Winkworth Chislehurst Estate Agents

A little bit of history
The name Chislehurst comes from the Anglo-Saxon for “stony wood” and has been settled for over 1,000 years. Originally a small rural community, the most notable historic Chislehurst is Camden Place. Built in 1715 as a private house, and now home to Chislehurst Golf Club, it was where Napoleon III and his family sought refuge after they were expelled from France following the country’s defeat in the Franco-Prussian War. He only lived there for two years but his presence put Chislehurst on the map making it a fashionable place to live; several roads have since been named in honour of the royal connection.

It was the arrival of the railway in 1865 which fast-tracked growth with streets of large Victorian mansions and, later, Arts-and-Crafts-style houses springing up. Thanks to action by the local residents the commons were preserved alongside the 150-acre Petts Woods and Scadbury Park.

In 1934, the Chislehurst Society was formed to ensure that new residents were able to access the infrastructure they and their families need; it continues to work on behalf of the area today.

Green spaces & going out
The vast amounts of parks and woods are a key highlight of the area. Aside from Chislehurst Commons and Petts Wood, there’s Hawkwood Estate and the 300-acre Scadbury Nature Reserve to enjoy.

At the centre of the village are a range of pubs, restaurants and wine bars (and plenty more in nearby Bromley, where there are cinemas and The Glades, a large shopping centre). There’s also lots of opportunity to take part in sport with the Chislehurst and West Kent Cricket Club, a tennis club and the golf club.

Shopping
With Bromley & Glades shopping centre a mile to the west, Bluewater shopping centre 15 minutes to the south-east and Sevenoaks Road retail park half a mile to the East you can be sure your every shopping need and whim will be met by Chislehurst. There are some fantastic local, independent shops too. Our faves are Fortuny and Bela for womenswear, Davina Boutique for women's designer clothing, Uno Ltd for menswear and Little Legs for your little ones. The Orangery offers home furnishings and interiors. Paper Lane has handmade greetings cards and stationery. After a hard morning's shopping, refuel at Wattens Gifts and Café.

Transport
Trains from Chislehurst station take 20 mins to London Bridge and 20 mins to Cannon Street. Canary Wharf is 33 mins, changing to the Jubilee line at London Bridge.

Did you know?
During the 1960s, Status Quo, Jimi Hendrix and Pink Floyd all performed in Chislehurst Caves, a series of underground tunnels and caverns covering some 22 miles created from mining flint and chalk.