Smallfield
Encyclopedia
Smallfield is a village located in Surrey, England. The village is part of the census area Burstow which has a population of 4,301.
Smallfield lies to the east of the M23
which runs between the M25
and London Gatwick Airport
. Neighbouring villages include Burstow
, Outwood
and Horne
.
The moated Smallfield Place is a Jacobean
Manor built in 1600 which was given to John de Burstow during the reign of Edward III.
The village is the birth place of Matthieu Hartley
, who was a member of the band The Cure
between 1979-80.
There was once a hospital in Smallfield, it was placed where now is Toronto Drive and Alberta Drive... but it was knocked down because East Surrey Hospital was built.
Toronto and Alberta Drive are called their names because many Canadians went to that hospital during the war...there is one historic building which is known of is called Redehall Prep School, that has been there since before Queen Victoria's Golden Jubile, that is when the oak tree in the play area was planted.
The First mention of Burstow appears in a church record of 1121 but it is practically certain that a church had been in existence long before that time.
John Flamsteed, who was Rector of Burstow from 1684 until his death in 1719, was appointed in 1675 by King Charles II to be the first Astronomer Royal. His accurate measurements of star positions and the movements of the moon, made in the newly opened Observatory at Greenwich, contributed to making possible the safe navigation of shipping around the world. Flamsteed is buried in Burstow Church and you can see the star that commemorates him in the large window above the altar.
Smallfield derives its name from the occasion when a Lord Burghersh donated 'a narrow piece of land' (Saxon smael feld) to John de Burstow in thanks for assistance rendered during a war in France in the 1300s.
All the original tracks in the area ran north-south - for example, the lanes to Outwood and Bletchingley (or Blechingley as it was spelled until fairly recently) - so they tend to be narrow and winding. The east-west roads tend to be wider and straighter as they were not constructed until much later - there wasn't even a direct road from Smallfield going all the way to Horley until 1870 and the narrow humpbacked bridge built at that time over the Burstow Stream saw many car bumps in later years until it was replaced in the mid-1960s.
Sanger's Circus had winter quarters for its animals at Burstow Lodge (at the northern end of Chapel Road) from the early 1900s until around 1940, so if you had been living in Smallfield at that time you would not have been at all surprised to meet elephants being exercised in the village (no, they didn't bring lions out for walkies as well!). It has been recorded that the elephants were also used for ploughing land in the area.
For many years Smallfield had its own smithy where horses were shod and other work was carried out. This stood in Weatherhill Road opposite where the present bus shelter stands and it was demolished only when the 'Georgian' style houses were built there around 1970.
Smallfield Hospital was built early in the 1939-45 War on land beside Broadbridge Lane. It was used by the Canadian Army to treat their wartime casualties and then more recently it was a NHS hospital. In 1962 it was used in filming a scene of The Password is Courage which starred Dirk Bogarde, and several local residents who were hospital staff appeared in the film. The hospital was demolished around 1980 to be replaced by the 'Canadian' housing estate.
When you are next in Centenary Hall in Wheelers Lane (erected in 1994 and marking the centenary of Burstow Parish Council), look up and on the end wall you will see mosaics that were designed and made by local residents. These celebrate some of the rich variety of places, events and activities that have gone to make up Burstow, Smallfield and Keepers Corner. Many of the local clubs and societies originated in these earlier days and they, together with those formed more recently, contribute to the strong community spirit that exists in the village.
It is also the home to Tom Cain
, the golfer, who won the US tour at the age of 18.
Smallfield Football Club won the Redhill & District Saturday Football League and Surrey County FA - Junior Cup Double of 2010/11!!
Smallfield lies to the east of the M23
M23 motorway
The M23 motorway is a motorway in England. The motorway runs from south of Hooley in Surrey, where it splits from the A23, to Pease Pottage, south of Crawley in West Sussex where it rejoins the A23. The northern end of the motorway starts at junction 7 on what is effectively a spur north from...
which runs between the M25
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
and London Gatwick Airport
London Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is located 3.1 miles north of the centre of Crawley, West Sussex, and south of Central London. Previously known as London Gatwick,In 2010, the name changed from London Gatwick Airport to Gatwick Airport...
. Neighbouring villages include Burstow
Burstow
Burstow is a parish in Tandridge, Surrey, England. It is one of the largest parishes in the local government district of Tandridge and its principal settlement is the village of Smallfield...
