Whyteleafe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whyteleafe |
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.jpg) Typical landscape of Whyteleafe along the dry valley from the A22 |
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.jpg) Part of the shopping area on Godstone Road near to Whyteleafe and Upper Warlingham railway stations |
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 Whyteleafe
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| Area | 2.167 km2 (0.837 sq mi) |
| Population | 4,620 (Civil Parish 2021) |
| • Density | 2,132/km2 (5,520/sq mi) |
| OS grid reference | TQ336583 |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WHYTELEAFE |
| Postcode district | CR3 |
| Dialling code | 020 01883 |
| Police | Surrey |
| Fire | Surrey |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| EU Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament |
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Whyteleafe is a village in Surrey, England. It's located in the Tandridge area, with some parts even reaching into the London Borough of Croydon. The village is nestled in a "dry valley" of the North Downs hills. It's quite unique because it has three train stations, making it easy to get around!
Nearby places include Woldingham, Caterham, Coulsdon, Warlingham, and Kenley. To the west, you'll find Kenley Aerodrome and beautiful woods like Coxes Wood. To the east are areas like Riddlesdown and Marden Park. The churchyard in Whyteleafe holds the graves of airmen who died during WWII. They were stationed at the nearby RAF Kenley.
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Discovering Whyteleafe's Past
The name Whyteleafe comes from the special whitebeam trees that grow here. These trees have a distinct white underside to their leaves. In 1855, a man named Nathaniel Glover bought a piece of land called "White Leaf field." Later, George Henry Drew finished building a house there, which he named "White Leafe House." By 1881, the whole area around it became known as "Whiteleafe."
Before Whyteleafe became its own village, its land was part of other nearby parishes. These included Caterham, and also parts of Warlingham and Coulsdon.
The first primary school in Whyteleafe was built in 1892. It was made bigger in 1900 and again in 1907 to fit more students. By 1911, Whyteleafe had grown quite a bit. Its population was even larger than the nearby village of Warlingham. A secondary school for girls also opened in Whyteleafe in 1911.
What Can You Find in Whyteleafe?
Whyteleafe has many useful places and shops for its residents. You can find a large pub and a smaller "micropub" for drinks. There's a newsagent, a general store, and two petrol stations that also have food shops (M&S and Waitrose).
The village also has a post office, a hairdresser, a chemist, and shops for clothes and baked goods. If you're hungry, there's a fish and chip shop, a kebab shop, an Indian restaurant, and a Chinese restaurant. You can also find a launderette, a barber, a Tesco Express, and even a shop for e-cigarettes.
The main primary school in the village is Whyteleafe School. It's part of the GLF multi-academy trust. This school uses the site of the old Whyteleafe Girls' Grammar School. Warlingham School, a secondary school, is also nearby, on the edge of Whyteleafe.
The local C of E church is called St Luke's. It was built in 1866 and became a new parish in the Diocese of Southwark.
Getting Around Whyteleafe
Whyteleafe is well-connected by public transport. It has three train stations: Whyteleafe South, Whyteleafe, and Upper Warlingham. All these stations are served by Southern train services.
The main road, the Godstone road (A22), runs right through the village from north to south. Several bus routes also serve the area. These include routes 407, 434, and 439, which connect Whyteleafe to places like Coulsdon, Croydon, Sutton, and Caterham.
Whyteleafe really started to grow after the railway arrived in 1856. This first line went towards Caterham. Later, in 1884, a second train line called the Oxted Line opened. This line goes to different places in the south and also connects to major London stations like London Bridge and Victoria.
Sports and Fun in Whyteleafe
If you love football, AFC Whyteleafe is the main club in the village. They play at grounds on Church Road. This is the same place where the older club, Whyteleafe F.C., moved to in 1959.
Separate from the football ground, there's a large recreation ground in the east of the village. It's located below wooded hills and has open fields for informal sports. There's also a playground for younger kids to enjoy.
For tennis fans, the Caterham and Whyteleafe Tennis Club is located in Manor Park, close to Whyteleafe South Station. If you enjoy golf, the Surrey National Golf Club is just a short distance away in Chaldon.
See also
In Spanish: Whyteleafe para niños
