The northern edge of Anerley contains part of the area commonly known as Crystal Palace, and the site of the ancient Vicar's Oak where the London boroughs of Bromley, Croydon, Lambeth and Southwark meet,[1] with Lewisham 800 yards (740m) away.

[2] In October 1827, a Scottish silk and wine merchant originally from Galashiels named William Sanderson bought land at the auction of the former Penge Common and built the first house in the area, which he named "Anerly" (later Anerley Lodge), a Scottish Borders and Northern English dialect word meaning "solitary" or "only",[3] and the road subsequently became known as Anerley Road, also giving the name to the surrounding area.

[2][4] Sanderson's name is the first to appear in the first rate book, dated 18 June 1827, now held in the London Borough of Bromley archives.

The canal was a financial failure and lasted only 27 years, being sold to the London and Croydon Railway Company for £40,250.

William Sanderson made land available in return for the creation of the railway station adjacent to his house "Anerly".

and just as it was slowly quitting the station he ran into it, but with diminished speed"[9] Anerley Gardens opened in 1841, and provided entertainment to the growing 19th century leisure industry.

[2][4] With the new medium of rail travel and boasting its own station, Anerley become a desirable social venue, with regular dances, a boating lake, a Swiss cottage and a maze.

[2] After the closure of the gardens, The Anerley Arms, a hotel built in the Swiss-style which had catered to visitors, was expanded and rebuilt in Victorian classical style, this building still stands next to the station.

[11] It became a Town Hall in 1900 as a result of the London Government Act 1899, when Anerley became part of the new Penge Urban District in Kent.

People had heard the rocket cut out and ran for cover, with many failing to find any, resulting in 11 deaths.

With the demise of local government Crystal Palace & Anerley became a ward in the London Borough of Bromley.

Nowadays Anerley Town Hall is still in use as a community centre run by Crystal Palace Community Trust, the Anerley Arms is still serving beverages in a traditional saloon bar, and a segment of the Croydon Canal remains in Betts Park.

In the early days a stationary engine was needed to haul trams up the steepest part of Anerley Hill.