IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Wilton Road, REDHILL, RH1 6QR

Named after the Redhill Brook, a small section of which is visible at the northern end, before disappearing in a culvert under the road and railway, and re-emering near Hooley Lane at the point shown in Image The pair of houses on the left have date plaques of 1904 (on the near one) and 1905 (on the one beyond).

The name of this small development off Brook Road commemorates the Gurney family who were local benefactors. A possible connection with this particular road is that Redhill Brook, after which Brook Road is named and which has a short stretch in the open a few yards north of this close, is sometimes referred to as Gurney's Brook.

Home of the Reigate Sea Cadets. The unit was originally formed in 1938 and based at the Drill Hall in Chart Lane in Reigate (see Image). After the Second World War it moved to a house called Shenleys situated at the junction of Brighton Road and Hooley Lane. The house was later demolished and the present building erected in its place in 1974. The name Ark Royal was adopted in commemoration of the first ship of that name, which was Howard of Effingham's flagship in the defeat of the Spanish Armada, the connection being that Reigate Priory (see Image) was the home of Howard of Effingham.

Although Redhill largely emerged in the 19th century following the arrival of the railway, there are a number of earlier buildings on what were once country lanes serving the area around the much older Reigate. Hooley Lane is one such example, being the original route east from Reigate towards Bletchingley, and this 17th century cottage would have simply been a cottage next to country inn, on the site of what is now the Marquis of Granby pub (see Image). The cottage is grade II listed - for listing particulars see www.historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1029084

There has been a pub here, on what was once the main road east out of Reigate towards Bletchingley, since the 17th century. Its position later had further importance, being alongside "Redhill and Reigate Road Station", the original station for the area on the Brighton mainline built through here in 1841, although this only lasted for three years, when Brighton trains were granted use of a new South Eastern Railway station on the site of the present Redhill Station. The present building dates from 1940, and was built behind the original which was then demolished.

There are records of this building as a pub going back to at least the 1860s. It closed in 2007 and has now been converted into flats. Note the Shepherd Neame sign on the side (this brewery was the last owner of the pub), although from the look of the mark above the drainpipe, it would appear to have been moved to this position.

A new (completed 2009) apartment development at the junction of Brook Road with Hooley Lane. Not "Niche House", nor "Niche Court", nor "The Niche" - simply "Niche".

Entry no 141, a 1903 Crestmobile, registration no BS 8685, travelling out of Redhill town centre up Brighton Road on the morning of the 2023 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.

Entry no 111, a 1902 Delahaye, registration no YG 46, travelling out of Redhill town centre up Brighton Road on the morning of the 2023 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run.

Entry no 052, an electric powered 1901 Waverley, registration no BS 8113 and owned by Harrods, travelling out of Redhill town centre up Brighton Road on the morning of the 2023 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. On the right a cyclist is pushing entry no 703, an 1899 Singer bicycle, up the hill. Behind is entry no 279, a 1904 Star, registration no AF 3870.