{"id":586,"date":"2023-07-01T10:13:21","date_gmt":"2023-07-01T10:13:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dankew.me\/?p=586"},"modified":"2026-09-21T20:41:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-21T20:41:41","slug":"reigate-town-trail-3rd-edition-1991","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dankew.me\/index.php\/2023\/07\/01\/reigate-town-trail-3rd-edition-1991\/","title":{"rendered":"Reigate Town Trail (3rd Edition - 1991)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When we moved into our current house, the previous owners left behind a whole load of information relating to local history and local walks. I dug out this one and went on walkabout to see what had changed since this was written by Dennis Turner in 1991. Much of what is described remains the same, just a few of the shops have closed (Knights, The Pantry, Ancient House Bookshop).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

1. Old Town Hall<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Built in 1728-9, with typical 'Queen Anne' details, originally as a Market and Sessions House with open arcaded ground floor and courtroom above,. The cupola and clock were added around 1810, having previously capped the town lock-up which stood just to the east. Chimneys were added when a fireplace was put in the court room - three chimneys were dummies and they were all removed during recent restoration work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Old
Old Town Hall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

2. 4a High Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An interesting timber-framed town house of c. 1600. Originally this was a doubled jettied building with both its first floor and its attick projecting: both jetties have been underbuilt. This used to be apparant from timber framing exposed in the side wall next to the narrow alleyway but the framing has now been largely covered by modern tile-hanging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"4a
4a High Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

3. Castle Grounds<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now public gardens in the middle of the town overlooking the roof tops. Only the earthworks of the castle, held successively by the de Warennes, the Fitzalans and Mowbrays, remain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Castle
Castle Grounds<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

4. Castle Cottage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Late 17th-century, timber-framed cottage with tile hanging and a 'catslide' roof at rear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Castle
Castle Cottage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

5. Gateway<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Built 1777 by Richard Barnes, a local attorney, in 'Gothic' style using material taken from the grounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Gateway\"
Gateway<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

6. Inner Ward of Castle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Now an attractive garden but the surrounding hedge has grown too high, cutting off the views down into the town. More distant views out to the North Downs and Leith Hill survive. Through the gateway in the stone pyramid in the middle of the lawn can be seen steps to the caves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Inner ward of Castle<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

7. 32 High Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Rear flank wall, 17th-century timber framing. This building was once a brewhouse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

8. 42-50 High Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

17th and 18th-century buildings including 48-50 High Street , two attached houses of c. 1600, once the offices of Richard Barnes who built the Gothic gateway in the castle. Now combined into one property and tile hung. Many of the internal timbers can still be seen in the shop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"48-50
48-50 High Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

9. 53-53a High Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Next to the obtrusive supermarket. Behind the dull facade is the well-preserved timber frame of a late medieval house (c. 1500). Smoke-blackened timbers in the roof show that originally there was an open hall in the middle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"53-53a
53-53a High Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

10. Bulls Head Public House<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

17th-century inn with timber framing exposed in cart entrance to rear.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bulls
Bulls Head Public House<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

11. 65 High Street (The Pantry - now Giggling Squid)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

18th-century brick building with fine porch and fanlight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

12. Red Cross Public House<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

17th-century inn named after the chapel of the Holy Cross which once stood opposite in what is now the roadway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Red
Red Cross Public House<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

13. 6 Slipshoe Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pair of timber-framed late 16th-century houses with continuously jettied front, the timber framed overhang now tile hung.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"6
6 Slipshoe Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

14. Old Sweep's House, 10 Slipshoe Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Late medieval house, originally partly open to the roof, c. 1500. The left hand wing used to have a jettied upper storey, now underbuilt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Old
Old Sweep's House<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

15. The Old House, 20 Upper West Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

18th-century house with modest doorcase and fanlight<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Old House<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

16. St Albans, 28 West Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

c. 1830<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"St
St Albans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

17. Horse Trough<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Provided, c.1870, by Metropolitan Drinking Fountain and Cattle Trough Association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Horse
Horse trough<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

18. 36 West Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Central chimney house of c. 1600, recently partly restored. Former forge here was recently replaced by offices and extension housing workshops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"36
36 West Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

19. Old West Street House<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Late 17th-century house with dormer windows and pediment over door. House is partly timber-framed with red brick infilling as can be seen at the east gable end. The building was once a school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Old
Old West Street House<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

