The links and resources here are divided into sections / subjects but there are overlaps between them. We hope that you find what you are looking for, and if not, do get in touch and we will see if we can help. We are adding to this page when we can.
We have some of the books mentioned available to lend out and many of them are in the Caterham and District Local History Centre in the Caterham in the Valley Library.
1. LOCAL HISTORY CENTRE & SURREY HISTORY CENTRE
2. LOCAL HISTORY / CHALDON RESOURCES: ONLINE, BOOKS & SOCIETIES
3. MAPS
4. THE CHALDON MURAL AND MEDIEVAL WALL PAINTINGS
5. MEDIEVAL SURREY, DOMESDAY AND THE CHURCH
6. HISTORY MYTHS, MUDDLES AND PUZZLES (from February 2022 talk) including taper burns, ships timbers, underground tunnels and passages, the Pilgrims’ Way, Chaldon and Chertsey Abbey, Tollsworth and Merton Priory.
1. Local History Centre and Surrey History Centre
1.1 Caterham and District Local History Centre There are seven Local History Centres in Surrey libraries. Each provides a collection of research materials relating to the surrounding area. You can use the resources of the local history centres at any time that these libraries are open. Better still, visit when enthusiastic volunteers with local knowledge are there to help you use the resources and equipment. Follow the link here find out what the Caterham Centre offers.
Stewards are there on the 2nd and 4th Saturday morning of each month (10am to 12 noon) and 1st Tuesday afternoon (2-4pm). Liz Bonsall is there on the first Tuesdays and can help you find material on Chaldon and your particular research interests. You will find the centre in the Caterham in the Valley library, at the back and to the right of the main entrance.
1.2 The Surrey History Centre is run by Surrey County Council Surrey History Centre in Woking collects and preserves the records of Surrey’s past and present, documenting the story of the county and its people from the 12th century to the 21st century. Visiting the centre to use the collections is free, staff are always happy to offer advice, and there is a busy programme of exhibitions, talks and events.
2. Local History / Chaldon History resources: online, books & societies
2.1 Exploring Surrey’s Past: a website provided by Surrey County Council enabling you to find out more about your local history and archaeology, with an array of different sections on people, places, themes etc and geocoded records with a new map search facility. See here for the start of Chaldon material.
2.2 Surrey’s Historic Environment Record, or HER, is a comprehensive database which holds information on all the known archaeological sites, monuments, historic buildings and findspots across the county. Click here for more details.It is accessible here through the Exploring Surrey’s Past website. Click on the symbols on the map and up comes the data available on a listed building, a stone age axe or other find, or results from a dig on that site.
2.3 Chaldon Explored: a guide to the parish and conservation area (1975 and updated in 1986) booklet (A4 size, 27 pages) published by Tandridge District Council which describes the architecturally interesting buildings in the parish, with good quality line drawing illustrations, and giving a guided walk round Chaldon. (Free PDF download no longer available from Tandridge District Council website.) Available as the printed booklet to buy for £5 at Chaldon History Group events and from Liz Bonsall or Madeline Hutchins, see Page; Who We Are for contact details, and to make arrangements to pick a copy up or have one delivered in Chaldon. (Proceeds from the sales go to the Friends of Chaldon Church to help with the preservation of this historic building and the mural.)
2.4 Historic England website gives information on all listed buildings, including the 11 in the parish of Chaldon, and others nearby, such as the site of a manor house (Alsted) in Netherne woods. See here for Chaldon and here for Alsted manor house in Netherne Woods and a great description of a Medieval manorial unit.
2.5 Natural England website includes the National Character Area document for the North Downs. “The North Downs NCA provides a wide range of benefits to society. Each is derived from the attributes and processes (both natural and cultural features) within the area.”
