Open House Festival

Neighbourhoods

Back to neighbourhoods

Leafy Chislehurst and Petts Wood

Discover the unique character of Chislehurst and Petts Wood, where historic buildings, ancient woodland and green open spaces come together. Explore the National Trust's Hawkwood Estate, wander through Petts Wood, and follow an extensive network of footpaths and green corridors linking the area. With plenty of cafés, pubs and restaurants along the way, it's an ideal place to spend a day exploring.

Drop in

Bullers Wood School for Girls

education

Typical mid-Victorian stucco-fronted house built on a grassy hillside, extended in 1888 by Ernest Newton with William Morris redesigning the interiors. The library, formerly drawing room, has a unique William Morris hand-painted ceiling. The school itself has a range of older and newer buildings, including Inglewood House. The grounds will be open during the Open House festival.

William Morris, Ernest Newton, 1889

Drop in / Talk

Christ Lutheran Church, Petts Wood

religious

A small but perfectly-formed expression of late modernist ecclesiastical architecture deep within the south-eastern suburbs of London, only rarely open to the public for purposes other than religious services.

Gordon Cook, 1966

Drop in / Guided tour

Church of the Annunciation

religious

Fine Victorian church with large mosaic and painted reredos, screen and wall paintings and some unusual glass. Arts and crafts decoration by Nathaniel Westlake and Salviati Bros.

James Brooks, 1870

Drop in

Scadbury Moated Manor

monument

See the archaeological excavations and Tudor foundations at Scadbury Moated Manor - which still has its moat around it.

Architect unknown, 1425

Basil Scruby’s 1920’s-30’s classic Arts and Crafts style garden estate which was inspired by the character of the area’s woodland and rural open spaces. This guided walk of Petts Wood focuses on the contrasting house designs such as Tudor, Elizabethan and Art Deco including Charles Rene McIntosh influenced motifs. Stained glass also features at St Francis church; a Nickolaus Pevsner listed historical building.

Geoffry Mullins, 1934