Petts Wood and Hawkwood Estate (Bromley)
Brief Description
Petts Wood is named after the Pett family of shipbuilders who are believed to have owned the wood in the C16th. It is technically two properties, Willett Wood to the east and Edlmann Wood to the west. In 1925 part of the wood was saved from housing development by a local campaign and opened to the public in 1927, with a memorial to William Willett. In 1927 Francis Edlmann purchased the remaining woodland as an extension to his Hawkwood estate. Following his death in 1950 the estate was eventually purchased by Mr and Mrs Robert Hall and given as a gift to the National Trust, and opened in April 1958. The total area of Petts Wood and Hawkwood Estate managed by the NT amounts to c.137 hectares.
Practical Information
- Previous / Other name:
- Hawkwood Estate
- Site location:
- St Paul’s Cray Road, Orpington
- Postcode:
- BR7 6QU
- What 3 Words:
- slimy.apples.jams
- Type of site:
- Public Open Land
- Borough:
- Bromley
- Open to public?
- Yes
- Opening times:
- unrestricted
- Special conditions:
- Facilities:
- Events:
- Public transport:
- Rail: Petts Wood; St Mary’s Cray. Bus: 61, 273
- Research updated:
- 05/09/2022
- Last minor changes:
- 19/07/2023
Please check with the site owner or manager for latest news. www.bromley.gov.uk
Full Site Description
Willett Wood was purchased in 1927 as a memorial to William Willett, a resident of Chislehurst, who pioneered daylight saving. He died in 1927, the year before daylight saving was introduced. In 1925 Petts Wood was about to be sold for housing development and Chislehurst residents launched an appeal to save it. Around 23.5 hectares of woodland were purchased and ceremoniously opened in 1927 with the unveiling of a 2.5 ton granite sundial as a memorial to William Willett, at the north end of the wood. However more funds were needed to purchase the remaining 19ha. In 1927 Francis Edlmann purchased the remaining land as an extension to his Hawkwood estate. When he died in 1950, his executors attempted to sell the entire estate for development. It was eventually bought by Francesca and Robert Hall, keen local conservationists who handed it as a gift to the National Trust in 1957. At the opening ceremony in April 1958, a second granite monolith, the Edlmann memorial stone, was unveiled.
Petts Wood is a large area of woodland and like neighbouring Scadbury Park Wood (q.v.) the woodland is crossed by a number of waymarked footpaths and bridle paths. The woodland includes silver birch, oak, chestnut, some fine beech trees, glades and young copses. Car parking is largely on adjoining streets with larger parking areas near Scadbury Park Wood.
The Hawkwood estate contains grazed farmland, woodland and has a number of ponds and streams. The C18th mansion no longer exists, replaced by a modern house, but a notable lime avenue remains.
Sources consulted:
Andrew Crowe, 'The Parks and Woodlands of London', (Fourth Estate, 1987) p214-215, Peter Waymark, 'A History of Petts Wood' (Petts Wood and District Residents' Association, 2000)
Further Information (Planning and Conservation)
- Grid ref:
- TQ450690 (544852,168663)
- Size in hectares:
- 137
- Site ownership:
- LB Bromley/National Trust
- Site management:
- Petts Wood Management Committee
- Date(s):
- Designer(s):
- Listed structures:
- None
- On National Heritage List for England (NHLE), Parks & Gardens:
No- Registered common or village green on Commons Registration Act 1965:
No- Protected under London Squares Preservation Act 1931:
No
Local Authority Data
The information below is taken from the relevant Local Authority's planning legislation, which was correct at the time of research but may have been amended in the interim. Please check with the Local Authority for latest planning information.
- On Local List:
- No
- In Conservation Area:
- No
- Tree Preservation Order:
- No
- Nature Conservation Area:
- Yes - Metropolitan Importance
- Green Belt:
- Yes
- Metropolitan Open Land:
- No
- Special Policy Area:
- No
- Other LA designation:
- None
Photos
Petts Wood: monument commemorating donors of the wood, May 2015. Photograph Sally Williams.
Click a photo to enlarge.
Please note the Inventory and its content are provided for your general information only and are subject to change. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy.