imported>The wub: Adding local short description: "Former garage in Beckenham, London", overriding Wikidata description "garage in Beckenham, London"

2024-02-05T11:29:38Z

Adding local short description: "Former garage in Beckenham, London", overriding Wikidata description "garage in Beckenham, London"

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{{Short description|Former garage in Beckenham, London}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox building
| name = Chinese Garage
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| image = Chinese Garage c2001 (3197849292).jpg
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| image_caption = The Chinese Garage, Beckenham
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| alternate_names = Langley Park Garage
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| start_date = 1928
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The '''Chinese Garage''' is a former [[automobile repair shop|garage]] and [[petrol station]] situated in [[Beckenham]] in the [[London Borough of Bromley]], on a [[roundabout]] linking Beckenham, [[Eden Park, London|Eden Park]] and [[Shortlands]]. Built in 1928 to a Japanese pagoda style design by [[Edmund B. Clarke]], it was voted the most unusual garage in [[England]] in 2001. It currently hosts a [[Tesco Express]] and [[Majestic Wine]] store.

==History==

The garage was built in 1928 to a design by Edmund B. Clarke<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beckenham.net/area.asp?page=area&item=%27Chinese%20Garage%27&ref=6 |title=Chinese Garage |publisher=Beckenham.net |accessdate=5 February 2010}}</ref> in the style of a [[Japan]]ese [[pagoda]] on land adjoining Stone Park Farm which was part of the Langley Court Estate.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beckenhamhistory.co.uk/langleyfarm.html |title=Langley Farm |publisher=BeckenhamHistory.co.uk |accessdate=5 February 2010}}</ref> At that time Stone Park Avenue had not been laid out and the main traffic route was north–south between Beckenham and West Wickham; this accounts for the alignment of forecourt.

Local [[folklore]] suggests that the Langley Court's former owners, the Bucknell family, were shipping magnates that underwrote the ''[[RMS Titanic|Titanic]]''. Subsequently when it [[Sinking of the RMS Titanic|sank]] they financially sank too, hence the sale of their estate.<ref name=LPRA>{{cite web |url=http://www.langleyparkbeckenham.co.uk/history.htm |title=Langley Park History |publisher=Langley Park Residents' Association |accessdate=5 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303210438/http://www.langleyparkbeckenham.co.uk/history.htm |archivedate=3 March 2016 }}</ref> It is further reputed that during their travels, the Bucknells regularly visited the [[Far East]] and Japan and brought back many exotic plants for the Estate which is said to have inspired Clarke to build the Garage in its distinctly [[Japanese architecture|Japanese style]].<ref name=LPRA/> However, no traces of such planting survive today on the Estate to substantiate this claim. It may well be that the design was purely the whim of the architect and his client.

Because of its oriental appearance it became known locally as ''The Chinese Garage'' although the official name was Langley Park Garage until 1989. It is now a Grade II [[listed building]].

The building was previously part of a [[Kia Motors|Kia]] and [[Peugeot]] [[car dealership]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://dealer.peugeot.co.uk/chinese-garage-beckenham |title=Chinese Garage Ltd, Official Peugeot Dealer |publisher=[[PSA Peugeot Citroën|Peugeot Motor Company PLC]] |accessdate=5 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100126064233/http://dealer.peugeot.co.uk/chinese-garage-beckenham |archive-date=26 January 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and is no longer used as a petrol garage but retains much of its historic character and the grounds and adjoining roundabout are planted in a complementary manner. The building now contains a [[Tesco|Tesco Express]] and a [[Majestic Wine|Majestic wine]] shop.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Majestic Wine opens 199th & 200th store this month - Retail Gazette|url=https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2020/11/majestic-wine-opens-200th-store-beckenham-henley/|access-date=2021-09-01|website=www.retailgazette.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Tesco|date=2021|title=Chinese Garage Express|url=https://www.tesco.com/store-locator/london/wickham-road|url-status=live|access-date=2021-01-09|website=Tesco Express Stores|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210901110757/https://www.tesco.com/store-locator/london/wickham-road |archive-date=2021-09-01 }}</ref> Bromley Council rejected plans for a Tesco express due to traffic and parking concerns in the area but was overruled by the Government <ref>{{Cite web|title=Chinese Garage: Council overruled as Tesco win planning appeal|url=https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/17651996.chinese-garage-council-overruled-tesco-win-planning-appeal/|access-date=2021-09-01|website=News Shopper|language=en}}</ref>

As of November 12, 2020 the garage was opened as a [[Majestic Wine]] store.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blog.majestic.co.uk/doors-open-at-new-majestic-beckenham-store |title=Doors Open At New Majestic Beckenham Store |publisher=[[Majestic Wine]] |accessdate=13 November 2020}}</ref>

==Architectural awards==

The Chinese Garage was the winner of a Better Petrol Stations competition organised by the ''[[Daily Express]]'' and the [[Garden Media Guild|Gardeners' Guild]] in the 1930s and in 2001 was voted the most unusual garage in [[England]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/35286 |title=Chinese Garage, Beckenham |publisher=[[Geograph]] |accessdate=5 February 2010}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==

* [http://www.britishpathe.com/video/p-p-p-a-study-near-beckenham P.P.P. – A study near Beckenham] A story about "Picturesque Petrol Pumps". Silent newsreel footage. Pathé Pictorial, 2 September 1929.

[[Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1928]]
[[Category:Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Bromley]]

Chinese Garage - Revision history

imported>The wub: Adding local short description: "Former garage in Beckenham, London", overriding Wikidata description "garage in Beckenham, London"