View source for Kenley

{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2015}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2009}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name            = Kenley
| static_image_name        = All Saints Church (C of E), Kenley, Surrey - geograph.org.uk - 56930.jpg
| static_image_caption     = All Saints Church, Kenley
| coordinates              = {{coord|51.3242|-0.0969|display=inline,title}}
| charingX_distance_mi     = 13
| charingX_direction       = N
| population               = 14,966
| population_ref           = ([[2011 United Kingdom census|2011]])
| os_grid_reference        = TQ327600
| london_borough           = Croydon
| region                   = London
| country                  = England
| post_town                = KENLEY
| postcode_area            = CR
| postcode_district        = CR8
| dial_code                = 020
| constituency_westminster = [[Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon South]]
}}
'''Kenley''' is a suburb within the [[London Borough of Croydon]]. It is located {{convert|13|mi|km}} south of [[Charing Cross]] and within the southern boundary of [[London]], England. Surrounded by the [[Metropolitan Green Belt]] on three sides, it includes the large open spaces of Kenley Common and [[RAF Kenley|Kenley Aerodrome]]. Kenley was part of the ancient parish of [[Coulsdon]] in the county of [[Surrey]] and was connected to central London by rail in 1856. As the population of the area was growing, it became part of [[Coulsdon and Purley Urban District]] in 1915 and has formed part of [[Greater London]] since 1965. At the [[2011 United Kingdom census|2011 Census]], Kenley had a population of 14,966.

==History==
===Local government===
Kenley was a hamlet in the ancient parish [[Coulsdon]] in the county of [[Surrey]].<ref>Thorne, J. (1876). Handbook to the environs of London: alphabetically arranged, containing an account of every town and village, and of all places of interest, within a circle of twenty miles round London. United Kingdom: J. Murray.</ref> In 1894 the Coulsdon parish became part of [[Croydon Rural District]]. Responding to the increase in population in the area, the rural district was broken up in 1915 and the parish of Coulsdon became part of [[Coulsdon and Purley Urban District]]. Coulsdon and Purley was incorporated into [[Greater London]] in 1965 and became part of the [[London Borough of Croydon]].<ref>F. Youngs, Local Administrative Units: Southern England, London: Royal Historical Society, 1979</ref>

===Suburban development===
For centuries, Kenley was part of Coulsdon Manor which covered the whole area now known as Coulsdon, Old Coulsdon, Purley and Kenley. As with most of this area, Kenley was primarily farm land, with a few big houses and their estates.

The official opening of the railway on 4 August 1856 transformed Kenley. The new railway prompted urban development. By the end of the [[Victorian era]], Kenley had assumed its own identity. Magnificent gentlemen's houses in substantial grounds were constructed during the 1860s.  These houses gave Kenley its distinctive appearance on its western hillside.  More modest housing and shops were built along the Godstone Road in the 1880s.  Finally, the compact housing of the lower lying Roke area was constructed toward the end of the 19th century.

All Saints' Church, now a [[Grade II]] [[listed building]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-201173-church-of-all-saints-croydon|title=Church of All Saints - Croydon - Greater London - England|author=Good Stuff IT Services|work=British Listed Buildings}}</ref> was built in 1870, and enlarged in 1897 and 1902. In 1888, Kenley was created as a [[parish]] in its own right.

One of Kenley's landmark buildings is the Memorial Hall. It was opened in 1922 to commemorate those who gave their lives in the [[First World War]]. It was subsequently extended and re-opened by Group Captain [[Douglas Bader]] in 1975.

===Second World War===
[[RAF Kenley]] was a strategic airfield in the [[Battle of Britain]]. Given RAF Kenley's importance,  the [[Luftwaffe]] attempted to destroy it by means of a massive bombing raid on 18 August 1940. The attacking Luftwaffe aircraft suffered heavy casualties during the raid. Despite some damage to the airfield and the surrounding buildings and homes, this bombing raid proved unsuccessful. By the following day, RAF Kenley was operational again.

Kenley airfield plays a unique and important role in Britain’s history. As the UK’s most complete surviving Battle of Britain fighter airfield, it gives us a direct and tangible link to our aviation past. As an active airfield today, it builds on that heritage, whilst the surrounding environs provide visitors with a site of nature conservation and a protected public open space. The National Lottery funded [http://kenleyrevival.org Kenley Revival Project] enables people to connect with, and take ownership of, a vital part of British history.

