Click here to open a copy of the draft Residents' Handbook, which is being circulated for comment.

This is the website of the Webb Estate, Purley, a residential conservation area, about 14 miles South of London.

The name "Purley" is derived from "pirlea" which means "Peartree Lea". Originally farmland, and now a conservation area, this secluded and relatively exclusive residential area has retained its atmosphere of tranquillity and seclusion for over 90 years. The estate was named after William Webb, a local estate agent who bought the land in 1888..

Webb's unique approach to development, which gives the estate its character, was based on the concept of co-operation between architect and gardener. The estate was built around the imaginative use of of plants and shrubs, with each road having a different character. Webb laid out a garden landscape and then introduced 225 properties, all different and carefully sited.

The Estate was to be the work of a lifetime and it took Webb more than 30 years to perfect his vision, which now encompasses eleven roads. Links to these roads can be found in the sidebar on this page.

The Webb Estate Society was formed in the early 1980's by a group of residents who wished to maintain the character of the estate. After much work the estate was designated a conservation area in 1983. In addition to conservation area planning requirements, the Estate's character is protected by a series of restrictive covenants which are owned by Webb Estate Limited.

In 1999, the Webb family sold the freeholds of the roads to Webb Estate Limited, a company owned by the residents of the estate. This company continues the work of the Webb Estate Society in preserving the character of the estate.

This website provides a brief description of the estate and the various roads that comprise it. It contains information on planning, conservation and estate maintenance that is useful to prospective residents. A guide for those buying properties can be found here.

Extracts from the book "Gardens First", by Vanda Bouri are used on this website with permission.