Orpington 2024
Writing for the March 2024 issue of the Life in Orpington magazine, Jerry Dowlen started by saying:
'Never let anyone tell you that Orpington is a dull suburban town and that the ‘O’ in Orpington stands for Ordinary! Writers like George Orwell might have complained that each suburban town is identical to innumerable others but if you are lucky enough to live in Orpington there is much for the eye to feast on. It was forty years ago that Dorothy Cox wrote kindly and resonantly of our town and its surrounding countryside: ‘Pleasant settings on the one hand and ease of access to London on the other reflect the attraction of Orpington.’ Her words remain emphatically true today.'
Writing for the March 2024 issue of the Life in Orpington magazine, Jerry Dowlen started by saying:
'Never let anyone tell you that Orpington is a dull suburban town and that the ‘O’ in Orpington stands for Ordinary! Writers like George Orwell might have complained that each suburban town is identical to innumerable others but if you are lucky enough to live in Orpington there is much for the eye to feast on. It was forty years ago that Dorothy Cox wrote kindly and resonantly of our town and its surrounding countryside: ‘Pleasant settings on the one hand and ease of access to London on the other reflect the attraction of Orpington.’ Her words remain emphatically true today.'
Curiosities of Orpington: the book
You'll find plenty more information and comment about Orpington and its surrounding area in our recently published Cray 150 book Curiosities of Orpington (2023). Let's cite some recent news and topical comment about our town:
The Orpington 1st magazine reported in 2022 ‘There appears to be consensus among the community at large that it is not a viable option to leave the Walnuts as it is. The challenge is to attract a wider mix of business and retail tenants, and a broader demographic of residents.’
In 2022 the vacancy rate of 11% in Orpington Town Centre was reported to be slightly below the national average of 14%. The New Millennium is seeing a trend of High Streets like Orpington being converted to a mix of shops, businesses and residential flats instead of solely shops.
There are new-build grand homes for us to retire here if we want. The future belongs to the young families and children of Orpington now. Early in 2023 the News Shopper reported a ringing endorsement of Orpington from the Homeviews estate agents. Their survey had rated Bromley the best borough in Greater London: ‘The area is a favourite for young professionals and families due to the short, twenty-minute commute into central London, affordable housing and top quality schools nearby.’ Our photo of May 2024 shows residential building work in progress next to the G.P.O. building opposite the Walnuts Centre.
You'll find plenty more information and comment about Orpington and its surrounding area in our recently published Cray 150 book Curiosities of Orpington (2023). Let's cite some recent news and topical comment about our town:
The Orpington 1st magazine reported in 2022 ‘There appears to be consensus among the community at large that it is not a viable option to leave the Walnuts as it is. The challenge is to attract a wider mix of business and retail tenants, and a broader demographic of residents.’
In 2022 the vacancy rate of 11% in Orpington Town Centre was reported to be slightly below the national average of 14%. The New Millennium is seeing a trend of High Streets like Orpington being converted to a mix of shops, businesses and residential flats instead of solely shops.
There are new-build grand homes for us to retire here if we want. The future belongs to the young families and children of Orpington now. Early in 2023 the News Shopper reported a ringing endorsement of Orpington from the Homeviews estate agents. Their survey had rated Bromley the best borough in Greater London: ‘The area is a favourite for young professionals and families due to the short, twenty-minute commute into central London, affordable housing and top quality schools nearby.’ Our photo of May 2024 shows residential building work in progress next to the G.P.O. building opposite the Walnuts Centre.