Bourne Society Forum Meetings
All meetings are now held in the Soper Hall, doors open at 7.15 pm for a 7.45 start. The Soper Hall is located in Harestone Valley Road, just around the corner from the main Caterham Valley shopping centre. To cover costs a charge of £2 is payable at the door.
Indoor Meetings
Wednesday, 6 May 2026: The ‘ice cream’ Pacittis. The story of an Italian family in Croydon, as told by Richard Pacitti who has lived in Croydon all his life. His great grandfather came to Croydon at the end of the 19th century and started one of the first ice cream businesses in the area.
Outdoor Meetings
Wednesday, 3 June 2026: Aafternoon visit to Godstone Caves with Peter Burgess of the Wealden Cave and Mine Society. Booking required with lizbonsall@aol.com. Please note that full mobility is needed as there will be a short section on hands and knees! It is not always possible to stand fully upright.
Wednesday, 1 July 2026: A visit to Chaldon Court. Madeline Hutchins will lead a guided tour of the house – dated by dendrology to 1366 – to see medieval, Tudor and more recent elements. Discover what is known of its 660 years of history and what remains a mystery. Numbers are restricted so booking is required with lizbonsall@aol.com. Please note that to see everything some steep staircases are involved.
Wednesday, 5 August 2026: An afternoon stroll around the conservation area of Caterham Village with Dick Moran. Dick will follow the plaques and tell the stories associated with the buildings commemorated. To give some idea of numbers please book with lizbonsall@aol.com.
Indoor Meetings
Wednesday, 2 September 2026: Mountwood House in Sanderstead. Phil Swallow will tell the interesting story of the house and its owners, some of which had international reach.
Wednesday, 7 October 2026: tba
Landscape History Walks
Detailed information about timings, distances, meeting points and levels of difficulty will be given in Local History Records, volume 118, spring 2026.
Friday, 8 May 2026: Outwood Common Walk
Pub & Brewery History Group
Saturday, 2 May 2026: The Feathers, Merstham.
Tuesday, 2 June 2026: The William Garland, Croydon Road, Caterham Valley.
Please see Local History Records, volume 118, spring 2026, for details of how to join the meetings.
Sanderstead Local History Group
Meetings of the Sanderstead group take place in All Saints’ Church Hall on the last Wednesday in the month, doors open at 1.45 pm, meeting at 2.00 pm. For further details please go to the group’s website where there is a contact page for enquiries.
Wednesday, 29 April 2026: A Hat for a Clue, The First Murder on the Railway. A talk by Norma Shepherd.
Wednesday, 27 May 2026: Saving Tollsworth Manor, by Gordon Gillett.
Wednesday, 24 June 2026: From Parish to Union. A window into poor relief in 19th-century Croydon. A talk by Lizzie Mould.
Bourne Society Coach day tours
For details see ‘Coach Day Tours’ in the side menu.
Chaldon History Group
Sunday, 10 May 2026: Chaldon Spring Footpath Walks. 2.45 pm start. These are free group walks with a leader. Just turn up at one of the starting points to join one of the seven walks. Families and dogs are very welcome, and there is free tea and cakes in the Village Hall afterwards.
Wednesday, 1 July 2026: 2.30-4.30 pm: A visit to Chaldon Church and Chaldon Court. Book with lizbonsall@aol.com.
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.