CATERHAM
Katerham; Katterham.
Caterham parish measures about 3 miles from
north to south, from a mile to a mile and a-half from
east to west, and contains 2,438 acres. By Order
in Council dated November 1910 the detached
portion of Tandridge parish, otherwise known as
Tillingdon, which joins Caterham on the east, was
added to this parish. The village is 7 miles south
of Croydon. It is served by the Caterham Valley
line of the South-Eastern railway, which leaves
Purley, formerly Caterham Junction, and runs up
the bottom of the Caterham Valley to a terminus at
Caterham. Warlingham station is just in Caterham,
and the London, Brighton and South Coast railway
at Upper Warlingham is also largely used by
Caterham residents. The parish is on the Chalk
downs, but they are in great part capped by clay
and gravel. The bottom of the Caterham Valley
contains alluvial gravel, and was once the bed of a
stream, the head waters of the Wandle, which ran
down into the Smitham Valley bottom, and so to
Croydon. A winter bourne still breaks out intermittently in the neighbourhood of Caterham. In
1904 and 1910 water ran down on the surface from
the top of the valley to the Wandle near Croydon;
but the extensive waterworks of the East Surrey
Water Company and of the Henley Water Company,
amalgamated with it, have made this bourne less
frequent and less copious in its flow.
The fortification upon White Hill, described under
Blechingley, is partly in Caterham. Many neolithic
flakes and some implements have been found.
Stanested Heath, or Stanestreet Heath (called in
deeds Stane Street or Stoney Street, see Chaldon), and
the old inn the 'Harrow' upon it, suggest the continuation of, or more probably a branch from the
Roman road which ran north and south through
Godstone. The reputed Pilgrims' Way crosses the
line of this road. (fn. 1) The open ground near the
Harrow is now called Platt's Green.
The old village lies at the head of the valley, high
up the hill, and the high ground rising still further
south of it reaches 750 ft. above the sea. White Hill
Tower was built on this high ground by Mr. Jeremiah
Long in 1862. The old church of St. Lawrence is
600 ft. above the sea. It is now only used for the
purposes of a Sunday school, a new parish church of
St. Mary having been built opposite to it. The
manor-house stands to the south-west of the old
church; it is a brick building dating from the 18th
century. The whole of the valley and the slopes
on either side are now full of houses of various sizes,
from small estates to cottages. Only south of the
old village, on the highest part of the chalk, further
from the railway, the parish is distinctly rural still.
The commons were inclosed by an award of 13 June
1853.
Caterham is ruled by an urban district council
of fifteen members, and is divided into five wards.
Public offices with a memorial hall (in memory of the
late Mr. W. Garland) are now in course of erection.
Within the parish is the Guards' Depot; the barracks
were built in 1877 and enlarged in 1897 to hold
1,400 men. In the old village is a Soldiers' Home,
built by Mr. John Newbery in 1898. Inside the
barrack-yard is a chapel in 13th-century style, with
an aisle for Roman Catholic soldiers. Not far from
the barracks on the high ground is the Metropolitan
Asylum for Imbeciles, built in 1870. It consists of
thirteen houses and a chapel, with a detached house
for infectious illnesses. It holds nearly 2,000 persons.
Caterham County Council school was built in 1872
and enlarged in 1893 and 1909. In 1725 'an
English School' was included in a return made to
Bishop Willis. A parish school was opened in 1804,
called 'a School for the Improvement of Children,'
and its buildings were enlarged in 1852 and 1858.
It was superseded by the Board school of 1872.
A Roman Catholic school was built in 1881.
Sherbrooke is the residence of the Viscountess
Sherbrooke; Essendene of Mr. W. S. Warren;
Arthur's Seat of Mr. A. W. Long Parkhouse;
Greenland of Mr. H. G. Poland; St. Bernards of
Sir G. C. Marks, M.P.; Burntwood of Mr. E.
Coles, and Shortfurrows of Mr. P. H. Hall. In the
Stanstead Road is Oakhyrst, the residence of Mr. L.
Welstead, also Woodlands of Mr. H. Lloyd, Broomfield of Mrs. Winter, Stanstead of Mr. A. T. Groom,
and Stone House of Mrs. Blacket Gill.
Caterham Valley or Lower Caterham is, as the
name implies, that part of the parish which lies in
and on either side of the valley, for the most part
north-east of the old village. It is divided into two
ecclesiastical districts, which together have a larger
population than the rest of the old parish. There
are several large modern houses here. Shirley Goss
is the seat of Major-Gen. Sibley; Harestone of
Mrs. W. G. Soper; Beechlands of Mr. Charles
Asprey; Beechhanger Court of Sir Theodore Fry.
The public hall was built in 1888, and the cottage
hospital in 1903 by Mr. Charles Braine. The latter
was enlarged in 1910. The Congregational school
for the sons of ministers, founded at Lewisham in
1811, was removed to the Caterham Valley in 1884,
and is now recognized as a secondary school for boys.
The buildings, which will hold 150 boys, are of red
brick with stone dressings, gabled. The Caterham
Valley County Council school was built by the School
Board in 1876 for 300 children, with an average
attendance in 1907 of 185. The Caterham Valley
Church school was built in 1885 for 300 children,
with an average attendence in 1907 of 160.
Whyteleafe is a populous district which has sprung
up upon the Caterham Valley line within the parishes
of Caterham, Warlingham and Coulsdon. Whyteleafe station, on this line, is in Warlingham parish.
It is now a separate ecclesiastical district. The place
derives its name from a field which was called Whiteleaf Field, from the aspens growing in it; this was
bought by Mr. Glover in 1855 as a site for a house
in a then scarcely inhabited valley. Other houses
were built near it and a post office was established,
called after Mr. Glover's house Whiteleaf. The more
fanciful spelling was introduced later. The Whyteleafe Road from Catcrham Rectory to the Croydon
Road was constructed by the late Mr. Drew. The
population of Whyteleafe is now larger than that of
Warlingham village. There is a school, built in
1892 and enlarged in 1900 and 1907. A county
council secondary school for girls has been set up
in this year (1911).
MANORS
The Domesday Survey records the
existence of a nameless manor in Tandridge Hundred held of Odo Bishop of
Bayeux by a certain Hugh which has been identified
with CATERHAM
(fn. 2) but it seems more likely that
this was Warlingham (vide infra). There is little
trace of tenure here during the 12th century; but in
the reign of King John Roger son of Everard de
Gaist gave the church to the monastery of Waltham
Holy Cross. (fn. 3) It seems possible that the family of
Gaist also held the manor. Deeds relating to the
hospital of St. Thomas the Martyr in Southwark show
that Geoffrey of Caterham gave lands in Caterham to
his son Roger, (fn. 4) and Everard son of Roger afterwards gave certain lands to the hospital. (fn. 5) Later the
hospital appears as holding lands there which had
been of the fee of Everard son of Roger of Caterham, (fn. 6)
and which owed rent and service to Roger son of
Everard. (fn. 7) If it be possible to identify this family
with that of the Gaists, as from the repetition of the
names Roger and Everard seems plausible, it will be
seen that it was the last-mentioned Roger who gave
the church to Waltham. This
monastery certainly acquired
land here which it held as a
manor, (fn. 8) and the abbot and
canons received a grant of
free warren in their demesne
lands of Caterham in 1253. (fn. 9)
In 1272 the abbot was stated
to hold a tenement in Caterham which was of 'Robert le
Justur.' (fn. 10)

Waltham Abbev. Argent a cross engrailed sable with five crosslets fitchy or thereon.
