Warlingham
Encyclopedia
Warlingham is a large village
on the south-eastern boundary of London
, England
, just across the border in Tandridge district, east Surrey
. Neighbouring villages include Sanderstead
, Hamsey Green
, Whyteleafe
, Farleigh
, Fickleshole
, Tatsfield
and Woldingham
. The nearest town to Warlingham is Caterham
.
Warlingham is situated on the North Downs
and parts of the village are 650 feet (200 metres) above sea level. This means that on the rare occasion it does snow in southern England, Warlingham will often get a light covering while neighbouring low-lying areas remain oblivious to its fall. Warlingham's height also allows for some panoramic views over central London (on the stretch of the Limpsfield road between Warlingham village and Botley Hill Farm). On a clear day all the major skyscrapers (including Canary Wharf, the Gherkin and the NatWest tower) can be seen, and the hills north of London can be made out on the horizon.
administrative division of Tandridge
hundred
.
The name is probably derived from "The homestead (-ham) of the followers (-ing) of Waerla".
All Saints' Church Warlingham dates back to around the year 1250. Notable features include a 15th century wall painting of St Christopher. There is a tradition that Cranmer first experimented with the first Book of Common Prayer at this church.
Notable former residents include Sir Joseph Swan
, inventor of the incandescent light bulb
and the reggae singer Smiley Culture
whose controversial death occurred at his home in the village.
During the Second World War, Warlingham was witness to the Battle of Britain
, much of which was fought in the skies above this part of Surrey. The former RAF bases of Biggin Hill
and Kenley
were within a few miles of Warlingham in either direction, and from there fighters would intercept German bombers navigating their way up to London along the valley between Warlingham and Woldingham (then known as 'Bombers' Alley').
Warlingham War Memorial is now one of the central features of the village. It is a simple yet poignant monument dedicated to the great many local people who made sacrifices during the two world wars in the 20th Century.
From 1903 until 1999 the parish included Warlingham Park Hospital
. This is now a residential estate. Only the Grade II listed Water Tower remains.
or central London
, making Warlingham part of the London commuter belt
.
Warlingham is also situated in the green belt, although the village is under much pressure from developers. The village is surrounded by the rolling chalk hillsides and woodlands of the North Downs. Parts of the adjacent Woldingham valley have been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Blanchman's Farm Nature Reserve was set up in 1991 and was the first community wildlife area in Tandridge. It covers 10 hectares and includes a restored pond, around 10,000 native trees, and a path for wheelchair access.
The shops in Warlingham include a Cooperative
store, a Sainsburys, a Lloyd's Pharmacy, a post office
, a DIY Store, a newsagent, two hair salons, a Natwest bank, two Indian restaurants, Park and Bailey estate agents and Streeter Marshall solicitors. Also situated on the green is a village hall, a few small houses, a gift shop, several dress shops and a fish and chip shop, named 'The Captain's Table' and four pubs of varying characters (including the old coaching Inn, the 'White Lion'). This unusual concentration of pubs in Warlingham is possibly partly due to the fact that neighbouring villages (including Sanderstead, Woldingham and Farleigh) do not have any pubs of their own.
There was some controversy a few years ago when the White Lion was taken over by a chain. The new owners made a number of changes to the pub including the removal of the historic pub sign and its replacement with a laminated corporate logo.
Prior to the opening of a large supermarket at the Chelsham end of Limpsfield Road, the village also supported a bakers, two butchers, a greengrocers another general grocers. These have all since closed, probably as a result of competition from the supermarket. The majority of local people opposed the building of the supermarket as did the local council. However, after the supermarket chain threatened to withdraw a traffic calming scheme the council capitulated and allowed the construction of the supermarket. This has led to a massive increase in traffic on Limpsfield Road and a sharp reduction in general trade for shops around the village green.
In early 2008, a new Locksmith was opened in place of Unwins Wine Merchants, which had previously gone out of business. In the Summer of 2008, a nail bar was opened (replacing one of the former butchers) and a new coffee and sandwich shop was opened on the green (replacing Uptempo Music Store). In September 2008, Another coffee shop was opened next to the locksmith.
