A Russian princess has sold Chislehurst Commons to a charity and now it will be preserved for ‘future generations.’

The 180 acres of common land were inherited by Princess June Lobanov-Rostovsky from her uncle, the last Viscount Marsham Townsend.

It is managed by a board of trustees called the Chislehurst Commons, which is a registered charity.

But the Chislehurst Commons was unable to buy the freehold of the land.

Now another charity, the Chislehurst Society, has stepped in and bought the commons off the princess.

Tony Allen, chairman of The Chislehurst Society, says: “The commons are the very essence of Chislehurst and I am delighted that we have been able to use our funds to secure the freehold for the benefit of residents.

“The Chislehurst Society is wholly committed to the preservation of the commons for future generations.”

John Hayhow, chairman of Chislehurst Commons, said: “When it became clear that the commons were available to buy, The Chislehurst Society was our obvious choice of partner.

“Its whole ethos is the enhancement of Chislehurst and preservation of the commons is integral to that.

“We are extremely fortunate that the purchase is financially viable for the Society, a charity that we have worked alongside for many years in the best interests of the community.”

Bob Neill MP, a Chislehurst resident and long-time supporter of the commons, congratulated both charities for getting the deal done.

He said: “This is great news and a fantastic example of community spirit.

“It secures the ownership of our treasured commons in local hands for future generations to continue to enjoy and preserve. Well done to The Chislehurst Society and Chislehurst Commons.”

The commons have been privately owned for more than 1,000 years.

The first recorded owner of Chislehurst Manor and its commons, in 974, was King Eadgar.

Ownership was passed down through the English monarchs until the time of Henry VIII.

Then the commons were sold to the Walsingham family who were influential at the Tudor Courts.

The Walsinghams eventually sold the land to Richard Bettenson, whose most famous descendant is Thomas Townshend, the first Viscount Sydney; the man after whom Sydney, Australia is named.

For hundreds of years residents have protected their ‘right to roam’ on the land.

The people of Chislehurst have had to stand up to the Lord of the Manor a number of times to keep their rights as ‘commoners’ and to stop it from being fenced off.

The sale means that for the first time in recorded history the commons belong to a charitable entity representative of the people of Chislehurst and not a private individual.