The monastery held the
manor until the Dissolution, (fn. 11)
after which, in 1544, a grant
in fee was made to William
Sackville, (fn. 12) described as a
justice of the peace and server in the king's chamber, (fn. 13) against whom a complaint was afterwards
brought by John Woodward, to whom the manor
had been demised at farm by the abbot, and who
alleged that William Sackville had turned him out of
the premises and put him in fear of his life. (fn. 14) In
1553 William Sackville and Eleanor his wife alienated
the manor to Robert Hartopp, citizen and goldsmith,
of London, (fn. 15) who died seised of the manor and site in
1555, his son Elias succeeding him. (fn. 16) The heir of
Elias Hartopp was his nephew John. (fn. 17) In 1609 Joan
Hartopp, apparently the heiress of John, conveyed
the manor to George Evelyn, (fn. 18) who settled it on his
son Sir John on the latter's marriage with Elizabeth
Cocks. (fn. 19) Sir John Evelyn sold to James Linch, who
died seised in 1640, (fn. 20) his heirs being his three granddaughters, Eleanor, Susan and Elizabeth Gauntlett,
children of his daughter Sarah, who had married
Emmanuel Gauntlett. (fn. 21) Of these, Susan, by virtue of a
previous settlement, became seised of Caterham, with
remainder to her heirs male or in default to those of
Elizabeth, and finally to those of John Linch their
cousin. (fn. 22) Susan married Robert Hussey, member of a
Dorset family, and they had a son James. (fn. 23) In 1699
Robert son of James Hussey, with the heir of John
Linch, sold the manor to George Roffey, (fn. 24) who died
in 1708, having devised Caterham to his daughter
Joan and her heirs with remainder to his nephew
George Roffey. (fn. 25) The latter held in 1742, (fn. 26) and
appears to have bequeathed the manor in separate
moieties to his sons Richard and George, who in
1770 severally conveyed their respective shares to
Matthew Robinson. (fn. 27) The latter, with Sarah his
wife, conveyed to Richard Hewetson some ten years
later, (fn. 28) and from him it descended to his nephew
Henry Hewetson, who held in the early 19th century. (fn. 29)
According to Brayley, all manorial rights had by this
time ceased to be exercised, and although Henry
Hewetson during his tenure was said to have laid
claim to the lordship of the manor, William Hewetson,
nephew of Henry, who had succeeded before 1841,
was not considered to hold the manor. (fn. 30)
Manning states that the demesne lands had for
years been separated from the manor itself and sold
to Henry Rowed, whose son Henry settled the estate
on his wife Susan Glover in 1765. Their daughter
Katherine succeeded to the estate after the death of
her parents. (fn. 31)
A second manor of Caterham is first mentioned
after the Dissolution. (fn. 32) It was probably part of the
original manor held by Waltham Abbey and was
retained as a separate manor after the suppression of
the abbey by the family of Best, who had been
tenants of the main manor (q.v.) under the abbot at
the time of the Dissolution. This second manor was
held in 1511 by Richard Best. (fn. 33) In 1572 Thomas
Jerbard died seised of a moiety which he held in the
right of his wife Elizabeth, a daughter and co-heir of
William Best. (fn. 34) William Jerbard the son conveyed
this moiety in 1577 to William Richebell, (fn. 35) who
seems to have acquired the other half after 1585, for
he was found to be seised of
the whole manor in 1594
when he conveyed it to Ralph
Pratt. (fn. 36) Ralph settled the
manor on his son Charles, who
married Elizabeth Parish, and
they in 1607 conveyed to
William Jordan and Katherine
his wife, (fn. 37) from whom it
passed to Edmund Jordan of
Charlwood, in whose family it
remained until after 1712. (fn. 38)
In 1616 William Jordan
received a grant of court
leet and view of frankpledge
in Caterham, Woldingham, Farley and Chelsham. (fn. 39)

Jordan. Sable an eagle bendwise between two cotises argent and a chief or.
