Kenley
Kenley
Charming Kenley is an underrated district of Croydon that packs in everything: shops, trains, buses, schools, pubs, restaurants, community and countryside.
The Location Kenley is skewered by the lengthy Godstone Road; it is located in between joining Croydon district Purley and North Surrey village Whyteleafe. Much of Kenley is within walking distance of Purley and therefore it is fair to say the area benefits from the hub of public transport that is Purley. Kenley is within zone 6 and is one of the most southern points of Croydon.
The train station is very difficult to find if traveling to it by car- it is located just off of the Godstone Road, tucked behind the parade of shops. Kenley Aerodrome
Although few of the remaining buildings survive and the control tower was demolished after a fire in 1978 along with the hangars, Kenley is thought to be the best preserved of all WWII RAF fighter stations, with the runway still in its original configuration. English Heritage (in 2000) identified Kenley as “The most complete fighter airfield associated with the Battle of Britain to have survived”. The respective councils of Croydon and Tandridge have designated the airfield site as a Conservation Area .
The south-west corner, previously occupied by married quarters, has been redeveloped with modern high-density housing directly abutting the airfield (the area was excluded from the Green Belt as part of the Tandridge District Local Plan and thus not included within the Conservation Area). In December 2005, the former Officers’ Mess building and surrounding land was sold to residential building developer, Comer Homes, and its future is uncertain as is that of the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA) Portcullis Club.
Some of the original 12 E-shaped blast pens remain, as well as the shelters for the servicing personnel. One in particular – forming the background to the RAF memorial – has been fully restored. Since 2004 these structures are protected as Scheduled Monuments.
It is still possible to walk in the woods and on the common, meander around the airfield, and even go for a meal and a pint in the Wattenden Arms, Old Lodge Lane, Kenley – a stone’s throw from the airfield and a said to be a favourite with pilots during the wa The Shops The shops in Kenley are split among several small parades all the Godstone Road. The main grouping of shops are located opposite the chalky boarder of Riddlesdown common (somewhat reminiscent of the white cliffs at Dover!) This part of the Godstone Road is closest to Kenley Train Station. Here you will find an All days, an Italian Restaurant and Pharmacy. There is a small amount of short-stay parking, which you find yourself very grateful for, when you have had any experience of the Godstone Road. The feel around the shops is not as “village community” as you might find in Whyteleafe- but service in the shops is generally better than in busier areas of Croydon.
The Train Station
The station is small (only 2 tracks) and is pretty quiet throughout most of the day. During commuting hours Kenley is busy but comfortably so, there is no massive crush on the platform. The train line begins in Caterham, then Whyteleafe South, then Whyteleafe- from here Kenley is next and Purley after that. At Purley there is opportunity to change lines, with a variety of destinations. If you choose not to change, there are a few stops before East Croydon and a few more before London Victoria or London Bridge. The travel time between Kenley and the City is approx 38 minuets, making it an ideal commuter station. The Buses The 407 bus runs along the Godstone road with a decent frequency. Going all the way South to Caterham Valley, and all the way north to West Croydon bus station. The bus stops are comfortably close together meaning that you are never further than a 5 minuet walk away from one if you are on the Godstone Road in Kenley.
The Pubs and Restaurants
On the Kenley/Whyteleafe Boarder there is a massive Pub called the Rose and Crown, it has plenty of parking and a beer garden. Further up the Godstone Road towards Purley there is a large pub and an Italian restaurant on the same stretch. The Community Kenley has a Community Hall where there is a range of activities including dancing lessons, parties and a community board. Once a year, in the school summer holidays there is a family festival in Bourne Park. Kenley also has its own Police Station, Water Treatment Plant and (old) Ann Summers Factory.
The Countryside
Riddlesdown Common runs right down to meet the main road in Kenley, with thick woods and a very steep hill that towards over the Godstone Road. Its not all good news though- Kenley is in a Valley, at the bottom on the Valley runs the River Bourne, which has been known to flood causing the complete close of the Godstone Road, whilst flooding houses and gardens in some areas. Being at the bottom of the valley can also mean that the roads turn into small streams during heavy rain and there seems to be intermittent problems with sewers and drains in the area. The Houses Property around the area range from the ex-council houses found in Bourne Park Close, to the sweet train station cottages around Kenley Station and in the “Purley Vale” area, to the comfortable detached family plots around St James Road towards Riddlesdown, to the millionaire pads up Hayes Lane. So Kenley houses the full spectrum of property and an ever diversifying population, although it is predominantly smaller family homes. Those looking to buy property in Kenley should keep in mind the lack of on-street parking in the area, and look out for any opportunity for off-street parking with the property.
