Bourne Society Forum Meetings
Indoor forum meetings are now held in the Main Hall at de Stafford School, Burntwood Lane, Caterham. Refreshments served from 7.00 pm for a 7.30 start. Please note that dates of meetings and other events are liable to change due to unforeseen circumstances. This page will always provide the latest information.
Indoor meetings
Wednesday, 5 February 2025: From Village Blacksmiths to the Holy Family. The story of The Old Forge at Sanderstead; an illustrated talk given by Lizzie Mould.
Wednesday, 5 March 2025: Bourne Society Annual General Meeting followed by the March forum meeting. The guest speaker will be Brian Thomas, author of the best-selling Birds of the Bourne Area. Please note that the date given in Local History Records is incorrect.
Wednesday, 2 April 2025: West Hall, Warlingham. Phil Swallow & Carole Roberts will tell the story of the estate focusing on Overhill and the houses with connections to it.
Wednesday, 7 May 2025: Farthing Downs: its history and its future. Tom Oliver, Information Ranger for the City of London Commons, will tell the story of the ancient and recent history of the site, its natural history significance, and the challenges for the future.
Outdoor meetings
Wednesday, 11 June 2025: A Walk on Farthing Downs. Tom Oliver will lead us on the Downs showing some of the sites and landscape presented in his May talk. Please note that this will be the second Wednesday of the month instead of the first and will be mid-afternoon. Numbers are limited so please book with Liz at lizbonsall@aol.com.
Wednesday, 2 July 2025: A Walk around Godstone with Liz Bonsall. The route will follow a trail devised by the Bourne Society many years ago. The walk can take two hours although short cuts are possible if you get tired. Some areas can be muddy so strong footwear is advised. Booking and further details from Liz.
Landscape History Walks
Detailed information about timings, distances, meeting points and levels of difficulty are given in Local History Records, volume 114, autumn 2024.
Friday, 21 February 2025: Denbies Vineyard Walk. A 3-mile stroll around the hillsides and vineyard of Denbies, near Dorking.
Pub & Brewery History Group
Saturday, 5 April 2025: The Hope, 48 West Street, Carshalton SM5 2PR.
Thursday, 1 May 2025: The Woolpack, 186 High St., Banstead, SM7 2NZ.
Saturday, 7 June 2025: The Feathers, 42 High Street, Merstham, RH1 3EA.
Please see Local History Records, volume 115, spring 2025, for details of how to join the meetings.
Sanderstead Local History Group
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Wednesday, 29 January 2025: An informal members’ meeting with guidance for drawing a family tree from Joyce Hoad.
Wednesday, 26 February 2025: Hammerwood Park: the amazing story of this 18th-century house near East Grinstead; its decline and rescue from dereliction, given by its current owner, David Pinnegar.
Wednesday, 26 March 2025: Some interesting accounts from the history of Croydon Minster, by David Morgan, its volunteer education officer and archivist.
Wednesday, 30 April 2025: Mountwood: the story of a house in Addington Road, Sanderstead, and its owners, from the 1920s until its demolition in the early 2000s. A talk by Phil Swallow.
Wednesday, 28 May 2025: South London Palaces past and present (part 2), by Dee Palmer. In the past there were several royal palaces south of the Thames, some of which remain, in part at least, and some of which have vanished. The talk will include information about these sites, with many illustrations.
Wednesday, 25 June 2025: Two Edmunds: the King (841-869) and the Saint (1175-1240), comparing and contrasting their lives. A talk by David Picksley.
Wednesday, 30th July 2025: Where did they come from? The shopkeepers in Cranleigh Parade, Sanderstead, at the start of World War II. A talk by Brenda Hawkins.
Meetings of the Sanderstead group take place in All Saints’ Church Hall on the last Wednesday in the month at 2.00 pm. For more details go to our website sandersteadlhg.co.uk where you will find information to get on our mailing list.
Bourne Society Coach day tours
There are three in 2025. For details see ‘Coach Day Tours’ in the side menu.
Chaldon History Group
Saturday, 18 January 2025: Flint and Flint Buildings. An illustrated talk by David Smith of Flintman Company, Lewes. 2.00 pm in Chaldon Village Hall.
Saturday, 1 March 2025: Alderstead: Stories of the Manor and the Heath. An illustrated talk by Liz Bonsall. 2.00 pm in Chaldon Village Hall.
Sunday, 11 May 2025 (2.45 p.m. start): Spring Footpath Walks.
Sunday, 8 June 2025: Chaldon Bounds Walk.
Sunday, 10 August 2025: Summer History Walk, to Netherne from the church.
Chaldon Church, with its 12th-century mural, is open every day for visitors, usually between 10am and 4pm (3pm in winter). Church Teas are available on Sundays in British summertime, 3.00 to 4.30 pm in the Hazell Room at the Church.
For more on the Chaldon group please follow this link.