Walton-on-the-Hill

Walton-on-the-Hill, Surrey, is a village in England, situated midway between Reigate and Epsom, just inside the M25 orbital motorway around London. It is situated close to the larger village of Tadworth. Other neighbouring villages include: Kingswood, Burgh Heath, Headley and Box Hill. Its name distinguishes it from Walton-on-Thames, which is about 15 miles (24 km) to the north-west.

The name Walton comes from settlement/farmstead of Wealas - which is what the new Anglo-Saxon people called the native Celtic inhabitants of England. There is strong evidence that in many areas of England taken over by Germanic speaking settlers, the native British (Wealas) remained undisturbed, farming the same land they did when the Romans left. Over time they dropped their Celtic tongue (similar to Old Welsh/Cornish) for the language and culture of the newcomers in order to climb the social ladder or were coerced to do so. It was in the Anglo-Saxon interest that the native British carry on as usual to ensure the economy produced food and goods for the new landowners.

In some respects Walton-on-the-Hill is an archetypal English village, having a large pond, a green (where cricket is played), a small primary school, some local shops and several pubs.

History

The Romans are known to have settled here in the 1st century AD: a substantial villa^[2] has been excavated in Sandlands Road, and is believed to have been inhabited until around 400 AD. Roman finds have been discovered here and in the neighbouring village of Headley.

Walton-on-the-Hill lay within the Copthorne hundred, an administrative division devised by the Saxons.

Walton-on-the-Hill was called Waltone in Domesday Book of 1086. It was held by John from Richard Fitz Gilbert. Its Domesday assets were: 2 hides and 1 virgate. It had 5½ ploughs, 1 house in Southwark. It rendered £6.^[3] There is an early post-conquest motte within the grounds of Walton Place, the remains of a timber castle.^[4]

The church of St Peter dates back to the 12th century; one of its oldest features is an 800 year old font, constructed in lead, although this is thought to have originally stood in a chapel alongside the village’s manor house. The interior of the church features examples of 16th century artwork and stained glass. Another old church font was set up as a mounting stone outside the nearby public house.^[5]

Local legend has it that the manor house was visited by Henry VIII, and his wife Anne of Cleves is also thought to have stayed here.

Buildings

There is a wide variety of housing, in size, type and age. Closer to the centre are smaller Victorian houses, while further out and especially to the south of the village are larger detached houses on private roads. Many of these were built in the early to mid-20th century. In the centre of the village are more recent developments of flats, including retirement apartments.

St Cross is a large building to the north of the village which was formerly a boys' school. From 1948 it was a British Transport Police Training Centre with a police dog training school, but this has now closed down.

References

1. ^ Surrey Council census data
2. ^ Roman Britain
3. ^ Surrey Domesday Book
4. ^ Davis, Philip (November 13, 2007). "Walton on the Hill; Leatherhead". The Gatehouse. http://homepage.mac.com/philipdavis/English%20sites/3466.html. Retrieved 2007-12-06. 
5. ^ Westwood, Jennifer (1985), Albion. A Guide to Legendary Britain. London: Grafton Books. ISBN 0-246-11789-3. p. 241.