The manor was purchased from the Jordans by
Sir Isaac Shard, who held his first court in 1726. (fn. 40)
He was succeeded by William Shard, (fn. 41) who by
fine of 1790 conveyed to Thomas Clark. (fn. 42) The
latter held in 1825 (fn. 43) and afterwards sold to Charles
Day of the firm of Day & Martin, after whose
death this manor, with the rest of his property,
fell into Chancery. (fn. 44) It was bought from Day's
trustees in 1858 by Mr. George Drew, who in 1859
conveyed it to Mr. George Henry Drew, a taxing
master in the High Court. In 1908 Drew's trustees
sold it to Mr. W. L. Williams, the present lord of
the manor. (fn. 45)
CATERHAM, PORKELEY or PORTELE,
UPWODE, GATIERS and HALYNGBURY.
—In
the 13th century Sir John Haunsard, kt., quitclaimed to the hospital of St. Thomas in Southwark
the service which the brothers had been wont to
render him for land held of him in Caterham, viz.
4d. rent and suit at court. (fn. 46) In 1245 there was a
dispute between Haunsard and the Abbot of Waltham
concerning the advowson of Caterham, to which the
former finally renounced his claim. (fn. 47) At his death
in 1275 Haunsard held a manor of Caterham of Sir
John d'Abernon for a quarter of a knight's fee. (fn. 48)
An overlordship mentioned below, however, belonged
to the Earls of Arundel, (fn. 49) so that if it was of the
same land d'Abernon must have been a mesne lord.
The inquisition on Haunsard stated that he had sold
the manor to Isabel Countess of Gloucester, who had
re-granted it for life to Sir John and Gundreda his
wife. This transaction must have been previous to
the year 1240. (fn. 50) In 1372 Ralph Earl of Stafford,
who had married the daughter and heir of Margaret
de Audley, one of the co-heirs of Gilbert de Clare
Earl of Gloucester, died seised of a tenement in
Caterham held of the Earl of Arundel and of one in
Porkele. (fn. 51) Land called Porkele had been formerly
included in the manor given to Waltham Abbey. (fn. 52)
The Earl of Stafford's heirs held it of this abbey, and
there is no evidence that Haunsard ever held Porkele. (fn. 53)
Both holdings, however, passed to the Dukes of
Buckingham. (fn. 54) Humphrey Duke of Buckingham held
the manors of Caterham, Porkele, Upwode, Gatiers
and Halyngbury, all in this parish, in 1458, when he
settled them on his third son John, afterwards Earl of
Wiltshire, and Constance his wife. (fn. 55) At the death
of Humphrey it was found that the manor of Caterham was worth 20s., while the values of Upwode,
Gatiers and Halyngbury were 26s. 8d., 20s. 6d. and
13s. 4d respectively. (fn. 56) The son of John Earl of
Wiltshire died without issue in 1499, when by the
terms of the settlement of 1458 the lands reverted to
the elder branch. On the attainder of Edward Duke
of Buckingham in 1521 these lands in Caterham
were seized by the Crown, being described as
manors, but in a further inquisition the jury stated
that, as far as concerns this parish, the duke was
seised only of three messuages and 1,000 acres called
Porkele, Upwode, Gatiers, and Halyngbury, and of
4s. 6d. rent in Caterham. (fn. 57) A grant of these lands
was made to Lord Berners in 1528, (fn. 58) but apparently
they reverted to the Crown in 1533 when Lord
Berners died in debt; they were granted by
Henry VIII in that year to Arthur Uvedale, Robert
Southwell and George Townshende, (fn. 59) apparently
trustees. In 1570 Thomas Sackville Lord Buckhurst
held the 'manor of Caterham and Portele farm,'
which he conveyed in that year to Henry Shelley. (fn. 60)
They evidently passed to Sir Thomas Sondes, as in
1599 Lady Margaret Sondes, then his widow, leased
'all her manors and lands in Caterham, late the
possessions of Henry Shelley, Esq.,' to Henry Brooke
Lord Cobham, her half-brother, and in 1615, after
Cobham's attainder, Frances Leveson widow, daughter
and heir of Sir Thomas Sondes and Margaret, granted
the remainder of the lease to Sir Edward Barrett and
Walter Barrett. (fn. 61) The manor was held in 1612 by
Sir Richard Sondes, son of Sir Thomas's brother and
heir-male. (fn. 62) It was conveyed in that year to George
Ede, (fn. 63) from whom it passed in 1616 to Jasper
Ockley. (fn. 64) Manning says that the property afterwards
came into the possession of Sir Isaac Shard, whose
heir conveyed it, with the second manor of Caterham,
to Thomas Clark. It passed to Mr. Charles Day and
to Mr. Drew. In 1908 it was bought from the
trustees of Mr. G. H. Drew by Mr. W. L. Williams,
who resides at Portley. (fn. 65)

Plan of Caterham Church
SALMONS.