In early 2011, a furniture shop 'Warlingham Furniture', which had been located behind the nail bar for a year, opened next to the post office in place of "Valley Homes" which had been vacant for a while.
is closer to Hamsey Green than Warlingham (and is on the same campus as Hamsey Green Junior and Infant schools) and is a senior state school, with a thriving 6th Form. Warlingham Park School is a small private school which is very close to Chelsham Common (and is near the Great Park housing estate). There is also another primary school situated on Farleigh Road. It was called Farleigh school, until it was renamed Warlingham Village Primary School.
Nearby private schools include Caterham, Woldingham, Croydon High, Whitgift and Trinity.
Upper Warlingham railway station
is about a mile from Warlingham and has fast Southern (train operating company)
services to London Victoria and London Bridge
as well as East Grinstead
. Just a few minutes walk from Upper Warlingham is Whyteleafe railway station
which has slightly slower trains to London and Caterham departing every quarter of an hour.
Warlingham has a few bus links with Croydon
and is also connected to nearby Caterham
. The Transport for London
403 route goes from Croydon
to the Sainsbury's store via Sanderstead
and runs every 12 minutes. It is operated by Arriva London
. Metrobus route 409 also goes to Croydon
via Selsdon
. It also goes to East Grinstead
(although some evening journeys only go as far as Lingfield
) via Whyteleafe
and Caterham
. Metrobus also operate route 411 to Redhill
which goes via Whyteleafe
, Caterham
and Godstone
. Certain journeys also go to Tatsfield
. Both routes also serve Greatpark housing estate in Chelsham Common (built on the site of Warlingham Park Hospital
- previously known as Croydon Borough Asylum). On schooldays, Selkent
operate a route to Saint Bede's school in Redhill and Southdown PSV operate route 657 to Reigate College.Warlinghams closest town for shopping is Oxted.
Warlingham is also home to Warlingham Rugby Football Club, which was founded in 1922.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
on the south-eastern boundary of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, just across the border in Tandridge district, east Surrey
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...
. Neighbouring villages include Sanderstead
Sanderstead
Sanderstead is a village in London Borough of Croydon, located on high ground at the edge of the built-up area of Greater London. From 1915 to 1965 it formed a parish in the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District of Surrey. Having been a farming community in previous centuries, Sanderstead is now...
, Hamsey Green
Hamsey Green
Hamsey Green is a place on the plateau of the North Downs between the villages of Sanderstead to the north and Warlingham to the south. It is split almost across the centre east and west with the southern part in the Tandridge district of Surrey...
, Whyteleafe
Whyteleafe
Whyteleafe is a small town in South East England, in the Surrey district of Tandridge. Four streets in Whyteleafe are just inside the southern edge of the London Borough of Croydon. Neighbouring villages and towns include Woldingham, Caterham, Coulsdon, Warlingham, and Kenley...
, Farleigh
Farleigh, Surrey
Farleigh is a village in Surrey, England about 5 miles to the South East of Croydon.The village lay within the Anglo-Saxon administrative division of Tandridge hundred....
, Fickleshole
Fickleshole
Fickleshole is a hamlet in Tandridge, Surrey, England seven miles from Croydon.The Prime Meridian passes just to the east of Fickleshole.The area is mainly used for farming, with stables home to over eighty horses. Fickleshole was established in the early sixteenth century...
, Tatsfield
Tatsfield
Tatsfield is a village of some 1800 inhabitants located in the Tandridge district of Surrey, England, and 16 miles south south-east of Charing Cross in London...
and Woldingham
Woldingham
Woldingham is a village and civil parish in Surrey located above sea level just within the M25, southeast of London. Situated high on the North Downs between Oxted and Warlingham, it is a village of 2,326 inhabitants...
. The nearest town to Warlingham is Caterham
Caterham
Caterham is a town in the Tandridge District of Surrey, England. The town is geographically divided into two sections: Caterham on the Hill and Caterham Valley - the main town centre. The town lies close to the A22, a few miles south of Croydon, in a valley cut into the dip slope of the North Downs...
.
