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{{Short description|Village and parish in Surrey, England}}
{{for|other uses please|Alfold (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox UK place
|type=[[Village]]
|static_image_name=Alfold - geograph.org.uk - 1104250.jpg
|static_image_caption=Old tile-hung cottages and Crown Inn<br> at the centre of Alfold
|static_image_2_name=Alfold Churchyard - geograph.org.uk - 1105524.jpg
|static_image_2_caption=Looking towards the [[stocks]]
|country = England
|official_name= Alfold
|population = 1,059
|population_ref=(Civil Parish)<ref name=ons>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk Key Statistics; Quick Statistics: Population Density] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030211201309/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/ |date=11 February 2003 }} [[United Kingdom Census 2011]] ''[[Office for National Statistics]]'' Retrieved 21 November 2013</ref>
|area_total_km2=15.1
|civil_parish='''Alfold'''
|shire_district= [[Waverley, Surrey|Waverley]]
| shire_county = [[Surrey]]
|region= South East England
|constituency_westminster= [[Godalming and Ash (UK Parliament constituency)|Godalming and Ash]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Location of Godalming and Ash |url= https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4064/location |website=parliament.uk |date=July 2024 |access-date=28 March 2025 }}</ref>
|post_town= CRANLEIGH
|postcode_district = GU6
|postcode_area= GU 
|dial_code= 01403
|os_grid_reference= TQ037341
|coordinates = {{coord|51.096|-0.5197|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|label_position = top
}}
'''Alfold''' is a village and [[civil parishes in England|civil parish]] in Surrey, England on the [[West Sussex]] border. Alfold is a [[dispersed settlement|dispersed or polyfocal village]] in the [[Metropolitan Green Belt|Green Belt]], which is [[buffer zone|buffered]] from all other settlements. The [[Greensand Way]] runs north of the village along the [[Greensand Ridge]] and two named localities exist to the north and south of the historic village centre which features pubs, a set of [[stocks]] and a [[whipping post]].

'''Alfold Crossways''' has a country park, recreational ground and a garden centre whereas Alfold's centre has a village store and the [[Anglican parish church]]. The population was 1,059 in the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 UK census]].

==Etymology==
Alfold—also recorded as '''Aldfold''' or '''Awfold'''—meant the "[[Fold village|old fold]]" or clearing enclosure for cattle,<ref name=histcounty>{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42933 |title=Parishes: Alford |editor=H.E. Malden |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |year=1911 |work=A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 3 |access-date=24 October 2012 }}</ref> which is apt as it was in a much-wooded area of [[The Weald]] (meaning forest in Old and [[Middle English]]) prior to being cleared for farming.<ref name="explore">{{cite web|title=Alfold|url=http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/themes/places/surrey/waverley/alfold/|publisher=Exploring Surrey's Past|access-date=10 July 2015}}</ref>

==History==
Early [[Glass production|glass making]], evidence of which can be seen in Sidney Wood, appears to provide the oldest trace of land use in the village. The glass industry in Alfold ended around 1615 when using charcoal was banned in glass production.<ref name="explore"/><ref name=histcounty/>{{#tag:ref|Malden states "In Sydney Wood were glass-houses, of which the only relic is the name Glass House Fields. A glasshouse is marked in Speed's map. Aubrey (17th century) saw the graves of French glass-makers in the churchyard, but the industry was extinct in his time, so the French were not refugees after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, as stated by Brayley."|group= n}}

Alfold is not mentioned in [[Domesday Book]]. The earliest mention of Alfold, in the 13th century, records that it was attached to Shalford Manor. A charter of [[William II Longespee|William Longespee]], son of the [[William Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury|Earl of Salisbury]], records that the [[advowson]], with the Manor of Shalford, is given to John, son of Geoffrey [[Earls of Essex|Earl of Essex]], who died in 1256.

Four manors existed, namely Wildwood now represented by Great and Little Wildwood Farms and Wildwood Copse and Moat, was formerly possessed by the lords of [[Albury, Surrey|Albury]] and [[Stoke D'Abernon]], the D'Abernons and their successors. In the 13th century they had land in Alfold and in a deed of 1313 John D'Abernon's wood called ''le Wylwode'' is mentioned. Markwick and Monkenhook over their history have been held by [[Waverley Abbey]], [[Viscount Montagu]] and the [[Earl of Onslow]]; and '''Sydney''' alias Hedgecourt or Rickhurst (Rykhurst) lies partly in [[Dunsfold]] held by the Sydney (then Dorrington) family.

Alfold Park, formerly with a [[moat]] (as did Wildwood Farm), belonged to the manor of Shalford and contained {{convert|300|acres}}; however it lost its park before [[John Speed]]'s map was made<ref name=histcounty/> in the reign of [[James I of England|James I]].

After the invention of [[gunpowder]], charcoal was extensively burnt in the parish for gunpowder works in [[Dunsfold]], [[Cranleigh]], and [[Sussex]].<ref name=histcounty/>

The parish comprised {{convert|2726|acres}} of which only {{convert|72|acres}} in 1848 were common or waste, and {{blockquote|...abounded with [[oak]], [[ash (tree)|ash]], and [[elm]]: in parts there is a bed of stone, which is used for repairing roads, but is not hard enough for building. The [[Wey and Arun Canal|Arun and Wey Junction canal]] passes through. The living is a [[rectory]], valued in the king's books at £6. 11. 2. [&nbsp;[[land tax]] liability], and in the gift of the Sparkes family: the tithes have been commuted for £355, and the [[glebe]] comprises 14 acres.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=50749 |title=Aldingham – Alfreton |editor-link=Samuel Lewis (publisher) |editor=Samuel Lewis |publisher=Institute of Historical Research |year=1848 |work=A Topographical Dictionary of England |access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>}}

A Baptist chapel was erected in 1883, and an elementary school in 1876.

