Picture this a quiet residential neighbourhood nestled on the North Downs. This is Burgh Heath a place with a history stretching back centuries. Before the sprawling houses and busy A217 road Burgh Heath was a small manor. It was part of Banstead Heath a vast and rather dry common. Expansion was slow until the early 20th century.
Long before modern Burgh Heath there was a church. The Domesday Book mentions a church here. It was connected to the manor. Odo Earl of Kent held the manor. Rectors served the church in the 14th and 15th centuries. However it seems that after 1414 it was no longer a separate parish from Banstead. The old church’s foundations remained supporting a barn until about 1880. It stood between Little Burgh House and Church Lane.
The current St Mary’s Church a Gothic revival style building tells a different story. It’s a striking building completed in 1909. A testament to the area’s evolving character. Burgh Heath wasn’t just about churches and manors. During World War II a pump station was built here. This station was part of Operation Pluto. Operation Pluto was a secret fuel pipeline network running from the Thames to Dungeness. The pump station was deemed surplus in 1973. It was later demolished.
Today Burgh Heath is a blend of old and new. You can see the evidence of its history. But also the modern developments. There are still reminders of its past. The open areas of Burgh Heath are part of Banstead Commons. They are carefully managed by the Banstead Commons Conservators. They are bordered by farmland leading to Banstead Woods. The area around the supermarket includes a BMX track.
Burgh Heath is more than just a residential area. Toyota’s UK headquarters are here. So is a luxury sports car garage. There’s a row of shops along the A217. Several small restaurants are also in the area. Many residents commute out of Burgh Heath. But it maintains its own unique charm. Its history and its present-day aspects. This makes Burgh Heath a fascinating place to explore. A place with a rich past and a vibrant present.