Community Website for Limpsfield
Did you know Limpsfield has its very own Strictly star this year? Our very own twinkletoes, Chris Robshaw, has traded rugby boots for ballroom shoes, joining the 2025 celebrity line-up of Strictly Come Dancing.
Continue reading “Limpsfield gets behind Chris Robshaw for Strictly, plus spooky October goings-on!”
In another delightful guest article, Richard Stilgoe recounts his unexpected journey into Roman history while undertaking a personal project to dig a lake at Trevereux Manor.
What began as a modern landscaping venture soon uncovered remnants of ancient Roman life, including a paved staging area believed to be used for changing horses—described humorously as the Roman equivalent of Clacket Lane Services.
With help from archaeologists and later a pair of enthusiastic detectorists, Dom and Matt, Stilgoe’s field yielded a surprising haul of Roman artefacts, from coins to a striking Hermes figurine.
Blending wit with historical insight, he brings to life the enduring legacy of Rome in the fields of Trevereux—and the very human stories buried beneath our feet…
Continue reading “The Roman Invasion of Crockham Hill & Limpsfield Chart!”
Following on from our article on 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 tricky, its charm is undebatable.
Continue reading “Trevereux – the House They Cannot Spell”
In the picturesque countryside that spans the Limpsfield and Edenbridge border, one name stands out in the agricultural world: Simon Chiles. A veteran farmer and agricultural contractor, Simon has lived in the farmland area of Limpsfield his entire life and has quietly become a linchpin of the local farming community, managing operations on numerous farms across the Surrey and Kent border area.
With more than five decades of experience under his belt, he offers not only a wealth of knowledge about the land but also a vision for its future—one that balances productivity with preservation.
Farming today stands at a crossroads. Rising costs, unpredictable weather, and shifting government policies have made it increasingly difficult for farmers to plan for the future. Since Brexit, the phasing out of EU subsidies and the slow rollout of new Environmental Land Management schemes have created uncertainty across the industry. At the same time, farmers are being asked to do more than ever — not just to produce food, but to help tackle climate change, restore biodiversity, and manage the landscape for future generations.
In this challenging context, farmers like Simon are quietly getting on with the job — drawing on decades of experience to adapt, innovate, and care for the land. While policymakers debate priorities and public attention shifts, it’s farmers on the ground who understand the daily realities of agriculture. In our conversation below, Simon provides insight into the pressures facing British farming today — and why supporting those who work the land has never mattered more…
Continue reading “Farming for the Future: How Local Farmers like Simon Chiles Are Safeguarding the Land and Wildlife of Limpsfield”
There is a new, updated version of the fabulous Chart in History book, which was originally produced a year ago from an exhibition and talk at St Andrew’s Village Hall in 1976 by Beryl Withers. The book has been put together with additional information and maps by Christopher Pendred and Nick Withers.
Continue reading “Second Edition of “Limpsfield Chart in History” is now available – just in time for Christmas!”
Massive congratulations to local resident Camilla Jane Bowry, who has made the New Year’s Honours List and will receive an OBE for services to young people, education and the environment for her incredible work with her charity, Sal’s Shoe’s.
Continue reading “local resident, Camilla Jane bowry is a shoe-in for the new year’s Honours LIST!”
Former Limpsfield resident, Alex Martin has launched an “instant Christmas classic” on all music platforms today!
Currently living in East Dulwich, Alex Martin, whose family still lives in Limpsfield, grew up in Limpsfield on Trevereux Hill and attended Limpsfield Infants School. After many years of playing around with an idea, he has just launched a new Christmas song through his company Big Bang Films, sung by up-and-coming singer-songwriter, Isla Croll, who featured in the semi finals of The Voice Kids in 2020 and won our hearts with her rendition of Summertime.
Continue reading “Limpsfield resident launches christmas hit!”
On Sunday 21st November 2021, at a 11.15 a very distinguished guest and long-time volunteer of the Limpsfield Task Force ceremonially planted the OAK TREE on behalf of the Friends of Limpsfield Common (FoLC). Brian Longley, aged 98, did a fabulous job on behalf of the crowd who attended this lovely and very moving community event.
Continue reading “A ceremonial oak is planted by a most distinguished resident”
On 12 July at St Peter’s Church in Limpsfield Village, we said our official goodbyes to a much loved local music teacher, Shirley Dunnicliffe.
Mrs Dunnicliffe or “Mrs D” taught piano and music at St Michaels and Croydon High as well as teaching countless local Limpsfield children through piano lessons at her home on Saturday mornings.
I was one of those very fortunate children, taking lessons with her from the age of 4 until my mid teens, and she left an indelible mark on my life, inspiring a lifelong love of classical music, but particularly the piano.
Following is a brief overview of her amazing life, with contribution from her daughter, Susan.
Continue reading “Leaving a legacy of music – Shirley Dunnicliffe, “Mrs D””