Named after the pear fruit trees that surrounded it’s original woodland area, Purley became part of the London Borough of Croydon in 1965. With the building of the Brighton Railway in 1841, and the Brighton to London Road soon after, the picturesque town of Purley became suburbanised as it was within easy travelling distance to jobs in London.

The area is served by a well developed transport system, and between 1901 to 1951 electric trams were a popular way of getting around. There are also many hotels and excellent sports facilities including a sports arena with eight track lane and for those who enjoy the arts there are plenty of media workshops, art galleries, the David Lean cinema and Croydon Clocktower cultural centre.

Historically, the River Bourne has risen in the Caterham valley chalk to flood the area causing great problems in Purley centre.