Alfold is a village and civil parish in Surrey, England on the West Sussex border. Alfold is a dispersed or polyfocal village in the Green Belt, which is buffered from all other settlements. The Greensand Way runs north of the village along the Greensand Ridge and two named localities exist to the north and south of the historic village centre which features pubs, a set of stocks and a whipping post.

Alfold Crossways has a country park, recreational ground and a garden centre whereas Alfold's centre has a village store and the Anglican parish church. The population was 1,059 in the 2011 UK census.

Etymology

Alfold—also recorded as Aldfold or Awfold—meant the "old fold" or clearing enclosure for cattle, which is apt as it was in a much-wooded area of The Weald (meaning forest in Old and Middle English) prior to being cleared for farming.

History

Early glass making, evidence of which can be seen in Sidney Wood, appears to provide the oldest trace of land use in the village. The glass industry in Alfold ended around 1615 when using charcoal was banned in glass production.

A Baptist chapel was erected in 1883, and an elementary school in 1876.

Significant other homes mentioned in 1911 were Sydney Manor and Sachel Court; Sachel Court was owned by Thomas Smith Wharrie, an engineer in Scotland and director of British Mutual Banking Company Ltd.

  • Alfold House (Grade II*)
  • Alfold Stores/The Magnolias (Grade II*)
  • Carrier/Cherry Tree cottages
  • Rosemary Croft
  • Church Cottage and Great Nicholas Church Room and
  • Crown Cottage.

Localities

Alfold Crossways

thumb|upright|Sir Roger Tichborne pub, Alfold Bars

Also sometimes mistakenly recorded as Alford Crossways this hamlet or locality has more buildings in northern part of the village, around the crossroads of the A281 (Guildford-Horsham road) and the Arundel Road to the village centre. Here there are the following:

  • Wildwood Country Park
  • A Garden Centre
  • A recreation ground
  • Medieval moated site and associated pillow mound, Wildwood Copse, Scheduled Ancient Monument
  • Orchard Cottage
  • Waggoners Cottage
  • Great Wildwood Farmhouse with Haybarn
  • Caters Croft/Welby Cottage
  • Little Pound/The Pound

Alfold Bars

This smaller also generally less old, southern part of the village has only one listed building, the Sir Roger Tichbourne Inn, see Tichborne baronets and Tichborne, Hampshire for Roger's family history. Alford Bars is situated just into West Sussex, with the county border at the north of the small area.

Sport

The village's football club, Alfold F.C. play in the Southern Combination League.

Demography and housing

{| class="wikitable"

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|+ 2011 Census Homes

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!Output area !!Detached !!Semi-detached!!Terraced!!Flats and apartments!!Caravans/temporary/mobile homes!!shared between households