In 1577, Petts Wood was known as “the wood of the Pett family”. These shipbuilders leased the wood for timber. Today, Petts Wood is a town in southeast London. A pub, The Sovereign of the Seas, commemorates a ship designed by Phineas Pett and built in Woolwich. Petts Wood remained rural until the late 19th century. Only one house, ‘Ladywood’, existed in 1872. The modern suburb sprung up in the late 1920s. Developer Basil Scruby and architect Leonard Culliford shaped Petts Wood’s layout. Various builders developed individual plots. These included Noel Rees, Walter Reed, and George Hoad. Scruby even financed Petts Wood railway station. He paid the Southern Railway Company £6,000 for its construction. Shops and a cinema arose near the station. Interestingly, the homes east of the railway are larger and of higher quality than those to the west. This difference reflects Scruby’s financial struggles. He had less control over the western development, handled by Morrell’s and New Ideal Homesteads. During World War II, Petts Wood and Bickley endured heavy bombing. Their proximity to a crucial railway junction made them targets. Three bombs struck the town center. Northwest of the shopping area lies Jubilee Country Park. Before becoming a park in 1977, this site housed anti-aircraft guns. It was also home to the 1st Petts Wood scout group. Petts Wood has attracted notable residents, including William Willett. He championed Daylight Saving Time. A sundial in the wood and The Daylight Inn pub honor his legacy. The woods themselves, the heart of Petts Wood, are managed by the National Trust. Originally 88 acres, public subscription and donations in 1927 secured them for the Trust. Later, the Hawkwood Estate and Edlmann Wood added another 250 acres. This gift from Robert and Francesca Hall in 1957 expanded this vital green space. Oak, birch, rowan, alder, ash, hornbeam, and sweet chestnut trees grace the woodland.
Southfields Methodist Church
Curiosity stirred within the heart of Southfields as a new chapter began. Southfields Methodist Church held its first public service