2.6 Village Histories 7: Chaldon (2002) Bourne Society publication, with chapters covering a wide range of topics, from Prehistory to Recent Times, and including Pages from the Parish Records, the Agricultural Community, Historic Buildings, the Natural World, the Nineteenth Century, Leisure Activities and Personalities. An extract, on Martin Harman, is available here Chapter 3, Chaldon Origins by Peter Gray is available here. (The Chaldon History Group thanks the Bourne Society for giving permission to provide access to this chapter here.) Copies of the book (£9) can be bought at Chaldon History Group talks, and at the East Surrey Museum, Stafford Road, Caterham, which is open on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays between 10 am and 5 pm. In addition, the two Caterham public libraries carry stocks of Village Histories, and sometimes other titles, for sale to callers. The Bourne Society invariably operates a stand at local fairs and other events where books may be bought or ordered. Alternatively, orders may be sent by post to the Society’s publications officer, Paul Redington, at The Lilacs, Luxford Lane, Crowborough, East Sussex TN6 2PJ. Please add £3 for post and packing, (total £12) and make all cheques payable to ‘The Bourne Society’. If needed, email Paul at redingtonpaul@hotmail.com
2.7 The Victoria County History (1912) is available for public access online. The
link below is for the Chaldon entry and this covers the church and mural as well as the village. https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/surrey/vol4/pp188-194
2.8 The Bourne Society is a local history society based in north-east Surrey. The objects of the Society are to extend the knowledge of local history in Caterham, Chaldon, Chelsham, Chipstead, Coulsdon, Farleigh, Godstone, Kenley, Purley, Sanderstead, Whyteleafe, Warlingham and Woldingham, and to ensure the preservation of records and objects of historical interest. The Society is able to help newcomers satisfy their curiosity about the area, and to stimulate residents to search out further information. Through its publications, visits, speakers, meetings, placement of plaques, and archaeological work, the Society seeks to place the area in an historical perspective.
Regular outings, including day tours and an annual ‘Heritage Tour’ are arranged, together with members’ forums, group meetings and other events. A wide range of publications is produced, including the Society’s journal, Local History Records, which is sent free to all members three times per year. http://bournesoc.org.uk/about-the-bourne-society/
2.9 Surrey Archaeological Society – “the foremost charity supporting the study of the archaeology and history of the County of Surrey. We hold regular lectures and conferences, as well as publishing annual Collections and a regular Bulletin.” There are specialist interest groups for artefacts research, Medieval studies, prehistoric, Surrey industrial, local history and Roman studies. https://www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk/
2.10 Surrey Record Society – the mission of the Society is to publish records relating to the historic County of Surrey. Since its foundation in 1913 the Society has published transcripts, translations and abstracts of texts ranging in date from 12th to 19th century. https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/culture-and-leisure/history-centre/record-society
3. Maps
3.1 Old Ordnance Survey maps online – the National Library of Scotland gives online access to old OS maps of England as well as Scotland, so you can browse 6 inch and 25 inch maps from 1841 – 1952. https://maps.nls.uk
The modern equivalent of this is the Surrey Interactive Map which allows you to see the current OS map and display information about the location, such as public footpaths. https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/land-planning-and-development/interactive-map
3.2 Map sheets in Caterham and District Local History Centre – in Caterham in the Valley library, there are map drawers full of old OS, tithe and other maps of the local area, many covering Chaldon. Most of the Chaldon ones are marked with a small red dot on their title label. There are big tables onto which the maps can be put to study them. See here for opening times etc. Liz Bonsall is there for the stewarded session on the first Tuesday of each month, 2pm to 4pm, and can assist you with them.
3.3 Surrey LiDAR Portal – LiDAR is light detection and ranging, and is a laser scanning technology that can produce a 3D model of a surface or topography. It can be used as a remote sensing technique to examine earthworks. https://surreylidar.org.uk/wp_sur/wp/
4. The Mural in Chaldon Church and Medieval Wall Paintings
4.1 The small book, Medieval Wall Paintings by Roger Rosewell in the Shire Library series, 2014 . Available online for about £7 – £10 incl postage.
4.2 In his talk on the Mural in March 2021, Ted Howard recommended two books: another larger one by Roger Rosewell with many colour illustrations Medieval Wall Paintings in English and Welsh Churches, published by Boydell (2008) available online for £16 to £20, and After Lives: a guide to Heaven, Hell and Purgatory by John Casey, published by Oxford University Press (2013).
4.3 See the Victoria County History (1912) for a useful description of the mural. (2.7 above)
4.4 There are two fascinating, long and detailed articles specifically on the Chaldon Mural in the Surrey Archaeological Collections. The first, from 1871 is by Mr Waller who conserved the mural after its discovery under plaster in 1870. He gives detailed descriptions and interpretations of style and iconography.