[[Hammond Innes]]' book ''Attack Alarm'' was based on his experiences as a [[Royal Artillery]] anti-aircraft gunner at [[RAF Kenley]] during the [[Battle of Britain]]. It contains graphic descriptions of the station and attacks on it in 1940.

===Post-war development===
In the post-war period, many of the substantial Victorian properties with their extensive grounds were developed for executive housing. In 1959, Kenley was closed as an operational base of the RAF. Today, the aerodrome is used exclusively by the gliders of the [[Air Training Corps]] (615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.615vgs.com/|title=615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron - Home|website=www.615vgs.com|access-date=9 June 2017}}</ref> and the Surrey Hills Gliding Club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.southlondongliding.co.uk/|title=Surrey Hills Gliding Club, Kenley Airfield home page|website=www.southlondongliding.co.uk|access-date=9 June 2017}}</ref>

==Geography==
Kenley is located {{convert|13|mi|km}} south of [[Charing Cross]] and adjacent to the [[Greater London]] boundary. It is situated south of [[Purley, London|Purley]], east of [[Coulsdon]] and west of [[Sanderstead]]. It is almost completely surrounded by the [[Metropolitan Green Belt]], forming part of a finger of urban development that extends into Surrey to include [[Caterham]] and [[Whyteleafe]] to the south.<ref>{{cite web |title=Planning Data Map |url=https://apps.london.gov.uk/planning/ |publisher=Greater London Authority |access-date=4 January 2023}}</ref> The south of the area is dominated by the open green spaces of Kenley Common and [[RAF Kenley|Kenley Aerodrome]].

==Kenley Common==
Kenley Common comprises 138 acres of green open space surrounding the former Battle of Britain airfield. It is a mixture of [[chalk grassland]] and [[ancient woodland]] set among gently rolling hills and blessed with fine views across the Caterham valley and the North Downs beyond. The original common was bought by the [[Corporation of London]] in 1883. At that time, it encompassed some of the area that is now Kenley Airfield. Over the years, compulsory purchases by the Government and subsequent land acquisitions and re-acquisitions have meant that the Common has changed its shape and position, and almost doubled in size.{{cn|date=May 2025}}

The common’s history as an airfield goes back to the [[First World War]] when planes were assembled and tested for squadrons in France. It proved an important link in the chain of supply and became established as a permanent Royal Air Force station. The [[Second World War]] saw concrete runways being laid and, as headquarters of 'B' Sector in the No 11 Group of fighter stations, it was soon playing a key role in the Battle of Britain. Kenley is now the last remaining Battle of Britain fighter station in the southeast to remain in its Second World War form. Evidence of its wartime role has survived and the old blast bays, air raid shelters, officer's mess and the original runways can still be seen. [[English Heritage]] identified Kenley as the "most complete fighter airfield associated with the Battle of Britain to have survived".{{cn|date=May 2025}}

==Demography==
In the [[United Kingdom census, 2011|2011 census]], Kenley was [[White people|White]] or [[White British]] (76.6%), [[Asian people|Asian]] or [[British Asian|Asian British]] (9.7%), [[Black people|Black]] or [[Black British]] (6.8%), [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed/multiple ethnic groups]] (4.8%), and  Other ethnic group (1.2%). The largest single ethnicity is White British (70.3%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/kenley-e05000156|title=Kenley - UK Census Data 2011|first=Good Stuff IT|last=Services|website=UK Census Data|access-date=31 January 2021}}</ref>

The largest religious groupings are Christians (59.8%), followed by those of [[Irreligion|no religion]] (23.4%), no response (7.7%), [[Hinduism|Hindus]] (3.8%), [[Islam|Muslims]] (3.4%), [[Buddhism|Buddhists]] (0.7%), other (0.4%), [[Jews]] (0.2%) and [[Sikhism|Sikhs]] (0.1%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/kenley-e05000156|title=Kenley - UK Census Data 2011|first=Good Stuff IT|last=Services|website=UK Census Data|access-date=31 January 2021}}</ref>

==Politics==
Kenley is located within the parliamentary constituency of [[Croydon South (UK Parliament constituency)|Croydon South]]. The incumbent MP is [[Chris Philp]] of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], who was re-elected with 19,757 votes in the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=5 July 2024 |title=Croydon South results |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001187 |access-date=22 July 2024}}</ref>

At a local level, Kenley has two Conservative councillors on [[Croydon Borough Council]].