Warlingham is situated on the North Downs
North Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. The North Downs lie within two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty , the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs...
and parts of the village are 650 feet (200 metres) above sea level. This means that on the rare occasion it does snow in southern England, Warlingham will often get a light covering while neighbouring low-lying areas remain oblivious to its fall. Warlingham's height also allows for some panoramic views over central London (on the stretch of the Limpsfield road between Warlingham village and Botley Hill Farm). On a clear day all the major skyscrapers (including Canary Wharf, the Gherkin and the NatWest tower) can be seen, and the hills north of London can be made out on the horizon.
History
The village lay within the Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
administrative division of Tandridge
Tandridge (hundred)
Tandridge was a hundred in what is now Surrey, England. It includes the borough of Tandridge.It includes the parishes of Bletchingley, Caterham, Chelsham, Crowhurst, Farleigh, Godstone, Horne, Limpsfield, Lingfield, Oxted, Tandridge, Tatsfield, Titsey, Warlingham and Woldingham.The hundred has...
hundred
Hundred (division)
A hundred is a geographic division formerly used in England, Wales, Denmark, South Australia, some parts of the United States, Germany , Sweden, Finland and Norway, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller administrative divisions...
.
The name is probably derived from "The homestead (-ham) of the followers (-ing) of Waerla".
All Saints' Church Warlingham dates back to around the year 1250. Notable features include a 15th century wall painting of St Christopher. There is a tradition that Cranmer first experimented with the first Book of Common Prayer at this church.
Notable former residents include Sir Joseph Swan
Joseph Swan
Sir Joseph Wilson Swan was a British physicist and chemist, most famous for the invention of the incandescent light bulb for which he received the first patent in 1878...
, inventor of the incandescent light bulb
Incandescent light bulb
The incandescent light bulb, incandescent lamp or incandescent light globe makes light by heating a metal filament wire to a high temperature until it glows. The hot filament is protected from air by a glass bulb that is filled with inert gas or evacuated. In a halogen lamp, a chemical process...
and the reggae singer Smiley Culture
Smiley Culture
David Victor Emmanuel , better known as Smiley Culture, was a British reggae singer and deejay known for his 'fast chat' style. During a relatively brief period of fame and success, he produced two of the most critically acclaimed reggae singles of the 1980s...
whose controversial death occurred at his home in the village.
During the Second World War, Warlingham was witness to the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, much of which was fought in the skies above this part of Surrey. The former RAF bases of Biggin Hill
London Biggin Hill Airport
London Biggin Hill Airport is an airport at Biggin Hill in the London Borough of Bromley, located south southeast of Central London, United Kingdom...
and Kenley
RAF Kenley
The former Royal Air Force Station Kenley, more commonly known as RAF Kenley was a station of the Royal Flying Corps in World War I and the RAF in World War II. It is located near Kenley, London, England.-History:...
were within a few miles of Warlingham in either direction, and from there fighters would intercept German bombers navigating their way up to London along the valley between Warlingham and Woldingham (then known as 'Bombers' Alley').
Warlingham War Memorial is now one of the central features of the village. It is a simple yet poignant monument dedicated to the great many local people who made sacrifices during the two world wars in the 20th Century.
From 1903 until 1999 the parish included Warlingham Park Hospital
Warlingham Park Hospital
Warlingham Park Hospital was a psychiatric hospital in Warlingham, Surrey. It was located at in Chelsham.It opened on 26 June 1903 as the Croydon Mental Hospital ....
. This is now a residential estate. Only the Grade II listed Water Tower remains.
Today
Today, most of Warlingham's population works in CroydonCroydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
or central London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, making Warlingham part of the London commuter belt
London commuter belt
The London commuter belt is the metropolitan area surrounding London, England from which it is practical to commute to work in the capital. It is alternatively known as the Greater South East, the London metropolitan area or the Southeast metropolitan area...
.
Warlingham is also situated in the green belt, although the village is under much pressure from developers. The village is surrounded by the rolling chalk hillsides and woodlands of the North Downs. Parts of the adjacent Woldingham valley have been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Blanchman's Farm Nature Reserve was set up in 1991 and was the first community wildlife area in Tandridge. It covers 10 hectares and includes a restored pond, around 10,000 native trees, and a path for wheelchair access.
