Caterham

This article is about the town in England. For the car manufacturer, see Caterham Cars.

Caterham
Population
OS grid reference	TQ335555
District	Tandridge
Shire county	Surrey
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Caterham
Postcode district	CR3
Dialling code	01883
Police	Surrey
Fire	Surrey
Ambulance	South East Coast
UK Parliament	East Surrey

Caterham is a town in the Tandridge District of Surrey, England. It lies on the A22 Eastbourne road south of Croydon in a valley cut into the dip slope of the North Downs.

History

The village lay within the Anglo-Saxon administrative division of Tandridge hundred.

The original settlement was on the ridge above the modern town and is now called Caterham-on-the-Hill. The modern town in the valley is a product of the Victorian age and the coming of the Caterham railway line in 1856. The Victorian expansion of the town required the building of a much larger parish church (St Mary the Virgin) in 1866 but the old Norman church of St Lawrence was retained and remains directly across the road from St Mary's. As it grew Caterham Valley gained its own church, St. John the Evangelist, which was consecrated in 1882. It is even larger than St. Mary's.

From 1877 Caterham barracks on the hill was a depot for the foot guards regiments. In August 1975 a local public house (the Caterham Arms) which was frequented by soldiers was targeted by an IRA bomb. The barracks were closed in the 1990s and the site redeveloped for housing.

Caterham is the scene of the only murdered police officer in Surrey Police's history.

On 6 July 1974 PCs John Schofield, Ray Fullalove and PS Harley Findlay were were on routine patrol in Caterham when they became suspicious of a man on foot carrying a large holdall. They pulled alongside him in their patrol car and started to question him. As PC Fullalove started to get out of the car Egon Von Bulow produced a gun and shot him in the stomach before shooting PC Schofield dead. PS Findlay was also shot but was saved by his breast pocket notebook, which deflected the bullet into his arm.

Von Bulow escaped but was later arrested on the day of PC Schofield’s funeral, which took place at St. Mary’s Church, Caterham, six days later. In March 1975 Von Bulow was sentenced to life imprisonment for Murder. PS Findlay later received the Queen’s commendation for brave conduct.

The North Downs Way, a popular National trail with walkers passes very close to the town.

Commerce

Caterham Cars, makers of the Caterham Seven sports car, are based in Station Avenue although the cars are actually manufactured in Dartford. Though this was after the company expanded. When Caterhams were 1st built, they were built in a small factory behind a petrol station on Caterham-on-the-Hill. In 2007 Caterham Cars celebrated its 50th anniversary.

The Caterham Bypass was the world's first bypass.

Sport

Sports teams based in Caterham include youth football teams Caterham Pumas and Queens Park FC, and Old Caterhamians Rugby Football Club, which was established in 1928. Caterham Cricket Club previously played in Queen's Park and now share facilities with the rugby club. Caterham Sea Cadets, formed in 1942, also participate in a number of watersports activities.

Education

Caterham School

Caterham School is a co-educational day and boarding school for pupils aged 3 -18 years on the outskirts of Caterham. Angus Deayton, Alistair Brown, and James Benning (both Surrey Cricketers) attended the school.

de Stafford School

de Stafford School is a public school for students age 11-18. It is located on Burntwood Lane. Former pupil being a writer for Eastender- Richard Zadlic.

East Surrey Museum

The small East Surrey Museum near the station houses a local history collection. It is open on Wednesdays and at weekends and admission is free.

See also

• London Defence Positions

Pubs

• The Harrow
• The Valley Pub (formerly the Fountain and before that The Commonwealth)
• The Old Surrey Hounds
• The Royal Oak
• The Blacksmith's Arms
• The King and Queen
• The Golden Lion
• The Village Inn (formerly The Caterham Arms and before that The Asylum Tavern)
• The Clifton Arms
• The Tally Ho!
• The Pilgrim

References

http://www.surrey.police.uk/aboutus_history_item.asp?artid=4754

External links

• Page for Caterham in Kelly's Directory of Kent, Surrey & Sussex, 1891