Chobham, Surrey
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Coordinates: 51°20′53″N 0°36′14″W / 51.3481°N 0.6038°W
| Chobham | |
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  Chobham shown within Surrey |
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| Population | 3,800 |
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| OS grid reference | |
| District | Surrey Heath |
| Shire county | Surrey |
| Region | South East |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Woking |
| Postcode district | GU24 |
| Dialling code | 01276 |
| Police | Surrey |
| Fire | Surrey |
| Ambulance | South East Coast |
| European Parliament | South East England |
| UK Parliament | Surrey Heath |
| List of places: UK • England • Surrey | |
- Not to be confused with Cobham, Surrey.
Chobham, Surrey is a village in NW Surrey, England, about 15 minutes drive from the London railway line stations at Woking to the south and Sunningdale to the north. The River Bourne runs through the village and floods it occasionally.[1]
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[edit] History
The village lay within the Godley hundred, a Saxon administrative area.
Chobham appears in Domesday Book as Cebeham. It was held by Chertsey Abbey. Its Domesday assets were: 10 hides; 1 church, 1 chapel, 16 ploughs, 10 acres (40,000 m2) of meadow, woodland worth 130 hogs. It rendered £15 10s 0d.[2]
St Lawrence Church is on the High Street. Its earliest parts date from about 1080 although there may have been an earlier church on the site. It is dedicated to St Lawrence, who was martyred in Rome in 258.
Then surrounded by Chobham Common, which was heathland of little agricultural value, the village was a poor rural isolated community. During mediaeval times, Chobham was part of the Chertsey Abbey estates. The abbots' management was conservative and restrictive.[citation needed]
When the railways were built in the 19th century, the main lines went north and south of the village, passing through the nearby then smaller villages of Sunningdale and Woking. Thus Chobham has remained largely undeveloped whilst Woking has grown into the large town it is today. Chobham is probably most famous for the tank factory that was once carved out of Chobham Common and created Chobham armour. However, there are also the reputed "treacle mines" (where it is said soldiers buried their treacle tins before going off to the Crimean war). Queen Victoria visited their camp.
[edit] Today
This corner of Surrey is one of the fastest developing areas in Britain[citation needed] with house prices to match. Its location between the M3 and M25 motorways and the expansion of nearby Heathrow Airport combine to increase the demand for land for industry and housing as well as greatly increasing the traffic that the village is required to bear.
The four pubs in the area are:
- The Grove, towards Knaphill, with a public bar and a saloon bar, holds regular live music and karaoke.
- The Red Lion, Burrowhill, recently renovated and over 21s only.
- The Sun Inn, the last remaining pub in the High Street - saved by local villagers who bought it to prevent it being converted to a restaurant.
- The Four Horseshoes, at Burrowhill - classical English village green setting, complete with a baker and blacksmith. There is an area to sit outside in the summer time.
Chobham Rugby Club has 6 senior teams, the 1st XV, 2nd XV (Cannons), 3rd XV, 4th XV (Devils), 5th XV (Crusaders)& Veterans (Martyrs).
The 1st XV play in London Division 2 South (Level 6), finishing third in their first season at this level (07/08). All four other senior teams play in the John O'Neil and Partners Surrey Reverse leagues. The Devils won their league cup in the 2006/7 season. Chobham won London 3SW in 2006/07.
There is also a large junior and mini section with many County and Divisional players. One of the products of the youth system, Dan Frazier, has just signed with NEC Harlequins at 18.
Chobham & District Rifle Club is celebrating its centenary this year (2009). Throughout it's 100 years of shooting the Club actively enters teams and individuals in County and National Club league competitions and all members are encouraged to shoot competitively. Many members actively participate in Open Meetings organised by other clubs across the south-east. These Open competitions are held at weekends, throughout the summer months, for .22 prone rifle over 50 yards/meters and 100 yards outdoors. The highpoint of the shooting year is in August when the British Championships are held at Bisley - shooters of any ability can enjoy the atmosphere of an international competition and compete in a week full of events.
[edit] Notable residents
Peter Gabriel of the band Genesis was born here.[3]
Simon Posford aka Hallucinogen was born here.
