Penge: An up and coming area under transformation

Penge is located in Bromley and is a populated catchment area in the north-west of the borough.

It is an area that has undergone significant transformation over the years, with more developments in the pipeline as the years go forward.

It has a number of good schools, including the Beckenham and Penge County Grammar School for boys, which moved to Penge High Street in 1931. St Johns C.E. Primary School is also based here, along with a number of other primary and secondary schools.

 Crystal Palace is based in this area, and there are currently plans to revamp the structure.

Culture

Penge has a large number of pubs, clubs, shopping malls and other facilities. In Victorian times, it was noted for its '25 pubs to the square mile'.

One of the oldest pubs in the area is the Crooked Billet. Another pub, known as The Market Tavern rose to fame after being featured in the television hit series, the Bill, before its closure.

Due to the sheer diversity of people living there, Penge is enriched with its fair share of restaurants, cafés and independent shops.

It also has a number of parks and green spaces. 

History

Before the arrival of the railways in the 1800s, Penge had few residents. Its name is derived from the Celtic word meaning "the hill in the forest".

Before its redevelopment, the area was covered in the Great North Wood forest. In 1809, the Croydon Canal opened for trade and leisure and a wharf was subsequently opened.

The area then began to get a number of visitors who mainly came in to enjoy the Penge countryside.

In 1827, major developments works took place in the area and the Croydon and Anerley Roads were built around the same time.

However, the main catalyst for growth was when Crystal Palace moved to Penge from Hyde Park in 1854.

Since then, the area has gradually redeveloped, until it formed into a proper London suburb in the 1900s.

Penge has undergone significant changes and transformations ever since.

Redevelopment

Plans are currently underway to carry out a number of redevelopment works and changes in Penge and Crystal Palace.

Bromley Council has also unveiled plans to protect a number of conservation areas and historic buildings in Penge, including the Victorian villas, almshouses and maller workers cottages.

Currently, some of the social housing estate developments have limited parking, so plans are underway to improve this.

Some £500 million will also be pumped into redeveloping Crystal Palace, and once up and running, it will include art exhibitions, conference spaces, shops and amenities as well as other commercial facilities.

Building work is expected to start next winter, while more greenery and landscapes will surround the area.

Properties

Currently rental prices for a two-bed property in Penge can range anywhere between £250 per week, to upwards of £1,400 a month, depending on the exact location and property type.

Properties in the area are a mix of old Victorian houses, high rise flats, new-builds and terraced homes.

Transport

Penge has excellent transport links, and is served by many bus routes which can take you into different parts of London.

There are also three rail stations in the area, including Penge East, Kent House and Penge West.

Published 21st November, 2014

© 2014 Estates IT Limited