this article or section. ... Banstead is a town in Surrey, England, on the border with Greater London. ...

Nearest railway stations

• Purley railway station
• Purley Oaks railway station
• Riddlesdown railway station
• Reedham railway station
• Sanderstead railway station

Purley Station viewed from Whitecliffe Road South Purley railway station serves Purley in the London Borough of Croydon, on the main London to Brighton line, in Travelcard Zone 6. ... Purley Oaks railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London. ... Riddlesdown railway station is in the London Borough of Croydon in south London, on the Oxted line. ... Reedham station is a railway station in the south of Purley in the London Borough of Croydon. ... Sanderstead railway station serves the village of Sanderstead in the London Borough of Croydon, although the station is some distance north-west of the original village centre. ...

External links

• Local Gov. Site Promenade de Verdun
• Purley's "58:12" Regeneration Project
• PWRA, Purley & Woodcote Residents' Association
• The Bourne Society, representing heritage interests in the debate over Purley regeneration