Bletchingley, Surrey Family History Guide
Bletchingley is an Ancient Parish in the county of Surrey.
Other places in the parish include: Ham Farm.
Alternative names: Blechingley
Parish church:
Parish registers begin:
- Parish registers: 1538
- Bishop’s Transcripts: 1679
Nonconformists include: Independent/Congregational and Society Of Friends/Quaker.
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
Parish History
Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales 1895
Bletchingley or Blechingley, a village and a parish in Surrey. The village stands on an eminence, adjacent to one of the sources of the Medway river, near the Roman vicinal way, 3 miles E of Redhill junction station on the L.B. & S.C.R., and 5 E by N of Reigate, and has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Redhill.
It claims to have been a place of ancient importance, is said to have once possessed seven churches, contains some picturesque old houses, and sent members to Parliament from the time of Edward I. till disfranchised by the Act of 1832. It formerly had a weekly market.
The parish includes also the hamlet of Ham Farm. Acreage, 5621; population of civil parish, 1882; of the ecclesiastical, 1746.
The manor belonged at one time to the Clares, and passed to the Mordaunts, the Howards, and others. A castle on it, belonging to Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, was destroyed in 1263 by the royal forces, but was afterwards restored, and the foundations of it may still be seen in the grounds of Castle Hill.
Earl Godwin is said to have retreated to Bletchingley after the overwhelming of his fine Kentish manors by the sea, and to have lived there in great state; but he does not appear to have had any property there.
Traces of a Roman villa under White Hill were discovered in 1813, and very many Roman coins have been found.
The living is a rectory in the diocese of Rochester; net value, £716 with residence, in the gift of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. The church is Early English with traces of Norman; consists of nave, south aisle, and double chancel, with a tower; had once a wooden spire, 160 feet high; and contains some splendid monuments. It was well restored in 1870.
There are Wesleyan and Congregational chapels, and some alms-houses. Archbishop Herring and Bishop Thomas were rectors.
Source: The Comprehensive Gazetteer of England and Wales 1895 by Brabner, John Henry Fryden
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
BLETCHINGLEY, or Blechingley, a village and a parish in Godstone district, Surrey. The village stands on an eminence, adjacent to one of the sources of the Medway river, near the Roman vicinal way, and near a branch of the Southeastern railway, 3 miles E of Redhill Junction station, and 5 E by N of Reigate; and it has a post office under Redhill.
It claims to have been a place of ancient importance; is said to have once possessed seven churches; contains some picturesque old houses; and sent members to parliament from the time of Edward I. till disfranchised by the act of 1832.
It formerly had a weekly market; and still has fairs on 19 May, 22 June, and 2 Nov. The parish includes also the hamlet of Ham Farm. Acres, 5,585. Real property, £7,513. Pop., 1,691. Houses, 292. The property is much subdivided.
The manor belonged at one time to the Clares, and passed to the Mordaunts, the Howards, and others. A castle on it, belonging to Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, was destroyed in 1263, by the royal forces; but was afterwards restored; and the foundations of it may still be seen in a field south of the village. Earl Godwin is often said to have retreated to Bletchingley, after the overwhelming of his fine Kentish manors by the sea, and to have lived here in great state; but he does not appear to have had any property here.
Pendhill, the seat of Manning, Esq., between the village and neighbouring chalk hills, is thought to have been designed by Inigo Jones. Traces of a Roman villa, under White Hill, were discovered in 1813; and very many Roman coins have been found.
The living is a rectory in the diocese of Winchester. Value, £1,200. Patron, H. Chawner, Esq. The church is early English, with traces of Norman; consists of nave, south aisle, and double chancel, with a tower; had once a wooden spire, 160 feet high; and contains some splendid monuments.
There are an Independent chapel, a free grammar school, a charity school, an orphanage for 100 girls, four almshouses for widows, and a workhouse. The orphanage was built and endowed, by the Duchess of Leeds, in 1866; and, together with one for 100 boys at Hellingly, cost upwards of £70,000. Archbishop Herring and Bishop Thomas were rectors.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
Parish Records
FamilySearch
Use for:
England, Surrey, Blechingley
Directories
Kelly’s Directory of the Leather Trades 1880
BLETCHINGLEY
Boot & Shoe Makers
Bashford John
Mountain William
Saddlers & Harness Makers
French William
Harris Edward
Maps
OS Grid Reference: TQ3268250865 (all-numeric format: 532682 150865)
Administration
- County: Surrey
- Civil Registration District: Godstone
- Probate Court: Court of the Archdeaconry of Surrey
- Diocese: Winchester
- Rural Deanery: Ewell
- Poor Law Union: Godstone
- Hundred: Tandridge
- Province: Canterbury