Parks and playgrounds directory

Location

Sanderstead, main entrance in Beech Avenue.

Area

17 3/4 acres 7.18 hectares.

Facilities

Opening times

• Mature Beech woodland
• Tennis courts. To book a tennis court, please visit Croydon Parks Tennis and select a location
• Toilets

History

On the evening of 23rd January 1907 the Parish Council met in the Council's school in Sanderstead Village to discuss the purchase of Purley Beeches by the ratepayers.  

For a number of years previously some of the residents of Sanderstead had subscribed for the rent and maintenance of the Beeches but the option to purchase the site expired in February 1907.  They had succeeded in raising the sum of £1,474 towards the price of £5,400 asked by the owner Mr E Arkwright, for the free hold, this price being about half the value of the land for building purposes.  

It was proposed that a rate of 2d in the pound should be levied against the ratepayers in order to raise the necessary money.  The resolution was put to the meeting and carried by 50 votes to 30, but a poll was demanded and the Chairman agreed.  As a result, a poll of the whole Parish took place on February 2nd 1907, 178 ratepayers voted for the purchase and 114 against there being a majority in favour of the motion the Beeches was purchased.  

In 1953 the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District Council were granted a coat of arms and this included two trees, one for the Purley Oaks and the other a Beech for Purley Beeches.