Runfold
Encyclopedia
Runfold is a village in Surrey
, U.K.
, about 2 miles (3 kilometres) NNE of Farnham
.
Runfold lies on the ancient trackway
known as the Pilgrims' Way
and on the former route of the A31 road
, which has by-passed the village since the early 1990s. Loss of through traffic has made the village safer and quieter but has affected the village economy, with the loss of the service station
, post office
and "Alf's Café", a notable transport café. One pub
remains; this is the Princess Royal which has recently expanded and now offers hotel accommodation; the former Jolly Farmer has now become a Chinese restaurant called Keis.
The village has been seriously affected by mineral extraction, subsequent infilling of the resultant sand and gravel pits, and the heavy vehicle movements associated with that industry.
Runfold Manor is a large house in the east of the village, at the foot of the Hog's Back
. Much of the contents were auctioned in 2005 when the owners decided to move away.
John Henry Knight
, a former resident of Barfield House in the village, built "The first petroleum carriage for two people made in England". Barfield School, an independent mixed gender Primary School, is now located there; Mike Hawthorn
, Britain's first Formula One
motor racing World Champion was educated here.
Runfold, along with a number of other villages in the Surrey and Sussex Weald
(such as Alfold
, Dunsfold
, Durfold and Chiddingfold
) comprise the "Fold Villages
", the suffix probably relating to the clearance of forest and staking out of resultant pasture as grazing land for sheep or cattle in Saxon times.
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, U.K.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, about 2 miles (3 kilometres) NNE of Farnham
Farnham
Farnham is a town in Surrey, England, within the Borough of Waverley. The town is situated some 42 miles southwest of London in the extreme west of Surrey, adjacent to the border with Hampshire...
.
Runfold lies on the ancient trackway
Ancient trackway
Ancient trackway can refer to any track or trail whose origin is lost in antiquity. Such paths existed from the earliest prehistoric times and in every inhabited part of the globe...
known as the Pilgrims' Way
Pilgrims' Way
The Pilgrims' Way is the historic route supposed to have been taken by pilgrims from Winchester in Hampshire, England, to the shrine of Thomas Becket at Canterbury in Kent...
and on the former route of the A31 road
A31 road
The A31 is a major trunk road in southern England that runs from Guildford in Surrey to Bere Regis in Dorset.-Route of road:The road begins in the centre of Guildford, meeting the A3 road before running south west along the Hog's Back. It continues past Farnham, Alton and New Alresford before...
, which has by-passed the village since the early 1990s. Loss of through traffic has made the village safer and quieter but has affected the village economy, with the loss of the service station
Filling station
A filling station, also known as a fueling station, garage, gasbar , gas station , petrol bunk , petrol pump , petrol garage, petrol kiosk , petrol station "'servo"' in Australia or service station, is a facility which sells fuel and lubricants...
, post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
and "Alf's Café", a notable transport café. One pub
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
remains; this is the Princess Royal which has recently expanded and now offers hotel accommodation; the former Jolly Farmer has now become a Chinese restaurant called Keis.
The village has been seriously affected by mineral extraction, subsequent infilling of the resultant sand and gravel pits, and the heavy vehicle movements associated with that industry.
Runfold Manor is a large house in the east of the village, at the foot of the Hog's Back
Hog's Back
The Hog's Back is a part of the North Downs in Surrey, England, that lies between Farnham, Surrey in the west and Guildford in the east.-Name:Compared with the main part of the Downs to the east of it, it is a narrow elongated ridge, hence its name....
. Much of the contents were auctioned in 2005 when the owners decided to move away.
John Henry Knight
John Henry Knight
John Henry Knight , from Farnham, was a wealthy engineer, landowner and inventor. With the help of the engineer George Parfitt, he built Britain’s first petrol-powered motor vehicle...
, a former resident of Barfield House in the village, built "The first petroleum carriage for two people made in England". Barfield School, an independent mixed gender Primary School, is now located there; Mike Hawthorn
Mike Hawthorn
John Michael Hawthorn was a racing driver, born in Mexborough, Yorkshire, England, and educated at Ardingly College, West Sussex.-Racing career:...
, Britain's first Formula One
Formula One
Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 and referred to officially as the FIA Formula One World Championship, is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile . The "formula" designation in the name refers to a set of rules with which...
motor racing World Champion was educated here.
Runfold, along with a number of other villages in the Surrey and Sussex Weald
Weald
The Weald is the name given to an area in South East England situated between the parallel chalk escarpments of the North and the South Downs. It should be regarded as three separate parts: the sandstone "High Weald" in the centre; the clay "Low Weald" periphery; and the Greensand Ridge which...
(such as Alfold
Alfold
Alfold is small village and civil parish on the Surrey/West Sussex border in England. The parish clerk is Mrs L.R. Enticknap.Originally sited perhaps for the glass making . Charcoal was extensively burnt in the parish for gunpowder works in Dunsfold, Cranleigh, and Sussex.Alfold is not mentioned in...
, Dunsfold
Dunsfold
Dunsfold is a village in the Waverley district of the county of Surrey, England, 8.7 miles south of Guildford. The census area Chiddingfold and Dunsfold has a population of 3,812.-History:...
, Durfold and Chiddingfold
Chiddingfold
Chiddingfold is a village and civil parish in the heart of The Weald in the Waverley district of Surrey, England. It lies on the A283 between Milford and Petworth...
) comprise the "Fold Villages
Fold Villages
These are a number of villages in the Weald of Surrey and Sussex, whose suffix of -fold indicates a common origin as Saxon settlements in cleared areas of woodland....
", the suffix probably relating to the clearance of forest and staking out of resultant pasture as grazing land for sheep or cattle in Saxon times.