Peeking out from the London Borough of Bromley, Penge whispers tales of transformation. Penge is a suburb with Celtic roots. Its name means “top of the wood”. Are you ready to uncover Penge’s hidden layers?
Penge started as a small hamlet. It was part of the Manor of Battersea. Penge became independent in 1888. Railways changed Penge forever. The London and Croydon Railway arrived in 1839.
Picture Victorian Londoners escaping to Penge. They visited the Crystal Palace. Then they descended to Penge’s pubs. Penge once boasted twenty-five pubs per square mile. The King’s Hall and Empire Theatre also offered entertainment.
Let’s stroll along the route of Penge Green. It once stretched to Beckenham Road. The Crooked Billet pub stood at its edge. Today’s Crooked Billet isn’t in its original spot. The Penge Inclosure Act of 1827 changed the landscape. The Crooked Billet, however, remains a Penge institution. It has been there since at least 1601.
Penge expanded rapidly in the Victorian era. Large homes appeared along new roads. But tragedy struck with the Penge murders in the 1870s. The crimes cast a shadow over the area. Forbes Road was even renamed Mosslea Road.
Notice the Victorian almshouses. The Free Watermen and Lightermen’s Almshouses were built in 1840 to 1841. Queen Adelaide Almshouses followed in 1848. St. John’s Cottages appeared in 1863. They offered homes for the needy.
Consider the old police station. It stood on the High Street and Green Lane corner. It was London’s oldest working police station. It closed in 2010.
Penge’s cultural scene thrived. The Penge & District Trade Union & Labour Social Club was built in 1922. Tension, a fine art gallery, opened in 2019. Fragments of Penge Common survive in Betts Park.
The Crystal Palace Transmitter dominated the skyline. Completed in 1956, it was the UK’s tallest structure. It remained London’s tallest until 1991.
Many famous people have called Penge home. Camille Pissarro, the Impressionist painter, lived here in the 1870s. Walter de la Mare, the poet, resided in Penge from 1899 to 1925. Even Bill Wyman of the Rolling Stones spent his childhood here.
Penge has evolved over the centuries. From ancient woodland to Victorian suburb. From notorious murders to cultural vibrancy. Penge continues to surprise. It offers a unique blend of history and modern life. As we conclude our visit, remember Penge’s story. It is a story of constant change and enduring spirit.