Local shops
Warlingham is centered on a triangular village green, which is home to most of the village's commercial activities.The shops in Warlingham include a Cooperative
Cooperative
A cooperative is a business organization owned and operated by a group of individuals for their mutual benefit...
store, a Sainsburys, a Lloyd's Pharmacy, a 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...
, a DIY Store, a newsagent, two hair salons, a Natwest bank, two Indian restaurants, Park and Bailey estate agents and Streeter Marshall solicitors. Also situated on the green is a village hall, a few small houses, a gift shop, several dress shops and a fish and chip shop, named 'The Captain's Table' and four pubs of varying characters (including the old coaching Inn, the 'White Lion'). This unusual concentration of pubs in Warlingham is possibly partly due to the fact that neighbouring villages (including Sanderstead, Woldingham and Farleigh) do not have any pubs of their own.
There was some controversy a few years ago when the White Lion was taken over by a chain. The new owners made a number of changes to the pub including the removal of the historic pub sign and its replacement with a laminated corporate logo.
Prior to the opening of a large supermarket at the Chelsham end of Limpsfield Road, the village also supported a bakers, two butchers, a greengrocers another general grocers. These have all since closed, probably as a result of competition from the supermarket. The majority of local people opposed the building of the supermarket as did the local council. However, after the supermarket chain threatened to withdraw a traffic calming scheme the council capitulated and allowed the construction of the supermarket. This has led to a massive increase in traffic on Limpsfield Road and a sharp reduction in general trade for shops around the village green.
In early 2008, a new Locksmith was opened in place of Unwins Wine Merchants, which had previously gone out of business. In the Summer of 2008, a nail bar was opened (replacing one of the former butchers) and a new coffee and sandwich shop was opened on the green (replacing Uptempo Music Store). In September 2008, Another coffee shop was opened next to the locksmith.
In early 2011, a furniture shop 'Warlingham Furniture', which had been located behind the nail bar for a year, opened next to the post office in place of "Valley Homes" which had been vacant for a while.
Local schools
There are a number of schools in Warlingham. Warlingham SchoolWarlingham School
Warlingham School is a secondary school for pupils aged 11–16, and also has a thriving Sixth Form for 16 to 18 year olds. The school is located in the village of Warlingham, in Surrey, England. It is one of three other secondary schools in the district of Tandridge.Warlingham School is also a...
is closer to Hamsey Green than Warlingham (and is on the same campus as Hamsey Green Junior and Infant schools) and is a senior state school, with a thriving 6th Form. Warlingham Park School is a small private school which is very close to Chelsham Common (and is near the Great Park housing estate). There is also another primary school situated on Farleigh Road. It was called Farleigh school, until it was renamed Warlingham Village Primary School.
Nearby private schools include Caterham, Woldingham, Croydon High, Whitgift and Trinity.
Local transport
Warlingham is lucky as it is effectively served by two railway stations which operate on separate railway lines (a legacy of the Victorian railway boom, and the competition between two private companies to service this part of Surrey).Upper Warlingham railway station
Upper Warlingham railway station
Upper Warlingham railway station serves Whyteleafe and Warlingham in Surrey, England, in London Travelcard Zone 6. Train services are provided by Southern, and the station is on the Oxted Line.The station is a short walk from Whyteleafe railway station....
is about a mile from Warlingham and has fast Southern (train operating company)
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
services to London Victoria and London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
as well as East Grinstead
East Grinstead
East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester...
. Just a few minutes walk from Upper Warlingham is Whyteleafe railway station
Whyteleafe railway station
Whyteleafe railway station is in the Tandridge district of Surrey, England. The station and all trains serving it are operated by Southern, and it is on the Caterham Line....
which has slightly slower trains to London and Caterham departing every quarter of an hour.