20. Farley Cottage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Dated 1626 on a gable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Farley
Farley Cottage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

21. Browne's Lodge, 22 West Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Built 1785 by William Bryant. Modestly proportioned late Palladian style house using island site to great advantage. Imposing west facade has pediment bearing swags and Coade stone plaque of woman's face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Browne's
Browne's Lodge<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

22. 31 West Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Stuccoed cottage with gothic ogee windows, c. 1800. Glazing bars still remain in upper storey windows, c. 1800.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"31
31 West Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

23. Blue Anchor Public House<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

17th century<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Blue
Blue Anchor Public House<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

24. 19 & 21 West Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Early 17th century central chimney house, divided into two and partly refronted 18th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

25. 15th Century vaulted undercroft<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Built of local stone and preserned in situ within the underground carpark. Probably originally undercorft of medieval market house which stood in the triangle between Upper West Street and West Street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"15th-century
15th-century vaulted undercroft<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

26. 77a High Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Originally part of the Red Lion Inn, truncated for road widening c. 1905. Late medieval or Tudor timbering can be seen behind the window.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"77a
77a High Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

27. Butcher's Shop, once 'Bellinghams', 77 High Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Early 19th century with typical regency pillared canopy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Butcher's
Butcher's Shop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

28. Geranium Cottage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

17th century, two-bay brick cottage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Geranium
Geranium Cottage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

29. Priory Lodge Cottage, 7 Park Lane<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Formerly lodge to Priory<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Priory
Priory Lodge Cottage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

30. Priory Park<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Possibly once the precinct of the medieval priory and later the park of the Howards. Acquired by the Corporation and so far unspoilt by traffic or building. The park was saved from buidling development after the 2nd World War by the efforts of local residents, notably Frank Potter, who went on to found the Reigate Society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Priory
Priory Park<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

31. The Priory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In use as a school. Very little identifiable of the medieval foundation remains, and that entirely inside. After the Dissolution in 1535, the building was granted in 1541 to Lord Howard of Effingham who built a house on the site. The north gables of the mansion can be seen from the playground on the west side, behind the fine iron railing (c. 1710) which originally stood on Bell Street side of the building. These were moved to this position by a teetotal owner, Lady Henry Somerset, c. 199<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Priory<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

32. The Stoneman's and Ancient House Bookshop, 49-51 Bell Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

16th century with crosswing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"48-51
48-51 Bell Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

33. 38 Bell Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Early 18th century facade has been restored to put the entrance back in the centre where it belonged, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"38
38 Bell Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

34. 37-39 Bell Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pair of mid-18th-century houses with double porch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"37-39
37-39 Bell Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

35. 16 Bell Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Late 18th century, exterior restored 1990. Fine porch and railings with urn finals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"16
16 Bell Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

36. Knights, 10-12 Bell Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once 'The Grapes'. Good regency facade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"10-12
10-12 Bell Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

37. 15 Bell Street<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Early 19th-century facade with hood over bow front window on first floor. This building incorporates the shell of St Lawrence's Chapel, only survivor of town's three medieval chapels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"15
15 Bell Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

38. The White Hart Inn (now 1-3 Bell Street)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

A famous coaching inn of c. 1760, demolished in 1933 and replaced by a flabby neo-Georgian terrace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"1-3
1-3 Bell Street<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When we moved into our current house, the previous owners left behind a whole load of information relating to local history and local walks. I dug out this one and went on walkabout to see what had changed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":613,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","sns_share_botton_hide":"","vkExUnit_sns_title":"","_vk_print_noindex":"","sitemap_hide":"","_veu_custom_css":"","veu_display_promotion_alert":"","vkexunit_cta_each_option":"","_lightning_design_setting":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,121],"tags":[49,118,120,119],"class_list":["post-586","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","category-walking","tag-history","tag-reigate","tag-trail","tag-walking"],"veu_head_title_object":{"title":"","add_site_title":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dankew.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/586","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dankew.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dankew.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dankew.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dankew.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=586"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/dankew.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/586\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1086,"href":"https:\/\/dankew.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/586\/revisions\/1086"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dankew.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/613"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dankew.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=586"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dankew.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=586"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dankew.me\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=586"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}