Kenley

For centuries, Kenley was part of Coulsdon Manor which covered the whole area now known as Coulsdon, Old Coulsdon, Purley and Kenley. As with most of this region, Kenley was primarily farm land, with a few big houses and their estates, and this pattern lasted until after the mid 19th century. The whole character of the place began to change in the second half of the century, with a second phase some years later.

The Ordnance Survey map for 1868 shows only a few scattered properties in Kenley, strung out to the south of the Godstone Road. The best known of these were Welcomes farm, Kenley House, Garston Hall, Hayes House and Hayes Farm. But the 1894/8 map for the same area shows many large detached houses.

An example of these substantial Victorian properties was Hayes Court (Riddlesdown Park Road) which is described in a 1907 sale document (CR(L) 28):

The Residence occupies a particularly well-chosen and healthy site over 400ft above sea level, and is approached by two very charming and well-kept carriage drives heavily bordered by a profusion of fine specimen trees and terminating in a spacious sweep on the south front.

The document continues with a description of the house, including its five bedrooms, billiard room, conservatory, morning room, drawing room, dining room, servants' rooms, stables, croquet/tennis lawn, orchard, kitchen garden and so on.

These big houses are still feature in the 1934 Official Guide for Coulsdon & Purley:

The pleasant residential area of Kenley, on the Caterham Valley side of the district, has in comparatively recent years become as favourite residential resort with wealthy London business men, and many fine modern houses standing in extensive grounds form an outstanding characteristic of the neighbourhood. Kenley has also undergone a rapid growth of population occupying smaller houses in the low-lying area known as 'The Roke'.

The last sentence indicates the second phase of development, as more moderate housing was built along the Godstone Road.

Kenley railway station was opened in 1856. All Saints Church, now a grade II listed building, was built in 1870, and enlarged in 1897 and 1902. Kenley was created a parish in its own right in 1888. Other Grade II Listed Buildings in the area are: No.139 Hayes Lane (The Old Forge, formerly Hayes Cottage), Elm Grove Farmhouse and The Thatched Cottage, both in Old Lodge Lane.

Kenley is very well stocked with open spaces - Riddlesdown on the north of the Godstone Road and Kenley Common to the south, both of which are owned and administered by the Corporation of London.

Kenley has not featured on the national scene very often, although there was a flurry of interest in 1923 when a murder took place at Welcomes Farm. Its only real claim to fame is the presence of Kenley Aerodrome, which opened during the First World War and later played an important part in the Battle of Britain as R.A.F. Kenley.

Back to Places

Tuesday, 13 May, 2008

Privacy Policy | Disclaimer | Submit a Comment / Question to the Webmaster