The second article is from 1980, by K.F.N.Flynn, and he also gives detailed descriptions, as well as measurements of the figures, notes on colours and style. He examines some alternative interpretations of the scenes depicted. The black and white (and poorly printed) photos actually show a large number of interesting details, such as the faces of figures, the leaves of the tree and the serpent with ears.
5. Early Medieval Surrey, the Domesday Book, and the history of the church in Surrey
5.1 Open Domesday is the first online copy of the 1086 Domesday Survey. You can search by place, explore what lands were held by which nobleman, Abbey, Bishop or the King, consult a glossary of terms, see maps etc. Here is a link to the search on Chaldon (Surrey).
5.2 Three books worth finding cheaply online or consulting in Surrey libraries and history centres:
Early Medieval Surrey: landholding, church and settlement before 1300 by John Blair, published by Alan Sutton Publishing and Surrey Archaeological Society, 1991.
Pastors, Parishes and People in Surrey, by David Robinson, published by Phillimore for Surrey Local History Council (1989).
Domesday Book: Surrey, edited by John Morris, published by Phillimore (1975).
5. 3 See also Chapter 3, Chaldon Origins by Peter Gray, from the Bourne Society’s Village Histories, 7 Chaldon, (2002). This is available here. The Chaldon History Group thanks the Bourne Society for giving permission to provide access to this chapter here.
5.4 Guide to Researching the Landscape of Surrey in the Middle Ages – an excellent list of resources from the Medieval Studies Forum of the Surrey Archaeological Society. https://www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk/content/guide-to-researching-the-landscape-of-surrey-in-the-middle-ages
5.5 Surrey Record Society publications, see list here includes some very useful ones for this period. They are available to consult at the Caterham and District Local History Centre or can be bought from the Surrey Record Society’s website.
6. History Myths, Muddles and Puzzles from the talk in February 2022
Ships timbers
https://triskeleheritage.triskelepublishing.com/mediaeval-mythbusting-blog-13-ship-timbers/
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/smallhythe-place/features/shipbuilding-at-smallhythe-place
Burn marks
http://medieval-graffiti.blogspot.com/2017/10/taper-burn-marks-fighting-fire-with-fire.html
https://historicengland.org.uk/whats-new/features/discovering-witches-marks/types-of-marks/
https://triskeleheritage.triskelepublishing.com/mediaeval-mythbusting-blog-8-burn-marks/
by Matthew Champion, covers taper burn marks and cites recent research and disparate views.
The Pilgrims Way
https://www.pilgrimswaycanterbury.org/history-of-the-pilgrims-way/
Books:
The Old Road by Hilaire Belloc, published 1911, available free online at:
https://www.gutenberg.org/files/40759/40759-h/40759-h.htm
Pilgrimage in Medieval England by Diana Webb, published by Hambleton Continuum, 2007. Available secondhand online from about £10 including postage.
The Pilgrim’s Way to Canterbury by Julia Cartwright, published in 1893 and with an 1911 edition, then many republishings. Available secondhand online from about £10 including postage.
Lizard Oak
Describing figured oak:
https://gobywalnut.com/blogs/articles/lets-talk-about-figure
Passages and Tunnels
An article on Guildford’s Subterranean World by James Wright of Triskele Heritage
For Open Days and Tours of Reigate Caves – the Wealden Cave and Mine Society: https://reigatecaves.org.uk
Book: Peter Burgess of the Wealden Cave and Mine Society’s book, Underground East Surrey, is on sale on the Reigate Caves Open Days.
Chaldon and Chertsey Abbey
Information on Chertsey Abbey from Chertsey Museum: https://chertseymuseum.org/Chertsey_Abbey
Victoria County History (1912) on Chertsey Abbey:
https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/surrey/vol2/pp55-64
Tollsworth Manor and Merton Priory
Book: In Search of Merton Priory’s Granges by Janette Henderson, published by the Merton Historical Society, 2014 explores ten granges, including Tollsworth.
Book: A Priory Revealed by Lionel Green, published by the Merton Historical Society in 2005 and reprinted in 2011. Chapters 14: Endowments and 15: A Local Landlord have references to Tollsworth including to a mill there. https://mertonhistoricalsociety.org.uk/a-priory-revealed/
Records of Merton Priory, by Major Alfred Heales , 1898, available online