Alfold - History

History

Early glass making evidence of which can be seen in Sidney Wood appears to provide the oldest trace of land use in the village

Alfold is not mentioned in the Domesday Book. This is probably because Alfold appears to have been an unrecorded, southern outpost in the multi-village estate of Bramley since pre-conquest times. The earliest mention of Alfold, in the 13th Century, records that it was attached to Shalford Manor. A charter of William Longespee, son of the Earl of Salisbury, records that the advowson, with the Manor of Shalford, is given to John, son of Geoffrey Earl of Essex, who died in 1256.

Four manors existed, namely Wildwood now represented by Great and Little Wildwood Farms and Wildwood Copse and Moat, was formerly possessed by the lords of Albury and Stoke D'Abernon, the D'Abernons and their successors. In the 13th century they had land in Alfold and in a deed of 1313 John D'Abernon's wood called le Wylwode is mentioned. Markwick and Monkenhook over their history have been held by Waverley Abbey, Viscount Montagu and the Earl of Onslow; and Sydney alias Hedgecourt or Rickhurst lies partly in Dunsfold held by the Sydney family then Dorrington family.

Alfold Park, formerly with a moat (as did Wildwood Farm), belonged to the manor of Shalford and contained 300 acres however lost its park before John Speed's map was made in the reign of James I.

After gunpowder's invention, charcoal was extensively burnt in the parish for gunpowder works in Dunsfold, Cranleigh, and Sussex..

The parish comprised 2,726 acres (1,103 ha) of which only 72 acres (29 ha) in 1848 were common or waste, and

...abounded with oak, ash, and elm: in parts there is a bed of stone, which is used for repairing roads, but is not hard enough for building. The Arun and Wey Junction canal passes through. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £6. 11. 2., and in the gift of the Sparkes family: the tithes have been commuted for £355, and the glebe comprises 14 acres.

A Baptist chapel was erected in 1883, and an elementary school in 1876.

Significant other homes mentioned in 1911 were Sydney Manor and Sachel Court; Sachel Court was owned by Thomas Smith Wharrie, an engineer in Scotland and Director of British Mutual Banking Company Ltd.