—In 1339 John de Horne released a
house and lands in Warlingham and Caterham to
Roger Salaman, (fn. 66) who at his death in 1343 was
seised of a tenement in this parish. (fn. 67) It does not
appear to be mentioned again in connexion with this
family, but was probably the so-called manor of
Salmons held here in 1605 by William Jordan, (fn. 68)
who soon afterwards acquired the second manor of
Caterham (q.v.) with which Salmons afterwards
descended. It was bought out of Chancery, into
which it went on the death of Day, by Mr. G. H.
Drew, who sold to Mrs. Horne. Her trustee now
owns it, and members of her family still reside there.
CHURCHES
The church of ST. LAWRENCE,
built of flint, Godstone stone and brick,
with tiled roofs, stands in a pleasant
churchyard somewhat overshadowed by trees and overgrown with ivy. It is used only for Sunday schools and
children's services, and the interior is in a state of some
dilapidation. In plan it consists of nave 26 ft. 6 in.
by 16 ft., chancel 24 ft. 9 in. by 12 ft. 9 in. at the
west and 13 ft. 9 in. at the east, and spacious north
aisle 38 ft. 4 in. by 15 ft. On the north of the aisle
is a vestry and there is a south porch to the nave,
both comparatively modern. At the west end of
the nave is a small boarded bell-turret. Despite
additions and alterations, the plan and dimensions of
the first church can be easily made out and two-thirds of its walls remain in position. It was a
simple aisleless structure consisting of nave 26 ft. 6 in.
by 15 ft.—a foot narrower than at present—and
chancel 12 ft. 9 in. wide, by the same or perhaps a
slightly greater length. The walls of this period,
which may be dated at about 1100, are from
2 ft. 9 in. to 3 ft. in thickness, and in the south wall
of the nave one of the original windows has survived
in a truly remarkable manner nearly complete. It lies
rather to the east of the centre of the wall, and is a
round-headed opening, only about 4 in. wide externally, with a small chamfer off the feather-edge of
the splay, the internal arch of which is in very good
preservation. In about 1190 an aisle was thrown
out, causing this window to be blocked up, and this
aisle, which had two pointed arches, with oblong
chamfered pier in the centre, and square responds,
was itself destroyed, probably early in the 14th
century, the arches being then or soon afterwards
filled in, and a doorway and window placed within
the western and eastern arches respectively. The
window now has wooden tracery, inserted early in
the 19th century in place of the stonework. Four
periods of work are thus represented in this short
piece of wall. The aisle arches have square-edged
imposts, with hollow and quirk mouldings, and the
narrow chamfers of the arches have stops of different
patterns just above the springing. The doorway has
a good hood moulding and the single order of arch
and jambs has a broad hollow on the angle with a
pyramidal stop above the floor level. Over this door
is an image niche of about the same date (c. 1320)
having an ogee-trefoiled head within a square with
sunk spandrels. The west window, of brick, with
wooden tracery, dates only from about 1800.
At about the same date (c. 1190) as the building
of the south aisle of the nave an arch was opened in
the western part of the south wall of the chancel
communicating with a chapel, which was perhaps
destroyed at an earlier date than the aisle, though
the arch itself remains. In it is inserted a low-side
window of lancet shape, not later, apparently, than
the middle of the 13th century. The eastern respond
of the arch has an impost of somewhat similar section
to those in the nave, but in addition a capital of
trefoil foliage and a little man's head. Beyond this
arch is a priest's door of c. 1250, with good mouldings, but externally disfigured by a hood moulding
of Roman cement, added c. 1800. (fn. 69)
In about 1220 the church was again enlarged.
