WALTON HEATH

Walton is an ancient settlement; there are signs of Prehistoric and Iron Age activity on Walton Heath. There are two Roman villas in the area, one on the Heath and the other private gardens on Sandlands Road. Neither is now visible but both have been excavated and recorded. The Parish Church of St Peter’s is supposed to date from 1268 but there may have been an earlier church on the site, as the lead font is dated 1150-60. The church has been rebuilt and repaired several times and contains Roman tiles in its walls. Its appearance was greatly altered in 1894 when the tower was rebuilt as it had become dangerous.

TADWORTH

The name of Tadworth is thought to be Saxon in origin, and means the enclosure or farmstead of Tad (personal name). Stone Age man probably roamed the area as remains have been excavated on the Common near Lower Kingswood. Low grade iron ore has also been found up there so it is likely that it was worked there in the Iron Age and the Roman era. The Romans certainly had a villa on Walton Heath and probably used the entire area for grazing. With the coming of the Saxons we have the first definite history. It is not known where Tad’s farm actually was, but it must have had a water supply so it is possible that it was somewhere near Meare Close Pond, opposite which was situated Odin’s Pond until it was filled in. During housing development at Tadworth Farm a large Saxon burial ground came to light.

KINGSWOOD

Recent archaeological finds in Lower Kingswood have revealed that early Stone Age man was active in the area some 350,000 years ago.

The first reference to a settlement in Kingswood is contained in the Domesday Book, where a passage in the entry for Ewell states that `2 hides and 1 virgate were removed from this manor; they were there before 1066, but reeves lent them to their friends’. Historians agree that this refers to Kingswood, which had obviously gone missing from the Manor of Ewell in somewhat mysterious circumstances. We know that it was returned to its rightful owner, the Crown, some time before 1158, when Henry II gave Ewell and its Sub-Manors of Batailles, Ruxley and Kingswood to the Canons of Merton Priory.

HEADLEY

Headley is a small village high on the North Downs and the name comes from Hallega meaning a clearing in the heath. People have been in this area for probably 10,000 years or more with traces of Stone and Bronze Age occupation having been recorded just outside the Western Boundary on Mickleham Downs by The Surrey Archaeological Society. Part of the Northwestern Boundary of the Parish is formed by the Roman Stane Street, this along with the documented remains in Walton mean that the Romans used this area extensively.