Headley, Surrey
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- For other places called Headley, see Headley.
Headley is a small village in Surrey, England.
The village is bordered to its west by Leatherhead, to the north by Ashtead and Langley Vale, Walton-on-the-Hill to the east and to its south by Box Hill. It is just outside the M25 motorway encircling London.
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[edit] History
Headley is only a small village but it can trace its origins a long way back. In the Domesday Book of 1086 the village is called Hallega which means a clearing in the heather, which is appropriate considering the villages position on the acid top of the North Downs.
The Romans certainly would have had an influence in the area with the Roman Stane Street a few hundred metres from part of the Western and Northern boundaries of the Parish and a considerable Roman presence in the neighbouring village of Walton-on-the-Hill with its well documented villa and other finds.
Headley was part of the Copthorne Hundred. There is no known record of a church in Headley during this period; the first records of a church are after the Norman Conquest. However this church could have been built on or adjacent to the site of a Saxon church.
In the Domesday Book of 1066 the Manor of Headley was held by Ralph de Felgeres. The survey also records that the manor was held before the conquest by Countess Goda (the mother of King Harold) and it had been granted to her by King Edward the Confessor.
[edit] Village and the Heath
There has been little development in the village recently as it is part of the London Green Belt and the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The land in the village is no longer farmed as it used to be, but is used for grazing for the many riding establishments in the area. A large section known as Headley Heath is under the control of The National Trust, and other nearby areas are controlled by Surrey Wildlife Trust and private nature reserves.
Most of the population work outside the village, as there are few opportunities for employment left in the village. The village still has an active church, shop, village hall and pub. Buses run to Leatherhead, Dorking and Box Hill with a connection available to Epsom.
Local state schools are in Leatherhead, Ashtead, Mickleham and Dorking. Some children attend private schools.
There is an RAF Hospital at RAF Headley Court nearby. There is no airport like other RAF bases, though its playing fields can be used for helicopters.
Headley is known for its large heath lands, which are owned by the National Trust, leading out towards Box Hill. The Heath was once much higher than it is now, it was flattened out by Canadian troops during World War II for use as tank and combat training grounds.
[edit] Transport
A bus service was provided by Surrey County Council for local children of 5-11 years of age, to the state schools of St Mary's Church of England First School and Woodville County Middle School, both of which are in Leatherhead. However this service ceased 1, September 2006.
A bus service is also provided by St Andrew's Catholic School for their pupils. It is free of charge for all the pupils in the area who are of Catholic faith.[citation needed]
[edit] Social life and sport
The Cock Inn, formally the Cock Horse, is the only public house in the village. There is also the RAF Headley Club which is open only to service men and women, plus their families of RAF Headley Court
The Headley Cricket Club was founded in 1893, and now incorporating the Old Freemen's side from nearby City of London Freemen's School. The team play on the ground opposite the main Heath car park, to the east of the village centre and have played in the Surrey Downs League since 2002 on Saturdays and have a Sunday team.
Tyrells Wood Golf Club. A large private golf course and grounds to the west of the village.