The chancel was probably extended to its present
length and the large aisle thrown out to the north,
passing beyond the limits of the nave to the east and
so forming a spacious chapel, as well as doubling the
area of the body of the church. The arcade is of
two somewhat wide-pointed arches with a slender
circular column and responds of semi-octagon plan,
all resting upon the rough foundation of the demolished wall. A peculiarly interesting feature in the
spandrel of the two arches is the circular bracket
supported by a grotesque head with pointed ears and
arms coming out from the back, the hands of which,
shaped like rats' paws, are holding open a gaping
mouth filled with great teeth. Evidently this monster
supported an image, perhaps that of St. Lawrence.
A small piece of the early external north-east nave
quoin is now to be seen on the aisle side of this
arcade. Beyond this an arch has been roughly
pierced through the thick 12th-century wall to communicate with the chancel. This arch is of a rude
pointed shape, in one order having narrow chamfers
with capitals in Roman cement. This may perhaps
be earlier than that of the north aisle and chapel,
and if so there must have been a smaller chapel on
the site before these were built.
The walls and windows of the north aisle have been
modernized externally. In the north wall is a small
and narrow doorway with pointed head, c. 1220,
disguised by Roman cement, which now leads to the
vestry of c. 1800. There are diagonal brick buttresses
of the latter date at the north-east and north-west
angles of this aisle, and one of pilaster form at the
east end of the chancel, north side. The east window
of the chancel dates from c. 1800, at which time the
eastern part of the south wall appears to have been
rebuilt a foot thinner, the stones of the rebuilt part
being the destroyed tracery, &c., of the mediaeval
windows. (fn. 70) There is a splay at the junction with
the original wall, part of a destroyed early 13thcentury window. (fn. 71) The north wall of the chancel
has no trace of windows or other features, and may
have been rebuilt or refaced in modern times.
Owing to the thinning of the north wall of the
nave in about 1220 the chancel arch, placed centrally
with the chancel, is markedly out of the centre of the
nave. It would appear to have replaced a narrower
early 12th-century arch in about 1250, being thus
about thirty years later than the north arcade. Its
design is both elegant and unusual. There are no
shafts, and the square piers have merely a hollow
moulding between two small chamfers on the angles,
rising from graceful 'cushion' stops. The arch consists
of a hood moulding of the scroll section (but different
on the two faces) having 'mask' stops, and two orders
moulded as the jambs, the outer order and hood
being segmental, while the inner is protracted to the
springing line, 3 ft. 9 in. from the floor, so that it
dies into the vertical face of the pier. There are
three steps up from the nave to the chancel, and
others to the sacrarium. Some curious 'Gothic'
ornamentation in stucco in the archway and quatrefoil
windows of the porch, c. 1800, deserves notice.
The roofs of chancel, nave and aisle are ancient, as
are the timbers of the small boarded bell-turret at the
west end. They are at present ceiled, but are of
large size, in sound condition and regularly laid, the
date appearing to be the 13th century.
Within the chancel arch is the base of a destroyed
oak screen, a plain piece of framework, possibly as old
as the arch. There are other fragments of old woodwork, mostly of 17th and 18th-century date, worked
up into the pewing and furniture, such as a readingdesk, but of no great value; many of the old high
pews remain, in a very dilapidated state. The
17th-century communion table and the font have
been removed to St. John's Church. The font is of
c. 1220, with circular bowl of curious design, having
a central drum and four shafts, with capitals worked
out of the bowl, and bases. It bears a close resemblance to the font of Henfield Church, Sussex.
Many traces of paintings of more than one period
were discovered during a recent search, but nothing
of any definite character has so far come to light. A
good deal of red colour is to be seen in the western
part of the north wall of the aisle. No ancient glass
remains in the windows.