{{Election box begin | title = [[Kenley (ward)|Kenley]] 2022 (2)}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
 |party      = Conservative Party (UK)
 |candidate  = Gayle Gander
 |votes      = 1,720
 |percentage = 59.6
 |change     = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
 |party      = Conservative Party (UK)
 |candidate  = Ola Kolade*
 |votes      = 1,712
 |percentage = 59.3
 |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Adrian Glendinning|votes=517|percentage=17.9|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Liberal Democrats (UK)|candidate=Benjamin Horne|votes=502|percentage=17.4|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Michael Anteney|votes=376|percentage=13.0|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Catherine Morris|votes=346|percentage=12.0|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Labour Party (UK)|candidate=Shila Halai|votes=340|percentage=11.8|change=}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|party=Green Party of England and Wales|candidate=Kristian Atkinson|votes=262|percentage=9.1|change=}}
{{Election box turnout||votes=|percentage=|change=}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
 |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
 |swing = 
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
 |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
 |swing = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=Kenley 2018 (2)}}
Boundary changes at the 2018 Local Elections saw the number of Councillors reduced from three to two.
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Conservative Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Jan Buttinger*
  |votes      = 2,025
  |percentage = 67.2
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Conservative Party (UK)
  |candidate  = [[Stephen O'Connell]]*
  |votes      = 1,966
  |percentage = 
  |change     =
}}

{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Labour Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Maggie Conway
  |votes      = 613
  |percentage = 17.3
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Labour Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Appu Srinivasan
  |votes      = 448
  |percentage = 
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      =  Green Party of England and Wales
  |candidate  = Kate Morris
  |votes      = 250
  |percentage = 8.1
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party of England and Wales
  |candidate  = Ian Dixon
  |votes      = 232
  |percentage = 
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Liberal Democrats (UK)
  |candidate  = Anne Howard
  |votes      = 207
  |percentage = 6.5
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Liberal Democrats (UK)
  |candidate  = Arfan Bhatti
  |votes      = 186
  |percentage = 
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box majority
  |votes      = 1,353
  |percentage = 22.8
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box turnout|
  |votes      = 
  |percentage = 
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
 |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
 |swing = 
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
 |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
 |swing = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title=Kenley 2014(3)}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Conservative Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Janice Buttinger 
  |votes      = 2,271
  |percentage =55.2
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Conservative Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Steven Hollands 
  |votes      = 2,123
  |percentage =
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link|
  |party      = Conservative Party (UK)
  |candidate  = [[Steve O'Connell]]
  |votes      = 2,111
  |percentage =
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = UK Independence Party 
  |candidate  = John Hooper 
  |votes      = 914
  |percentage =22.9
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link |
  |party      = UKIP  
  |candidate  = Ian Manton 
  |votes      = 903 
  |percentage =
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = UK Independence Party 
  |candidate  = 
  |votes      = 898 
  |percentage =
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Labour Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Sarah Ward 
  |votes      = 451
  |percentage =10.2
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Labour Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Chris Williams 
  |votes      = 388
  |percentage =
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Labour Party (UK)
  |candidate  = Mary Crous 
  |votes      = 356
  |percentage =
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link 
  |party = Green Party of England and Wales
  |candidate = Shorai Dixon 
 |votes = 336 
 |percentage =  4.9
 |change =  
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Liberal Democrats (UK)
  |candidate  = Mary Catto 
  |votes      = 271 
  |percentage =7.1
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Green Party of England and Wales
  |candidate  = Tomas Vute 
  |votes      = 265 
  |percentage =
  |change     = 
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Liberal Democrats (UK)
  |candidate =Arfan Bhatti
  |votes      = 238
  |percentage =
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link|
  |party      = Liberal Democrats (UK) 
  |candidate  = Thomas Knight 
  |votes      = 217 
  |percentage =
  |change     =
}}

{{Election box total|
  |votes      = 11,733
  |percentage =
  |change     =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
 |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
 |swing = 
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
 |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
 |swing = 
}}
{{Election box hold with party link|
 |winner = Conservative Party (UK)
 |swing = 
}}
{{Election box end}}