Warlingham has a few bus links with Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
and is also connected to nearby Caterham
Caterham
Caterham is a town in the Tandridge District of Surrey, England. The town is geographically divided into two sections: Caterham on the Hill and Caterham Valley - the main town centre. The town lies close to the A22, a few miles south of Croydon, in a valley cut into the dip slope of the North Downs...
. The Transport for London
Transport for London
Transport for London is the local government body responsible for most aspects of the transport system in Greater London in England. Its role is to implement the transport strategy and to manage transport services across London...
403 route goes from Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
to the Sainsbury's store via Sanderstead
Sanderstead
Sanderstead is a village in London Borough of Croydon, located on high ground at the edge of the built-up area of Greater London. From 1915 to 1965 it formed a parish in the Coulsdon and Purley Urban District of Surrey. Having been a farming community in previous centuries, Sanderstead is now...
and runs every 12 minutes. It is operated by Arriva London
Arriva London
Arriva London is a division of Arriva which operates bus services in London, UK. It is made up of many previous bus operators including previously independent Grey Green...
. Metrobus route 409 also goes to Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
via Selsdon
Selsdon
Selsdon is an area located in the southern suburbs of the London Borough of Croydon. The suburb was developed during the inter-war period during the 1920s and 1930s, and is remarkable for its many Art Deco houses...
. It also goes to East Grinstead
East Grinstead
East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester...
(although some evening journeys only go as far as Lingfield
Lingfield, Surrey
Lingfield is a village and civil parish in the Tandridge district of Surrey, England. It is most famous for its horse racing course, Lingfield Park. Lingfield lies to the east of a section of the A22 which runs between Godstone and East Grinstead...
) via Whyteleafe
Whyteleafe
Whyteleafe is a small town in South East England, in the Surrey district of Tandridge. Four streets in Whyteleafe are just inside the southern edge of the London Borough of Croydon. Neighbouring villages and towns include Woldingham, Caterham, Coulsdon, Warlingham, and Kenley...
and Caterham
Caterham
Caterham is a town in the Tandridge District of Surrey, England. The town is geographically divided into two sections: Caterham on the Hill and Caterham Valley - the main town centre. The town lies close to the A22, a few miles south of Croydon, in a valley cut into the dip slope of the North Downs...
. Metrobus also operate route 411 to Redhill
Redhill, Surrey
Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate form a single urban area.-History:...
which goes via Whyteleafe
Whyteleafe
Whyteleafe is a small town in South East England, in the Surrey district of Tandridge. Four streets in Whyteleafe are just inside the southern edge of the London Borough of Croydon. Neighbouring villages and towns include Woldingham, Caterham, Coulsdon, Warlingham, and Kenley...
, Caterham
Caterham
Caterham is a town in the Tandridge District of Surrey, England. The town is geographically divided into two sections: Caterham on the Hill and Caterham Valley - the main town centre. The town lies close to the A22, a few miles south of Croydon, in a valley cut into the dip slope of the North Downs...
and Godstone
Godstone
Godstone is a village in the county of Surrey, England. It is located approximately six miles east of Reigate at the junction of the A22 and A25 major roads, and near the M25 motorway.-History:...
. Certain journeys also go to Tatsfield
Tatsfield
Tatsfield is a village of some 1800 inhabitants located in the Tandridge district of Surrey, England, and 16 miles south south-east of Charing Cross in London...
. Both routes also serve Greatpark housing estate in Chelsham Common (built on the site of Warlingham Park Hospital
Warlingham Park Hospital
Warlingham Park Hospital was a psychiatric hospital in Warlingham, Surrey. It was located at in Chelsham.It opened on 26 June 1903 as the Croydon Mental Hospital ....
- previously known as Croydon Borough Asylum). On schooldays, Selkent
Selkent
Selkent, or the South East London & Kent Bus Company Ltd, is one of many operators of bus services contracted to Transport for London. It is currently owned by Stagecoach Group, as part of Stagecoach London....
operate a route to Saint Bede's school in Redhill and Southdown PSV operate route 657 to Reigate College.Warlinghams closest town for shopping is Oxted.
Clubs & societies
Warlingham Sports Club dates back to 1856.Warlingham is also home to Warlingham Rugby Football Club, which was founded in 1922.