Chislehurst through time - The Chislehurst Society

The name Chislehurst literally means a stony place in the woods. These woods are very much apparent today. Chislehurst is surrounded by National Trust woodland, Scadbury Park and the unique central feature of the Chislehurst Commons, which is conserved as open space in perpetuity by Acts of Parliament. The Chislehurst Caves, where many thousands of Londoners sheltered during the Blitz of the Second World War, are also a key tourist attraction. The arrival of the railway in 1865 sparked the beginning of a housing boom and the village became home to wealthy East India merchants, lawyers and bankers. Chislehurst has seen change and development across the generations. However, overall, Chislehurst remains a special place of distinctive character, where busy commuters enjoy the charms of the Kent countryside. It is, indeed, 'no ordinary suburb'.