Activities over the summer holidays in Limpsfield include charity events, quizzes, creative workshops, and nature trails, ensuring activities for all ages. Families can enjoy sports camps and explore local history while supporting students awaiting exam results.
Limpsfield Village, Chart, and Common showcase a rich historical tapestry, from its Domesday origins to medieval architecture. Find out about St Peter’s Church, notable burials, and 19th-century convalescent homes. The area boasts remnants of Roman roads, local flora, and active stewardship by the National Trust.
Richard Stilgoe’s article narrates his unexpected archaeological discoveries while digging a lake at Trevereux Manor. Initially a landscaping project, it revealed a Roman staging area and numerous artefacts, including coins and a Hermes figurine. The blend of humour and history illustrates Rome’s lasting influence in the Surrey/Kent border’s landscape.
Following on from our article on a Mary Emma Cox’s Victorian Photo Album, in this brilliant guest article, Limpsfield Chart resident and national treasure, Richard Stilgoe traces the colourful and often chaotic history of Trevereux Manor—the grand old house whose name has baffled spellers for centuries.
Eschewing a dry account of architectural changes, Stilgoe focuses on the people who shaped its story, from Roman settlers and medieval knights to Jane Austen-style romances and fifties pop stars. Through tales of wartime sieges, thunderstorm courtships, and Rolls-Royce rebuilds, we meet a cast as diverse as the house’s many spellings. With warmth and wit, Stilgoe takes us from the Manor’s earliest days to its near-destruction in a dramatic 1989 fire, and finally to its loving restoration by his own family—proof that while the spelling of Trevereux may remain uncertain, its charm is undebatable.
Helen Goldsworthy discovered a historical photograph album belonging to her late husband’s grandmother, Mary Emma Cox, linking their family to Limpsfield’s past. The album, gifted in 1879, features notable local images and reflects Major General Walter Tuckfield Goldsworthy’s military career and involvement in early women’s suffrage advocacy in Britain.
Robert Douglas Peckett’s wartime memoir recounts his childhood experiences in Limpsfield Chart, a village crucial to the war effort due to its proximity to major airfields and military routes. His vivid memories include life with POW camps, the community’s resilience, and significant events like VE Day, illustrating the war’s impact even in rural Britain.
Hazel Stewart recounts her childhood in Hurst Green during World War II, sharing memories of life on the Home Front near strategic sites. Her experiences include witnessing dogfights, air raid drills, rationing, and participating in war efforts like knitting. Stewart’s story highlights the resilience and community spirit of civilians in our area of Surrey during the war.
During World War II, schools in London were evacuated to Oxted and Limpsfield. Aske’s Boys School students attended lessons in various local venues, including the Barn Theatre. Due to V-1 bomb threats, they were later moved to Teignmouth. An evacuee’s letter recounts a bomb incident, highlighting the dangers faced during their education.
During World War II, British civilians actively supported the war effort by collecting and donating everyday items for military use. This included paper, scrap metal, rubber, and bones for explosives. Salvage campaigns were publicised to emphasise the importance of these contributions, alongside measures like the “Silent Countryside” policy to confuse potential invaders.
On August 18, 1940, nurse J.H. Allen experienced her first day of combat nursing amidst the Battle of Britain. She treated Dunkirk survivors and civilian casualties while witnessing intense air battles. Remarkably, she encountered King George VI during troop reviews. Allen’s experiences deeply shaped her nursing career and provided lasting memories of wartime unity.
Limpsfield, Surrey 