The village name comes from the distinctive white underside of the whitebeam trees growing in the area.[2] In 1855 Nathaniel Glover purchased White Leaf field and George Henry Drew later completed the building that was called "White Leafe House". By 1881 the surrounding area had become known as "Whiteleafe".[3] As with Kenley the history of its land before that was that of other parishes, in this case Caterham and to a lesser extent Warlingham and Coulsdon.
Its first primary school was built in 1892, enlarged in 1900 and again in 1907.
In 1911 the population of Whyteleafe was "now larger than that of Warlingham village...A county council secondary school for girls has been set up in this year (1911)."[4]
Amenities
Whyteleafe has various shops and amenities. To the south of Whyteleafe are the headquarters of Gold Group International, the largest employer in the parish boundaries.[5]
Whyteleafe School, is a primary school which is part of the multi academy trust GLF and is situated at the bottom of Whyteleafe Hill. It makes use of the site of the former Whyteleafe Girls' Grammar School, vacated in the late 1970s. Warlingham School (secondary) is at the top of Tithe Pit Shaw Lane, on the edge of Whyteleafe in the east.
There are three railway stations: Whyteleafe South, Whyteleafe and Upper Warlingham. All three stations are served by Southern services. The Godstone road (A22) cuts through north to south. Bus routes407, 434 and 439 serve the area and run from Coulsdon, Croydon, Sutton, Waddon Marsh and Caterham. Whyteleafe village grew after the railway came on its way to Caterham in 1856. A second line, the Oxted Line, following a slightly higher contour, opened in 1884. It serves different destinations to the south but also runs to London Bridge or Victoria.
Sport and leisure
AFC Whyteleafe is the main football club following the closure of Whyteleafe F.C. in 2021. AFC Whyteleafe, like its predessor plays in grounds on Church Road where the former club moved in 1959, when it moved from the field off New Barn Lane, now utilised by the adjacent Kenley School. Separate from its ground in the west of town is the large recreation ground below wooded hills in the east of town which has informal sports fields and a playground.[6]
Caterham and Whyteleafe Tennis Club is located in Manor Park near Whyteleafe South Station.[7] The Surrey National Golf Club is located in nearby Chaldon.[8]
Local government
Civil Parishes in Tandridge District
Surrey County Council, headquartered in Reigate, elected every four years, has one councillor representing Caterham Valley, which incorporates the civil parishes of Caterham Valley and Whyteleafe.
Whyteleafe is one of 21 civil parish councils in Tandridge District electing seven parish councillors every four years.[11] The parish council clerk is Simon Bold.
^Packham, Roger; Fookes, Gwyneth, eds. (2006). A History of Whyteleafe. [Sanderstead, U.K.]: The Bourne Society. p. 153. ISBN978-0-900992-67-4.
^Packham, Roger; Fookes, Gwyneth, eds. (2006). A History of Whyteleafe. [Sanderstead, U.K.]: The Bourne Society. p. 36. ISBN978-0-900992-67-4.
^H.E. Malden, ed. (1912). "Parishes: Caterham". A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 4. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 1 December 2013.
The administrative centre is Oxted. The largest town is Caterham. Three of the post towns have urban centres Caterham, Godstone and Oxted. Lingfield and Warlingham are major villages which have post town status. The others are outside the area.
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