Earlswood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Earlswood |
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 Victoria Court, Royal Earlswood Park |
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 Earlswood
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| Population | 5,049 |
| OS grid reference | TQ280495 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Redhill |
| Postcode district | RH1 |
| Dialling code | 01737 |
| Police | Surrey |
| Fire | Surrey |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Earlswood is a friendly suburb located in Surrey, England. It's part of the larger town of Redhill. You can find Earlswood along the A23 road, which connects Redhill (towards London) and Horley (close to Gatwick Airport).
One of Earlswood's special places is Earlswood Common. This is a local nature reserve with two lakes and picnic spots. It sits between Earlswood and the nearby town of Reigate. The Earlswood train station is also here, on the main train line to Brighton. East of the train line, you'll find Royal Earlswood Park, the East Surrey Hospital, and the area called Whitebushes.
Contents
History of Earlswood
Early Days and Brickworks
When the straight turnpike road was built, some people thought they found signs of an old Roman villa. This road was part of the main railway line from London to Brighton. However, no clear proof of Roman presence has been found yet.
The area south of Earlswood Common, known as Whitebushes, used to be a wild place. It had many clay pits. These pits might be connected to the stories of Roman remains. Most of the trees on Earlswood Common were cut down in the 1600s. This was ordered by a local noble, Lord Monson. The land was then enclosed in 1886.
Making bricks was a big job in Earlswood during the Victorian period. Many people worked in brick factories, even in 1911.
Becoming Part of Reigate
In 1863, Earlswood joined with Meadvale, Redhill, and Reigate. They all became part of the new town of Reigate. This happened when Reigate was given special status by the King or Queen.
Famous Institutions
Earlswood was once home to the Royal Earlswood hospital. It was a special place for people needing care. Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, opened it in 1863. The hospital worked until 1997.
Another important place was the Royal Philanthropic Society's reform school. This school helped young people from 1849 until 1988. Today, the land where the Royal Earlswood Hospital stood has been turned into homes. It is now called Royal Earlswood Park, with apartments and houses.
Earlswood Train Station
The suburb has its own train station, Earlswood railway station. Trains run from Bedford to Three Bridges, passing through London Bridge. The station used to have a third platform. This platform gave direct access to the Royal Earlswood Hospital.
Earlswood Common's Pastimes
In the late 1800s, Earlswood Common changed from open fields to a fun park. People used it for enjoyment until World War II. The lower lake on the common has a concrete bottom. During World War I, this lake was used to test early tanks. They wanted to see if the tanks could cross flooded areas. Before that, the lake was used for swimming in the summer.
Earlswood Today
Population and People
In 2001, the area called Earlswood and Whitebushes had 8,234 people. Earlswood itself had a population of 5,049.
Natural Beauty and Recreation
Earlswood Common is a special Local Nature Reserve. It has two man-made lakes that are great for fun activities. The upper lake is home to many ducks and wild birds.
Until 2019, a large part of Earlswood Common was a golf course. The Earlswood Common golf course closed in March 2019. This happened after 130 years, because the Redhill & Reigate Golf Club, which looked after it, closed down.
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St John's, Redhill | Redhill | across Redstone Hill, Redhill Nutfield |
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| across Earlswood Common Woodhatch, Reigate |
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across Nuffield Health/RNIB Centres and green belt South Nutfield |
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 Earlswood  |
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| across green belt Sidlow |
Whitebushes | across Redhill Aerodrome and green belt Outwood |
Parts of Earlswood
Earlswood (North)
This part of Earlswood has mostly Victorian-style houses. Many are terraced or semi-detached. It is just south of Redhill town centre. The Redhill Brook flows through Earlswood, but you can't see it in most places.
Two train lines run through Earlswood. The Redhill and Quarry Lines join just north of Earlswood. They both pass through Earlswood Station. Another train line, from Redhill to Tonbridge, goes through north Earlswood too.
There are schools for young children in north Earlswood. They are part of the Earlswood Schools Federation. These schools are very popular. Along with the green spaces and good transport, they attract many young families to the area.
Earlswood has a few places of worship. There is St John's church and the Redhill Jamia Mosque Al-Mustafa.
South Earlswood
South Earlswood is a separate area within Earlswood. It has about half of the homes in the suburb. Earlswood Common and the Greensand Way separate it from north Earlswood. The Greensand Way is a walking path that follows a ridge from Haslemere to Kent.
Right next to South Earlswood is the village of Whitebushes. These two areas are connected, so it's hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.
Whitebushes
Whitebushes is a mix of homes built in the 1970s and early 1980s. Most are houses with three or four bedrooms, plus some flats. Farmland, South Earlswood, and the railway line surround it. The East Surrey Hospital opened north of Whitebushes in 1979.
A small part of the farmland is still common land. Traditionally, gypsy horses have grazed here since the 1950s. They were used for riding lessons and transport.
People have lived in this area since medieval times, and maybe even earlier. Old tools like an axe and flint pieces have been found nearby. Farms like Hazelhurst Farm (from 1203) and Dean Farm (from 1316) date back to the 13th and 14th centuries.
In the 1800s, many brick factories started up here. Hospitals were also built in the area. The Brighton Main Line railway passes west of Whitebushes. It opened in 1841. An old path, now Green Lane, connects Whitebushes to Earlswood station in the north.
Local Government
Surrey County Council
Earlswood is split into two parts for the Surrey County Council elections. This is because of new homes built nearby. North Earlswood is in the Redhill East area. South Earlswood is in the Earlswood and Reigate South area. People vote for their representatives every four years.
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
For the Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, North and South Earlswood are combined. They form one area simply called Earlswood. Three councillors represent Earlswood on the borough council.
| Election | Member |
Ward |
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|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Ruth Ritter | Earlswood and Whitebushes | |
| 2021 | Joseph Booton | Earlswood and Whitebushes | |
| 2021 | Della Torra | Earlswood and Whitebushes | |
Things to Do in Earlswood
Earlswood Common is an 89-hectare (220-acre) local nature reserve. The Reigate and Banstead Borough Council manages it. It's a great place for walks and enjoying nature.
The football club Redhill F.C. has its home ground, Kiln Brow, in Earlswood. It's on the east side of the A23 road, just north of East Surrey Hospital.