The only old monument of any interest is a fragment of a slab built into the north wall of the chancel,
bearing a rude incised cross, with cusping at the
junction of the arms and an inscription of which there
remains only ihs .... g … le ..... t. The date
is probably late 14th or early 15th century.
Tool marks on the successive periods of stonework
are very fresh and worthy of study.
There are two bells, dated 1664.
None of the plate is of any antiquity or interest,
the date of the earliest piece being 1806.
The registers date from 1543.
The church of ST. MARY THE VIRGIN, now
the parish church of Caterham, stands on the crest of
the hill opposite the old church. It is of flint with
stone dressings and is built in the Early English
style.
The Roman Catholic church of the Sacred Heart
was dedicated by Cardinal Manning in 1881. It is of
Reigate and Bargate stone, built in 13th-century style.
The Upper Caterham Congregational chapel was
opened in 1876.
The church of ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST,
CATERHAM VALLEY, was built in 1882, and a
parish assigned to it in 1884. The church is of stone,
in 14th-century style, with chancel, nave, aisles and a
tower at the west end. The 13th-century font and
the 17th-century communion table from the old
disused church at Caterham have been placed in this
church.
The church of ST. LUKE, WHYTELEAFE, was
built in 1866. A parish including part of Warlingham
and Coulsdon parishes, as well as part of Caterham,
was assigned to it in the same year. The church is
of red brick, with some resemblance to the Early
English style.
There is a large Congregational chapel in Harestone Valley with a detached tower. There are
also Wesleyan and Baptist chapels in Caterham
Valley.
ADVOWSON
As has been shown, Roger de Gaist
gave the church of Caterham to
Waltham Abbey during the reign of
John. (fn. 72) At that time it was dedicated in honour of
St. Leonard, but the invocation has since been changed
to St. Lawrence. Roger also bequeathed an annual
rent of 2s., payable at All Saints, to 'be spent on oil for
a lamp before the altar of All Saints in this church, to
illumine and ornament the said church for ever.' (fn. 73)
A vicarage was ordained before 1305, (fn. 74) the patronage
being in the hands of the abbot and convent. The
small tithes and a moiety of the great tithes were
allotted to the vicar, who was also to have the whole
building of the church. (fn. 75) It seems that the church
of Caterham was at one time required to pay pensions
of 20s. and 5s. to the churches of Nutfield and
Gatton respectively, should the rectors of these
churches stand in need of help, but the Abbot and
convent of Waltham were afterwards made answerable
for these sums. (fn. 76)
After the Dissolution the rectory and advowson
were granted to William Sackville and followed the
descent of the manor (q.v.) until the 18th century.
George Roffey, who eventually succeeded his uncle,
who died in 1708, held the manor and church also,
but his sons sold the advowson in 1764, according to
Manning, (fn. 77) to Joseph Hodgkin, who presented to the
church in 1769. (fn. 78) Manning also states that it was
afterwards purchased by Solomon Hesse, who gave it
to his grandson, James Legrew. The latter was the
incumbent in 1808, (fn. 79) and the presentation has since
remained in this family.
At a survey taken of the manor and parsonage of
Caterham in 1539 the inhabitants declared that it
had been customary for the farmer of the manor
and the vicar of the church to receive each a moiety
of the tithes and that the vicar had also from time
out of mind received a pension of 26s. 8d. for the
increase of his living. (fn. 80) In 1617 George Evelyn,
lord of Caterham, received licence to grant his moiety
of the tithes of corn in Caterham to the vicar and
his successors 'for their better maintenance.' (fn. 81)
CHARITIES
By the award of 13 January 1853,
under which Caterham commons
were inclosed, an allotment was made
for recreation and another for fuel.
Between 1884 and 1890 Charles Asprey by will
gave £360 to the vicar and churchwardens of
St. John's, Caterham Valley, for the poor of the
district. (fn. 82)
Smith's charity is distributed as in other Surrey
parishes.