East Surrey FHS Parish Pages

Chaldon

Parish Information The local parish church is St Peter and St Paul © B. Hudson History Ancient parish to the South of Croydon, see St Peter & St Paul. Chaldon Church walk - about 3 miles. The Church History, Nature and Geology Getting there Refreshments Terrain The Walk Alternative Routes The Church St Peter and St Paul, Ditches Lane, Chaldon. This small church is almost 1000 years old and its most interesting feature is a wall painting dating from about 1200 AD. See link in RH column. History, Nature and Geology This walk starts from Farthing Downs in Coulsdon. These chalk downs are rich with many  birds, butterflies and flowers and are also the site of  Celtic farms from the 6thC.and Anglo-Saxon burial mounds from the 6th and 7th century. Along the route are mature Yew trees in Devilsden Wood, open grass meadows with ancient hedgerows in Happy Valley and a short stretch of worked farmland with superb views of valleys and woodlands. Gettting there Bus – Routes 60 and 404 - Marlpit Lane/ Downs Road bus stop Train – Coulsdon South Station – Exit via the footpath from Platform 2, at the end of the footpath turn left into Reddown Road. At the T junction turn right into Marlpit Lane and right again into Downs Road and follow the signs for Farthing Downs. Car – From the A23 at Coulsdon turn into the B276, Marlpit Lane and take the 2nd road on the right, Downs Road, and follow the road over the cattle grid to the car park at the top on the right. OR from the A23 near Hooley turn into the B2031 then turn right into Church Lane OR from Caterham take the B2030, turn into Chaldon Lane and then turn right into Church lane and in both cases stop at the Corporation of London Car Park.  Refreshments The main car park normally has a small mobile snack bar in attendance throughout the year, but this cannot be guaranteed. Along the route on one side of Happy Valley there are some log built picnic tables and seats from which there is a fine view across the surrounding hills. There is a very small early weekday morning snack bar on the platform of Coulsdon South Station. For the more adventurous armed with a good map a much longer walk can be plotted taking in the old Fox public house on Coulsdon Common where there is a substantial range of liquid and solid refreshments (At this point if you do not want to walk back you can get a 466 bus back to Old Coulsdon and then a 60 bus to Coulsdon South Station). The Fox is located on Coulsdon Common, just off the B2030 Coulsdon Road. Terrain Most of the route is well drained, the farmland varies depending on the season and weather conditions so be prepared with a good pair of walking shoes. By keeping to the normally well trodden path the field surface is fairly level if stony. The route is downhill into a valley and then an uphill climb from the valley to the church. The Walk From the Car Park walk across the road towards the map display boards. On the three sides of the display are shown the features of the walks, and the  local flora and fauna. Head down to the pathway on the right through a gate, follow the main path through the dense woodland until you emerge onto the top of Happy Valley. Descending down the field you can see the ancient hedgerows across the fields in front of you.  You can take a small detour up the hill to the left - past the horse riding path – where there is a path leading to some more woods. There you will see the seating and tables where time can be spent enjoying a break whilst taking in the views. The walk continues past the first hedgerow and then veer right up the valley side to the path at the top which you follow until a footpath sign points to Chaldon Church. Through the trees you will emerge at the edge of farmland where a sign points to a well trodden path across the field. At the far side of the field the path leaves the filed and goes uphill to Ditches Lane and turning left a large ornate sign for the Village of Chaldon on a green triangle indicates you are nearly at the church. If you look to your right you will see the church and a few more steps will take you to the churchyard entrance. Inside the church there are leaflets and postcards describing the history of the church for which a small donation is requested. After your visit you can walk a little further up Ditches Road to see some of the original old buildings of Chaldon Village or you can just retrace your steps back to Farthing Downs. Alternative routes A large map of the area is displayed near the start of the walk which shows several well marked routes in the area. Information on a range of local walks is available from the London Borough of Croydon (020 8726 6900) who manage Happy Valley and Devilsden Wood and from the Corporation of London’s Merlewood Estate Office (020 8660 8533) who manage the Coulsdon Commons.
		Links to local websites St Peter & St Paul Local Community ESFHS Various publications incl. 1851 census index (C50802) Chaldon People & their Houses inc. 1851 census (M18) St Peter & St Paul MI's 1656-1987 (M20)