Significant other homes mentioned in 1911 were Sydney Manor and Sachel Court; Sachel Court was owned by Thomas Smith Wharrie, an engineer in Scotland and director of British Mutual Banking Company Ltd.<ref name=histcounty/>{{#tag:ref|http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=205835 Scottish Architects profile]|group= n}}

==Landmarks==
[[Image:South Porch, Alfold Church - geograph.org.uk - 1105514.jpg|thumb|left|upright|St Nicholas's Church]]
The compact village has a red telephone kiosk, [[stocks]] and [[whipping post]] with very old paving and the following [[listed building]]s:
*St Nicholas's Church (Grade I)<ref>St Nicholas's Church {{NHLE|num=1352752|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>
*Alfold House (Grade II*)<ref>Alfold House {{NHLE|num=1044391|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>
*Alfold Stores/The Magnolias (Grade II*)<ref>Alfold Stores/The Magnolias {{NHLE|num=1044392|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>
*Carrier/Cherry Tree cottages<ref>Carrier/Cherry Tree cottages {{NHLE|num=1044390|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>
*Rosemary Croft<ref>Rosemary Croft {{NHLE|num=1044393|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>
*Church Cottage and Great Nicholas Church Room<ref>Church Cottage and Great Nicholas Church Room {{NHLE|num=1044394|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref> and
*Crown Cottage.<ref>Crown Cottage {{NHLE|num=1044396|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>

==Localities==
===Alfold Crossways===
[[Image:Sir Roger Tichborne pub sign, Alfold Bars - geograph.org.uk - 1434669.jpg|thumb|upright|Sir Roger Tichborne pub, Alfold Bars]]
Also sometimes mistakenly recorded as '''Alford Crossways''' this hamlet or locality has more buildings in northern part of the village, around the crossroads of the [[A281 road|A281]] ([[Guildford]]-[[Horsham]] road) and the Arundel Road to the village centre. Here there are the following:
*Wildwood Country Park
*A Garden Centre
*A recreation ground
*Medieval moated site and associated pillow mound, Wildwood Copse, [[Scheduled monument|Scheduled Ancient Monument]]<ref>Medieval Moated Site and Pillow mound {{NHLE|num=1013034|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>
*Orchard Cottage<ref>Orchard Cottage {{NHLE|num=1044425|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>
*Waggoners Cottage<ref>Waggoners Cottage {{NHLE|num=1189462|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>
*Great Wildwood Farmhouse with Haybarn<ref>Great Wildwood Farmhouse with Haybarn {{NHLE|num=1189475|access-date=24 October 2012}} {{NHLE|num=1352730|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>
*Caters Croft/Welby Cottage<ref>Caters Croft/Welby Cottage {{NHLE|num=1352729|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>
*Little Pound/The Pound<ref>Little Pound/The Pound {{NHLE|num=1352751|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref>

===Alfold Bars===
This smaller also generally less old, southern part of the village has only one listed building, the Sir Roger Tichbourne Inn, see [[Tichborne baronets]] and [[Tichborne]], Hampshire for Roger's family history.<ref>The Sir Roger Tichbourne Inn, Alford Bars {{NHLE|num=1273581|access-date=24 October 2012}}</ref> Alford Bars is situated just into West Sussex, with the county border at the north of the small area.

==Sport==
The village's football club, [[Alfold F.C.]] play in the [[Southern Combination Football League|Southern Combination League]].

==Demography and housing==
{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ '''2011 Census Homes'''
|-
!Output area !!Detached  !!Semi-detached!!Terraced!!Flats and apartments!!Caravans/temporary/mobile homes!!shared between households<ref name=ons/>
|-
|(Civil Parish)||185	||	131	||	28	||	44	||	52	||	9
|}
The average level of accommodation in the region composed of detached houses was 28%, the average that was apartments was 22.6%.

{| class="wikitable"
|- 
|+ '''2011 Census Key Statistics'''
|-
!Output area !!Population !!Households !!% Owned outright !!% Owned with a loan!!hectares<ref name=ons/>
|-
|(Civil Parish)||1,059||449	||39.6%	||28.1%||1510
|}
The proportion of households in the civil parish who owned their home outright compares to the regional average of 35.1%. The proportion who owned their home with a loan compares to the regional average of 32.5%. The remaining % is made up of rented dwellings (plus a negligible % of households living rent-free).

==Notable people==
*[[Arthur Casswell]] (1892–1940) – cricketer

==Notes and references==
===Notes===
{{Reflist|35em|group=n}}
'''References'''
{{reflist|35em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.stainedglassrecords.org/Ch.asp?ChId=13412 Stained Glass Windows at St. Nicholas Alfold, Surrey] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303230609/http://www.stainedglassrecords.org/Ch.asp?ChId=13412 |date=3 March 2016 }}
* [http://www.alfold.org Alfold Village web site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181005095830/http://www.alfold.org/ |date=5 October 2018 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070609234702/http://www.waverley.gov.uk/council/clerks.asp List of parish clerks in the wider district]
* {{Exploring Surrey's Past |place=Alfold |access-date=24 May 2017}}

{{Waverley}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Surrey]]
[[Category:Borough of Waverley]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Surrey]]