Purley, London, England

The name derives from "pirlea", which means "Peartree lea". See lea

Purley, and its neighbouring town Coulsdon used to be Coulsdon and Purley Urban District Council, within the County of Surrey. Now, they are part of the London Borough of Croydon.

The townhall-type offices in their Colonial-style building were opened in 1930, but are now part of Croydon Council.

Kenley Aerodrome, to the east of the town, nowadays home to gliding clubs, was one of the most important fighter stations - together with Croydon Airport and Biggin Hill - during World War Two.

Purley grew rapidly in the 1920s and 1930s, providing spaceous homes in a green environment. Northeast Purley stretches into the chalkhill spurs of the North Downs[?]. Especially the Webb Estate made headlines in a 2002 survey, that it had attracted over the years, the highest-earning residents in the UK.

One road, in particular, Promenade de Verdun, created by William Webb, has a distinction all of its own: 600 yds long, it 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 mort glorieusement pendant la Grand 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.

Purley Cross Roundabout connects routes leading east to East Grinstead and Eastbourne, west to Epsom and Kingston, south to Redhill[?] and Brighton, and north to Croydon and London.

Purley Way[?] which connects Purleys road system to Croydon's trading and industrial hinterland was also the main approach to the former Croydon Airport, the predecessor of the present London Heathrow Airport and London Gatwick Airport, and it joins Purley Cross as one of the busiest highways from Croydon to London.

The town is on the main London-to-Brighton railway line and is served there by three stations: Purley, Purley Oaks and Coulsdon South.

There are also Purley, Berkshire[?], Purley, North Carolina[?] and Purley, Texas[?]

External Link: Local Gov. Site Promenade De Verdun (http://croydonparks.topcities.com/Park%20Pages/promenade_de_verdun.htm)