Did you know that...
Petts Wood name derives from the Pett family. Known as the Pett Dynasty, they were a renowned family of shipbuilders. The first mention of the area comes from 1577. The name literally means the wood of the Petts. Phineas Pett lived in the 16th century and kept a detailed memoir. It was published in 1981 and the original is at the British Library. The 17th-century warship HMS Sovereign of the Seas was built by Phineas’ son Peter under his father’s supervision. There is a local pub that takes the name of the ship. The interior features panels depicting the eponymous ship.
This South East London suburb developed in the 20th century. Architect Leonard Culliford designed the roads. The railway station was the first building. Notable builder Noel Rees raised several houses in Petts Wood. Jubilee Country Park stands on the land that was previously known as The Gun Sites. Anti-aircraft guns were deployed here in World War II. The park which is a nature reserve opened in 1981 and honors the Silver Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. In 2009, the Petts Wood store was the last Woolworths store to close. The manager auctioned the remaining Pick ‘n’ Mix sweets for £14,500.
The Daylight Inn is named after William Willett. He was a builder and the person who invented the daylight saving time system. Supposedly, the idea came to him while he was riding his horse in Petts Wood one summer morning. Architect Sidney Clark designed The Daylight Inn in 1935 for Charrington Brewery. It is a grade II listed building. Cricketer Colin Cowdrey, singer Pixie Lott, historian Ian Mortimer, the creator of The Fall and Rise of Reginal Perrin sitcom David Nobbs, and French general Charles De Gaulle are among the notable residents of this BR5 area.
