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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 a gliding club, 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 yd (550 m) 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 RedhillRedhill is a town in Surrey, England, part of the London commuter belt. It came into being when a road was built in 1818. The settlement was originally known as Warwick Town and became known as Redhill when the post office moved from Red Hill Common in 18 and BrightonThis article is about the English town; Brighton is also the name of several other places. Brighton in East Sussex is one of the largest and most famous seaside resorts in England. Brighton and Hove form a single conurbation but Brighton's lively atmosphe, and north to Croydon and LondonLondon is the capital of the United Kingdom and of England, and with over seven million inhabitants in the Greater London area, is the second-most populous conurbation in Europe (after Moscow). From being Londinium the capital of the Roman province of Bri.
Purley WayPurley Way is a major road on the A23 in Croydon , London and an out-of-town shopping area with a catchment area covering most of South London. It was designed as a bypass for Croydon and was opened in April 1925. In 1932 Purley Way became the first road which connects Purley's 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 AirportLondon Heathrow Airport ( IATA airport code: LHR ICAO airport code: EGLL and often simply Heathrow is the United Kingdom's busiest and best-connected airport. As of 2003, it also handles more international passenger traffic than any other airport in the w and London Gatwick AirportGatwick Airport ( IATA Airport Code: LGW ICAO Airport Code: EGKK is London's second airport and the second largest airport in the UK after Heathrow. It is located in West Sussex, approximately 40 km (25 miles) south of London, and an equal distance north, 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.
Purley used to have many different kinds of retail shops such as greengrocer's, butcher's, fishmonger's, card shops, sport shops, etc., but since the opening of Sainsburys in the early 1980s (now closed) and latterly a Tescos in the early 1990s the majority of the retailers have closed down, leaving predominantly charity shops, estate agents and restaurants.
There are also Purley, Berkshire ; Purley, North Carolina ; as well as Purley, Texas
On television the town became known in the sitcom, Terry And June where Terry and June Medford ( Terry Scott and June Whitfield), had moved after the characters' previous series, Happy Ever After .
Purley is also famous due to the Monty Python reference in the nod,nod wink wink sketch. Say no more!