Effingham, Surrey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Effingham |
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 Village shops on The Street |
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 Effingham
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| Area | 11.98 km2 (4.63 sq mi) |
| Population | 2,711 (Civil Parish 2011) |
| • Density | 226/km2 (590/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TQ1153 |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Leatherhead |
| Postcode district | KT24 |
| Dialling code | 01372 |
| Police | Surrey |
| Fire | Surrey |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Effingham is a lovely village in Surrey, England. It stretches from flat lands up to the top of the North Downs hills. The village has a very old church from the Middle Ages.
Some famous people have lived here. These include Barnes Wallis, who invented the "bouncing bomb," and Toni Mascolo, who started the Toni & Guy hair salons. The M25 motorway is about 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) north-west of the village center. Effingham has new homes and lots of green spaces, as it's part of the Metropolitan Green Belt.
You can find Effingham Junction railway station just outside the village. It's about 50 meters north of the village border in East Horsley. This station connects to lines that go all the way to London Waterloo in London.
Contents
Discovering Effingham's Past
Ancient Times: Stone Age and Roman Visitors
Long before Effingham got its name, a very old path called the North Downs Way (or Pilgrims' Way) was important. This ancient road forms the southern edge of Effingham. People used it to trade things like flint and stone tools. There's even proof of stone age flint mining in the nearby village of Horsley.
Later, during Roman times, a Roman coin was found in Effingham in 1970. It had a picture of Emperor Tiberius on it. We don't know if a Roman person dropped it or if it came from chalk used to build the rugby fields where it was found.
In 1802, a small, old camp was found in the south of Effingham. People think it was built by the Romans. However, it was lost after the land was used for farming.
Anglo-Saxon Settlers and the Domesday Book
Around the year 493 AD, a Saxon noble named Aeffing built his "ham" (which means house or settlement) in this area. This is how Effingham likely got its name!
Effingham is also mentioned in the Domesday Book from 1086. This was a huge survey ordered by William the Conqueror to record everything in England. The book shows that Effingham had farms, meadows, and pigs. It was worth £8 back then.
From Medieval Lords to King Henry VIII
By the 1300s, the main manor house in Effingham was where the Effingham Golf Course clubhouse is today. It was owned by important people like Sir John Poultney, who was the Lord Mayor of London four times.
In 1545, King Henry VIII himself used to hunt on what is now Effingham Golf Course. He would stay at Hampton Court Palace nearby. At that time, the land belonged to Lord William Howard. His son, Charles Howard, later led the English fleet against the famous Spanish Armada!
Inside the golf clubhouse, there's a large, carved oak fireplace from 1591. People believe it was made from wood taken from one of Lord Howard of Effingham's ships.
Effingham in the 1800s
The land that is now Effingham Golf Club changed owners many times. In 1815, Sir Thomas Hussey Apreece owned the house and about 358 acres of land. In 1927, a group of people wanted to build a golf course, and the Effingham Manor Golf Club was started.
The clubhouse is a beautiful Georgian-style building. Next to it is a very old cedar tree, planted around 1600. This tree is even on the golf club's emblem! The golf course was designed by Harry S. Colt and is sometimes used for qualifying rounds for the Open golf tournament.
In the late 1800s, a man named George Pauling bought land in Effingham. He was famous for building railways in Africa. He built a private chapel at his home in Effingham, which later became the Roman Catholic church of Our Lady of Sorrows in 1913.
The 20th Century and Barnes Wallis
Sir Barnes Wallis, a brilliant inventor, lived in Effingham for almost 50 years. He is most famous for inventing the bouncing bomb, which was used in the Second World War to break dams. He also designed airships and airplanes.
Sir Barnes Wallis lived with his wife, Molly, in a house called White Hill House (now Little Court). It's said that he even did early bouncing bomb experiments in his garden using a washtub and his children's marbles!
He was very involved in the village. He helped manage St Lawrence Church and served on the Effingham Parish Council for 10 years. He also helped set up the Effingham Housing Association, which built homes for local people.
Sir Barnes Wallis was a huge cricket fan. He helped design the cricket ground at the KGV playing fields, making it a superb flat area. He was knighted in 1968 for his amazing inventions.
Sir Barnes Wallis passed away in 1979 and is buried in St Lawrence Churchyard. As a special tribute, an Avro Vulcan bomber flew over his memorial service.
During World War II, two V1 flying bombs fell on Effingham. One damaged a house, and another hit a cottage called "Little Thatch," sadly killing the owner. The cottage was rebuilt and is now called Phoenix Cottage.
Canadian soldiers were also stationed in Effingham during the war.
Special Buildings and Places
Effingham has some interesting buildings. One is the Red House, designed in 1893 by the famous architect Edwin Lutyens. It was originally a home and later became a convent before being turned into apartments in 2008.
Village Life and Facilities
Effingham is a small village with some shops and services. It's known for its railway station (which is just north of the village), a large common, and the big KGV playing fields for sports. It also has two schools: St Teresa's School (a private girls' school) and the Howard of Effingham School.
A report in 2002 found that Effingham had one of the highest numbers of adults with savings accounts in the UK!
The village was built around a spring at the bottom of the North Downs hills. This is why some roads like The Street and Church Street are quite steep.
Sports and Activities
Besides the golf club, Effingham is home to the Effingham Cricket Club and the Effingham and Leatherhead Rugby Club.
In 2012, Howard of Effingham School made history! They were the first school from the south of England to play at Wembley Stadium in a rugby league tournament.
Effingham's Population and Homes
Effingham is a civil parish with a population of 2,711 people living in 1,054 households (according to the 2011 Census).
Most homes in Effingham are detached houses (676 out of 1,054). Many people own their homes outright (46.6%) or with a loan (37.7%). This is higher than the average for the wider region.
Famous People from Effingham
- Barnes Wallis (lived here 1930–1979): The inventor of the Bouncing Bomb. He is buried in St Lawrence Churchyard.
- Toni Mascolo: Co-founder of the well-known hair salon chain, Toni & Guy.
- Admiral Sir Francis Turner (1912-1991): A high-ranking naval officer.
- Julian Bailey (born 1961): A former Formula 1 and Le Mans racing driver. He was also one of the "Stigs" on the TV show Top Gear.
- Sally James (born 1950): A former actress and TV presenter, known for the show Tiswas.
Images for kids
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Village shops on The Street
