Banstead, Surrey Family History Guide

Banstead is an Ancient Parish in the county of Surrey.

Parish church:

Parish registers begin:

Parish registers: 1547
Bishop’s Transcripts: 1801

Nonconformists include: Baptist and Calvinist

Table of Contents

Adjacent Parishes

Parish History

Banstead, The Zachary Merton (Hospital) Annexe. c 1950's — Banstead, The Zachary Merton (Hospital) Annexe. c 1950’s

Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales 1895

Banstead, a village and a parish in Surrey. The village stands under the SW side of Banstead Downs, 4 miles E of Epsom, on the L.B. & S.C.R., 16 miles from London. The parish comprises 5557 acres; population of the civil parish, 4560; of the ecclesiastical, 3913. It is within the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan police.

The London County Lunatic Asylum, situated on the Banstead Downs, was opened in 1877. It is a large structure of white brick, and will accommodate 2000 patients. Banstead Downs rise to the height of 576 feet, command extensive views, and are famous for coursing, for hunting, and for fine sheep pasturage. Here, said Pope: “To Hounslow Heath point, and Banstead Down, Thence comes your mutton and these chicks my own.”

The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Winchester; net value, £150 with residence. Patron, the Earl of Egmont. The church is chiefly Perpendicular English; has a good tower, surmounted by a tall spire; stands on high ground, and serves well, for miles round, as a landmark. Banstead has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Epsom.

Source: The Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales 1895 by Brabner, John Henry Fryden

The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870

BANSTEAD, a village and a parish in Epsom district, Surrey. The village stands under the SW side of Banstead Downs, 4 miles E of Epsom; and has a post office under Epsom, a r. station, and a police station. The parish comprises 5,518 acres. Real property, £7,214. Pop., 1,461. Houses, 275. The property is subdivided.

Banstead Park is a seat belonging to Mr. Yong; and Burgh House, in the neighbourhood, is the seat of the Earl of Egmont. Banstead downs rise to the height of 576 feet; command extensive views; and are famous for coursing, for hunting, and for fine sheep pasturage. Here, said Pope,

To Hounslow-Heath I point, and Banstead Down,
Thence comes your mutton, and these chicks my own.

The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Winchester. Value, £300. Patron, the Earl of Egmont. The church is chiefly perpendicular English; has a good tower, surmounted by a tall spire; stands on high ground, and serves well, for miles round, as a landmark. Charities, £39. The Banstead and Epsom Downs railway, from the Sutton station of the Croydon and Epsom, was authorised in 1862 and opened in 1865.

Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].