Leatherhead History

LEATHERHEAD, (or Letherhed), a parish and post town in the second division of the hundred of Copthorne, county Surrey, 4 miles S.W. of Epsom, 5 N. of Dorking, and 12½ N.E. of Guildford. It is a station on the London and South-Western railway. It is situated on the river Mole, which is here crossed by a bridge of fourteen arches.

A portion of the parish consists of an extensive common, which has recently been enclosed. There are brick and tile kilns, and a good trade is done in malting, brewing, tanning, &c. The town formerly had a market, is well paved, and lighted with gas. It contains several commercial inns, posting-houses, and a mechanics' institute. In the vicinity are numerous seats, with parks and plantations, occupying the steep slopes which bound the valley of the Mole on either side.

The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Winchester, valued in the king's books at £14 6s. 0½d., in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Rochester. The church, dedicated to SS. Mary and Nicholas, formerly belonged to Leeds Priory, in Kent. It is an ancient cruciform structure built about 1346, and since restored. It has a square tower containing a clock and eight bells. The transepts are separated from the nave by carved screens. The interior contains an E. window, ancient piscina, stone seats, and several monuments. The register dates from 1626. The Independents have a place of worship.

There is a National school built in 1839, and endowed with £30 per annum. The parochial charities produce about £105 per annum, exclusive of the school endowment. The old inn near the bridge is supposed to be the "woning" of "Elynor Ramming," the famous ale-wife of the poet Skelton. Leatherhead House was the seat of the Gores and of Judge Jeffries. The principal residences are Gibbon's Grove, Randalls, and Thorncroft. A fair is held on 11th October, in a field to the N. of the town, chiefly for the sale of horses and pigs.

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003] These pages are intended for personal use only, so please respect the conditions of use.