Did you know that...
Ashtead refers to a “homestead among the ash trees”. The first recorded name of the area can be found in the Doomsday Book of 1086. Under the Saxons, the name was ‘Stede’. In the 11th century, the area belonged to the Bishop of Bayeux. Name variants in the 18th century include Ashsted and Asted. Samuel Pepys mentions this KT21 area twice in his 17th-century diaries. The local railway station opened in 1859. It was designed by David Field in 1858. Designers Frederick Charles Herrick, Phoebe Stabler, and Percy Metcalfe worked for the now-closed Ashtead Pottery. Construction company Longcross was based in this South West London area.
A Roman villa was unearthed in Ashtead Common. Four hundred years old trees grow in this wooded area. Rare invertebrates and birds live here. The Common was designated a site of special scientific interest in 1995. St Giles’ Church dates from the 12th century. The village center features buildings of architectural importance. Some of the buildings on The Street and Rectory Lane are grade II listed. The two pubs and the Village Club are in the oldest part of this area. The Old Rectory, Ashtead Lodge, Forge Cottage, and Wisteria Cottage date from the 18th century. They are grade II listed.
Ashtead Park House is within a conservation area. The mansion houses the City of London Freemen’s School. It is a private school founded in 1854. Notable former alumni include actor and musician Tommy Bastow, politician Ashley Mote, drummer Andy Ward, actor Warwick Davis, professional racing driver James Clarke, and musician Joe Strummer. Greville Primary School, Barnett Wood Infant School, and West Ashtead Primary School are other local education facilities. Ashtead Woods is an extremely romantic place, perfect for couples. A few decades ago it used to be placed on postcards, highlighting the fact that this area is a perfect place for courting.