, Outwood
Outwood
Outwood may refer to:*Outwood, Greater Manchester, formerly a civil parish*Outwood, Somerset*Outwood, Surrey*Outwood, West Yorkshire*Outwood, Worcestershire...
and Horne
Horne, Surrey
Horne is a village and civil parish in the District of Tandridge in Surrey, England. The parish includes the hamlet of Newchapel, and has a population of 805. The parish is located on the A22 road, east of Horley, west of Lingfield, south west of Oxted, and south of Kingston upon...
.
The moated Smallfield Place is a Jacobean
Jacobean architecture
The Jacobean style is the second phase of Renaissance architecture in England, following the Elizabethan style. It is named after King James I of England, with whose reign it is associated.-Characteristics:...
Manor built in 1600 which was given to John de Burstow during the reign of Edward III.
The village is the birth place of Matthieu Hartley
Matthieu Hartley
Matthieu Hartley is an English musician born in Smallfield, England. He is best known as the original keyboardist for The Cure, but before that he and Simon Gallup were involved in two other bands called Lockjaw and The Magazine Spies....
, who was a member of the band The Cure
The Cure
The Cure are an English rock band formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976. The band has experienced several line-up changes, with frontman, vocalist, guitarist and principal songwriter Robert Smith being the only constant member...
between 1979-80.
There was once a hospital in Smallfield, it was placed where now is Toronto Drive and Alberta Drive... but it was knocked down because East Surrey Hospital was built.
Toronto and Alberta Drive are called their names because many Canadians went to that hospital during the war...there is one historic building which is known of is called Redehall Prep School, that has been there since before Queen Victoria's Golden Jubile, that is when the oak tree in the play area was planted.
The First mention of Burstow appears in a church record of 1121 but it is practically certain that a church had been in existence long before that time.
John Flamsteed, who was Rector of Burstow from 1684 until his death in 1719, was appointed in 1675 by King Charles II to be the first Astronomer Royal. His accurate measurements of star positions and the movements of the moon, made in the newly opened Observatory at Greenwich, contributed to making possible the safe navigation of shipping around the world. Flamsteed is buried in Burstow Church and you can see the star that commemorates him in the large window above the altar.
Smallfield derives its name from the occasion when a Lord Burghersh donated 'a narrow piece of land' (Saxon smael feld) to John de Burstow in thanks for assistance rendered during a war in France in the 1300s.
All the original tracks in the area ran north-south - for example, the lanes to Outwood and Bletchingley (or Blechingley as it was spelled until fairly recently) - so they tend to be narrow and winding. The east-west roads tend to be wider and straighter as they were not constructed until much later - there wasn't even a direct road from Smallfield going all the way to Horley until 1870 and the narrow humpbacked bridge built at that time over the Burstow Stream saw many car bumps in later years until it was replaced in the mid-1960s.
Sanger's Circus had winter quarters for its animals at Burstow Lodge (at the northern end of Chapel Road) from the early 1900s until around 1940, so if you had been living in Smallfield at that time you would not have been at all surprised to meet elephants being exercised in the village (no, they didn't bring lions out for walkies as well!). It has been recorded that the elephants were also used for ploughing land in the area.
For many years Smallfield had its own smithy where horses were shod and other work was carried out. This stood in Weatherhill Road opposite where the present bus shelter stands and it was demolished only when the 'Georgian' style houses were built there around 1970.
Smallfield Hospital was built early in the 1939-45 War on land beside Broadbridge Lane. It was used by the Canadian Army to treat their wartime casualties and then more recently it was a NHS hospital. In 1962 it was used in filming a scene of The Password is Courage which starred Dirk Bogarde, and several local residents who were hospital staff appeared in the film. The hospital was demolished around 1980 to be replaced by the 'Canadian' housing estate.
When you are next in Centenary Hall in Wheelers Lane (erected in 1994 and marking the centenary of Burstow Parish Council), look up and on the end wall you will see mosaics that were designed and made by local residents. These celebrate some of the rich variety of places, events and activities that have gone to make up Burstow, Smallfield and Keepers Corner. Many of the local clubs and societies originated in these earlier days and they, together with those formed more recently, contribute to the strong community spirit that exists in the village.
It is also the home to Tom Cain
Tom Cain
Thomas "Tom" Cain was an English footballer who played as goalkeeper for Stoke, Everton and Southampton St. Mary's in the 1890s.-Football career:...
, the golfer, who won the US tour at the age of 18.
External links
- Smallfield on UK Parishes (Javascript required)
- Smallfield's history
Smallfield Football Club won the Redhill & District Saturday Football League and Surrey County FA - Junior Cup Double of 2010/11!!