==Climate==
{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | metric first = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Kenley (1991–2020)
 | Jan high C = 7.0
 | Feb high C = 7.4
 | Mar high C = 10.1
 | Apr high C = 13.2
 | May high C = 16.5
 | Jun high C = 19.5
 | Jul high C = 21.7
 | Aug high C = 21.4
 | Sep high C = 18.3
 | Oct high C = 14.2
 | Nov high C = 10.1
 | Dec high C = 7.5
 | year high C = 14.0
 | Jan low C = 2.0
 | Feb low C = 1.9
 | Mar low C = 3.3
 | Apr low C = 5.1
 | May low C = 7.9
 | Jun low C = 10.7
 | Jul low C = 12.8
 | Aug low C = 12.9
 | Sep low C = 10.6
 | Oct low C = 8.1
 | Nov low C = 4.8
 | Dec low C = 2.5
 | year low C = 6.9
 | rain colour = green
 | Jan rain mm = 86.6
 | Feb rain mm = 65.4
 | Mar rain mm = 53.6
 | Apr rain mm = 57.1
 | May rain mm = 59.0
 | Jun rain mm = 59.0
 | Jul rain mm = 56.2
 | Aug rain mm = 66.2
 | Sep rain mm = 66.1
 | Oct rain mm = 94.3
 | Nov rain mm = 92.2
 | Dec rain mm = 90.5
 | year rain mm = 846.7
 | unit rain days = 1 mm
 | Jan rain days = 13.1
 | Feb rain days = 11.2
 | Mar rain days = 9.8
 | Apr rain days = 9.8
 | May rain days = 9.5
 | Jun rain days = 9.3
 | Jul rain days = 8.5
 | Aug rain days = 9.3
 | Sep rain days = 9.5
 | Oct rain days = 12.7
 | Nov rain days = 13.2
 | Dec rain days = 13.2
 | year rain days = 129.5
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref name="MetOffice">{{cite web
|url = https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcpgvgqmw
|title = Kenley (Surrey) UK climate averages - Met Office
|publisher = Met Office
|access-date = July 5, 2024}}</ref>
}}

== Schools ==
* [https://kenleyprimary.org.uk/ Kenley Primary School]
* [http://www.thehayesprimaryschool.co.uk/ The Hayes Primary School]
* [http://www.harrisprimarykenley.org.uk/ The Harris Primary Academy Kenley]

==Nearest places==
*[[Purley, London|Purley]]
*[[Coulsdon]]
*[[Caterham]]
*[[Whyteleafe]]
*[[Warlingham]]
*[[Riddlesdown]]
*[[Sanderstead]]

==Nearest stations==
*[[Kenley railway station]]
*[[Purley railway station]]
*[[Reedham (Surrey) railway station]]
*[[Upper Warlingham railway station]]
*[[Whyteleafe railway station]]

==Notable current or former residents==<!-- PLEASE RESPECT ALPHABETICAL ORDER -->
*[[David Baboulene]]
*[[Douglas Bader]]
*[[Peter Cushing]]
*[[Tommy Eytle]]
*[[Raza Jaffrey]]
*[[Cherry Kearton]]
*[[Des O'Connor]]
*[[Ray Mears (author)|Ray Mears]]
*Ellie Pearce
*[[Karl Popper]]
*[[Allan Stewart (artist)|Allan Stewart]]
*[[Harry Worth (actor, born 1917)|Harry Worth]]
*Sophie Webber
*[[Kit Connor]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.kenleyra.org.uk/ Kenley Residents' Association]
*[http://www.wura.org.uk/ Welcomes & Uplands Roads Association]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120420211138/http://www.bournesociety.org.uk/bournesoc/6-kenley.html History of the village of Kenley]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101225114440/http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Environment_and_planning/Parks_and_open_spaces/Kenley_Common/ City Of London - Kenley Common information & map]
*[https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=6036702 Photos of Kenley and surrounding area on geograph.org.uk]
*[http://www.kafg.org.uk/ Kenley Airfield Friends Group]
*[http://www.southlondongliding.co.uk/ Surrey Hills Gliding Club]
*[http://www.615vgs.com/ 615 Volunteer Gliding Squadron (Royal Air Force)]

{{LB Croydon}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Districts of the London Borough of Croydon]]
[[Category:Areas of London]]