Petts Wood

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type = Greater London
region= London
population= 13,627
official_name= Petts Wood
london_borough= Bromley
constituency_westminster= Orpington
post_town= ORPINGTON
postcode_area= BR
postcode_district= BR5
dial_code= 01689
os_grid_reference= TQ445675
latitude= 51.3885
longitude= 0.0760

Petts Wood is a suburb of London in the London Borough of Bromley.

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 timbers. 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. The Daylight Inn in the suburb of Petts Wood is named in his honour. Petts Wood also has a second pub (The Sovereign of the Seas) and a railway station. It is situated between Orpington and Bickley. The Jubilee Country Park is located to the northwest of the main shopping area and is home to several rare species of animal life.

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. Noel Rees's name is still used as a selling point by estate agents, his houses can be found in Great Thrift, The Covert, Princes Avenue, Wood Ride, Kingsway, Chislehurst Rd, The Chenies and many other roads in Petts Wood.
The area sustained heavy bombing during WW2 because of its proximity to an important railway junction. Charles de Gaulle leader of the Free French and future President of France lived in Petts Wood, at 41 Birchwood Road, for part of the Second World War.

The wood itself survives and is managed by the National Trust. Originally just 88 acres (36 hectares) were bought by public subscription and donated to the Trust in 1927. This was 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.

Nearest places

* Orpington
* Chislehurst
* Sidcup
* Bickley
* Bromley

Nearest railway stations

* Petts Wood railway station
* St Mary Cray railway station
* Orpington railway station

Places of Worship

* [http://www.pwmc.org.uk Petts Wood Methodist Church] Queensway, Petts Wood
* [http://www.christlutheranchurch.org.uk Christ Lutheran Church] Poverest Road
* [http://www.users.surfaid.org/~jackson01/pettswd Christ Church (United Reformed Church)] Tudor Way Petts Wood
* [http://www.findachurch.co.uk/churches/tq/tq46/stfrancis/index.html St Francis (Church of England)] Willett Way, Petts Wood
* [http://www.stjamespettswood.org Roman Catholic Church of St James the Great] , Crescent Drive, Petts Wood
* Petts Wood Quaker meeting of the Society of Friends, 6 Ladywood Avenue
* [http://www.hfc-church.org/ House of Faith Christian Church,] Petts Wood War Memorial Hall
* Petts Wood Pagan chanting society, Branston Crescent
* Christ Lutheran Church, 227 Poverest Road, Petts Wood

chools

* [http://www.bromley.gov.uk/education/schools/primaryschools/crofton_infant_sch.htm Crofton Infants School, Towncourt Lane]
* [http://www.croftonjuniorschool.com/ Crofton Junior School, Towncourt Lane]

ports facilities

* Willett Sports Ground
* Access in Crossway

Blue Plaques

* Sir Geraint Evans (1922-1994) 34 Birchwood Road

External links

* [http://www.orpingtonjuniors.com/ Orpington Junior Badminton Club]
* [http://www.bromley.gov.uk/libraries/librariesintheborough/petts_wood_library_organisation.htm Petts Wood library]
* [http://www.pettswoodvillage.co.uk Petts Wood Village]
* [http://www.pettswood.org.uk/ Petts Wood & District Residents Association]
* [http://www.pettswoodfc.net/ Petts Wood football club]
* [http://www.pettswoodrunners.co.uk/index.htm Petts Wood Runners]
* [http://www.7thpettswood.org.uk/ 7th Petts Wood Scout Group]
* [http://www.pettswoodhall.co.uk/ Petts Wood War Memorial Hall]
* [http://www.pwos.org.uk/ Petts Wood Operatic Society]