Whyteleafe

Last updated

Whyteleafe
Houses above the A22, Whyteleafe (geograph 2309246).jpg
Typical landscape of Whyteleafe along the
dry valley from the A22
Bus Stop by the Curry House (geograph 3396754).jpg
Part of the shopping area on Godstone Road near to Whyteleafe and Upper Warlingham railway stations
Greater London UK location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
Whyteleafe
Location within Greater London
Area2.167 km2 (0.837 sq mi)
Population4,620 (Civil Parish 2021)
  Density 2,132/km2 (5,520/sq mi)
OS grid reference TQ336583
Civil parish
  • Whyteleafe
London borough
District
Ceremonial county Greater London
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town WHYTELEAFE
Postcode district CR3
Dialling code 020
01883
Police Metropolitan
Fire London
Ambulance London
UK Parliament
London Assembly
List of places
UK
England
London
51°18′32″N0°05′00″W / 51.3088°N 0.0833°W / 51.3088; -0.0833

Whyteleafe is a village in the district of Tandridge, Surrey, England, with a few streets falling inside the London Borough of Croydon. The village, in a dry valley of the North Downs, has three railway stations (on two parallel lines). Neighbouring villages and towns include Woldingham, Caterham, Coulsdon, Warlingham, and Kenley. To the west are Kenley Aerodrome, Kenley Common (owned by the Corporation), Coxes Wood, and Blize Wood. To the east are Riddlesdown, the Dobbin and Marden Park.

Contents

The churchyard contains graves of airmen who died during WWII, stationed at RAF Kenley nearby. The village forms part of the Greater London Built-up Area. [1]

History

The village name comes from the distinctive white underside of the whitebeam trees growing in the area. [2] In 1855 Nathaniel Glover purchased White Leaf field and George Henry Drew later completed the building that was called "White Leafe House". By 1881 the surrounding area had become known as "Whiteleafe". [3] As with Kenley the history of its land before that was that of other parishes, in this case Caterham and to a lesser extent Warlingham and Coulsdon.

Its first primary school was built in 1892, enlarged in 1900 and again in 1907.

In 1911 the population of Whyteleafe was "now larger than that of Warlingham village...A county council secondary school for girls has been set up in this year (1911)." [4]

Amenities

Whyteleafe has various shops and amenities. To the south of Whyteleafe are the headquarters of Gold Group International, the largest employer in the parish boundaries. [5]

Whyteleafe School, is a primary school which is part of the multi academy trust GLF and is situated at the bottom of Whyteleafe Hill. It makes use of the site of the former Whyteleafe Girls' Grammar School, vacated in the late 1970s. Warlingham School (secondary) is at the top of Tithe Pit Shaw Lane, on the edge of Whyteleafe in the east.

The C of E church of St Luke was built in 1866, founded as a new parish in the Diocese of Southwark.

Transport

There are three railway stations: Whyteleafe South, Whyteleafe and Upper Warlingham. All three stations are served by Southern services. The Godstone road (A22) cuts through north to south. Bus routes 407, 434 and 439 serve the area and run from Coulsdon, Croydon, Sutton, Waddon Marsh and Caterham. Whyteleafe village grew after the railway came on its way to Caterham in 1856. A second line, the Oxted Line, following a slightly higher contour, opened in 1884. It serves different destinations to the south but also runs to London Bridge or Victoria.

Sport and leisure

AFC Whyteleafe is the main football club following the closure of Whyteleafe F.C. in 2021. AFC Whyteleafe, like its predecessor, plays in grounds on Church Road where the former club moved in 1959, when it moved from the field off New Barn Lane, now utilised by the adjacent Kenley School. Separate from its ground in the west of town is the large recreation ground below wooded hills in the east of town which has informal sports fields and a playground. [6]

Caterham and Whyteleafe Tennis Club is located in Manor Park near Whyteleafe South Station. [7] The Surrey National Golf Club is located in nearby Chaldon. [8]

Local government

Civil Parishes in Tandridge District Tandridge Civil Parishes.png
Civil Parishes in Tandridge District

Surrey County Council, headquartered in Reigate, elected every four years, has one councillor representing Caterham Valley, which incorporates the civil parishes of Caterham Valley and Whyteleafe.

ElectionMember [9]

Ward

2021Jeffrey GrayCaterham Valley

Whyteleafe has 2 representatives on Tandridge District Council, headquartered in Oxted:

ElectionMember [10]

Ward

2016David LeeWhyteleafe
2018Jeffrey GrayWhyteleafe

Whyteleafe is one of 21 civil parish councils in Tandridge District electing seven parish councillors every four years. [11] The parish council clerk is Simon Bold.

Demography and housing

2021 Census Ethnicity [12]
Ethnic GroupPercentageTotal
White77.3%3569
Asian7.3%335
Mixed7.3%335
Black6.9%318
Other1.4%66
2021 Cenus Religion [13]
ReligionPercentageTotal
No Religion44%2033
Christianity42.3%1956
No Response6.9%320
Islam3.1%141
Hinduism1.9%87
Other Religion0.8%37
Buddhism0.7%34
Judaism0.2%9
Sikhism0.1%6
2021 Cenus Accommodation Type [14]
Accommodation TypePercentageTotal
In a purpose-built block of flats or tenement50.8%1083
Detached16.1%343
Semi-detached14.4%306
Terraced12.3%261
Part of a converted or shared house, including bedsits4%86
Part of another converted building, for example, former school, church or warehouse1.3%27
In a commercial building, for example, in an office building, hotel or over a shop1.1%23
A caravan or other mobile or temporary structure0.05%1
2021 Census Tenure [15]
Tenure TypePercentageTotal
Owned with a mortgage or loan37.7%804
Private rented from private landlord or letting agency21.1%450
Owned outright20.9%447
Shared ownership7.7%165
Other social rented6.2%133
Social rented from council or other local authority4.5%96
Other private rented1.8%39
Lives rent free0%0

See also

References

  1. "2011 Census – Built-up areas". ONS . Retrieved 28 January 2014.
  2. Packham, Roger; Fookes, Gwyneth, eds. (2006). A History of Whyteleafe. [Sanderstead, U.K.]: The Bourne Society. p. 153. ISBN   978-0-900992-67-4.
  3. Packham, Roger; Fookes, Gwyneth, eds. (2006). A History of Whyteleafe. [Sanderstead, U.K.]: The Bourne Society. p. 36. ISBN   978-0-900992-67-4.
  4. H.E. Malden, ed. (1912). "Parishes: Caterham". A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 4. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
  5. "Principal Employers in Tandridge" (PDF). Surrey County Council. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2013. Retrieved 30 September 2012.
  6. Google map of recreation ground Retrieved 2014-01-01
  7. "Caterham and Whyteleafe Tennis Club | Surrey".
  8. "The Most Played & Most Reviewed Golf Courses in 2020". Golfshake. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  9. "Surrey's County Councillors". Surrey County Council. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  10. "Whyteleafe Councillors". Tandridge.gov.uk. Tandridge District Council. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  11. "Who we are". Whyteleafe Village Council. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  12. "Whyteleafe: Ethnic group". censusdata.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  13. "Whyteleafe: Religion". censusdata.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  14. "Whyteleafe: Accommodation type". censusdata.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2024.
  15. "Whyteleafe: Tenure". censusdata.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2024.