Seen from here, Penge East station stands as a testament to Victorian architecture. Constructed in the 1860s, Penge East has been a vital transport hub for this area. Its goldenrod color and grey slate roof offer a touch of elegance.
Penge’s history goes back much further than the railway. The name Penge itself has Celtic origins. It means “top or edge of the wood”. This refers to the Great North Wood that once covered much of this area. The earliest mention of Penge is in a document from 957 AD by King Eadwig.
Before the railways arrived Penge was a small hamlet. The population was just 270 in 1841. Imagine the area surrounded by meadows and farms. The arrival of the railway changed everything.
Penge East railway station is a great example of easy transport. Easy transport opened up Penge’s rural delights for Londoners. They wanted to escape the polluted air of the metropolis. The Crystal Palace moved here in 1854, which resulted in rapid growth. By 1901, the population of Penge had increased to 22465.
Penge became a fashionable suburb. People would visit The Crystal Palace and then explore Penge. It was known for having twenty-five pubs in just one square mile.
Penge East connects this area with central London. Trains run to London Victoria, Bromley South, and Orpington. Penge is also served by many bus routes. These connect it to areas including Bromley, Croydon and Crystal Palace.
Many notable people have lived in Penge. Impressionist painter Camille Pissarro lived here in the 1870s. Walter de la Mare, the famous poet, lived here for twenty-five years.
Penge has several landmarks. There are Victorian almshouses that provided housing for the poor. The oldest almshouses are the Royal Watermen’s Almshouses. They were built in 1840 and 1841.
Penge has changed over the years. Despite that, it has retained its community. Penge remains a vibrant place to live. It has a mix of architecture and a thriving arts scene. The annual Penge Festival is a popular event. It celebrates the area’s history and culture.
Even today, Penge has the edge as an up and coming place to live. So as you stand here at Penge East station, take a moment. Think about the history. Think about the people who have passed through this station.