Ashtead, Surrey

Description
Ashtead, a parish in Surrey, with a station on the L. & S.W. and L.B.&S.C. railways, 16 miles from London, and 2 SW of Epsom. It has a post, money order, and telegraph office. Acres, 2651; population, 1351. Ashtead Park, the seat of the Ralli family, is a splendid mansion, and contains some good pictures. The park has some venerable old oaks and elms, and a long avenue of limes, and is well stocked with deer. Ashtead Common, above the park, commands picturesque views; and contains, among wood, an ancient entrenchment. The Roman Stone Street passed through the parish, and has left relics in the materials of the church. There is a mineral spring similar to that of Epsom. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Winchester. Value, £325. The church is an ancient structure, with a tower, and embodies Roman bricks and tiles in its walls, but has undergone numerous alterations. Sir Robert Howard used to entertain Charles II. in a mansion which occupied the site of the present Ashtead House. An almshouse for eight poor widows has £44 from endowment, and other charities £16. There is an iron church, with sittings for 150.