Redhill, Surrey
Encyclopedia
Redhill is a town in the borough of Reigate and Banstead
, Surrey
, England and is part of the London commuter belt
. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate
form a single urban area.
, which is the reason for the London-Brighton railway passing through the area.
The town came into being when a road was built in 1818. The settlement was originally known as Warwick Town and became known as Redhill when the post office
moved from Red Hill Common in 1856.
A major factor in the development of the town was the coming of the railway. Redhill railway station
continues to be an important junction. Redhill is also one of the few places in the UK where Fuller's Earth
can be extracted Alfred Nobel
demonstrated dynamite
for the first time at a Redhill quarry in 1867.
A large Victorian psychiatric hospital
to the south of Redhill, the Royal Earlswood Hospital
, was for 40 years home to two of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
's cousins Katherine Bowes-Lyon and Nerissa Bowes-Lyon, both of whom had learning difficulties. The inmate James Henry Pullen
(1835-1916) was an autistic savant. He was a brilliant craftsman and artist. His work was accepted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
. Some of Pullen's ship models, designs and art work used to be on display at the town's Belfry Shopping Centre but have now been moved to the Langdon Down Museum in Teddington. The hospital site has now been converted to apartments.
Richard Carrington
, an amateur astronomer
, moved to Redhill in 1852, and built a house and observatory. Dome Way, where Redhill's only tower block stands, is named after it. The site suited an isolated observatory, being on a spur of high ground surrounded by low-lying fields and marsh (now Redhill). Here in 1859 he made astronomical observations that first corroborated the existence of solar flare
s as well as their electrical influence upon the Earth
and its aurorae
. In 1863 he published records of sunspot
observations that first demonstrated differential rotation
in the Sun
. In 1865 ill health prompted him to sell his house and move to Churt, Surrey
.
St John the Evangelist
was the first of Redhill's parish churches and the parish originally stretched from Gatton in the north to Sidlow in the south.
local government district. Not far from the town is Gatton Park, an estate once owned by the Colmans
; the estate had a private chapel (now open to the public) and a Japanese garden
.
Over the years the town centre has included many major high street names. It has a street market each Thursday and Saturday and sometimes hosts a French market. The town has a distinctive red-brick complex called the Warwick Quadrant, which houses the Harlequin Theatre and Cinema, public library, Sainsbury's and other shops, and a medium-sized indoor shopping centre (the Belfry Centre).
The former Odeon
cinema built in 1938 was converted into a night club called 'Busbys' in 1976. It was renamed 'Millionaire's' in the 1980s, 'The British Embassy' in 1996 and 'Liquid and Envy' in 2003. In July 2011, it was closed down permanently to make way for new housing although the listed Art Deco
façade is to be retained.
Redhill played host to its own music festival in 2007 headlined by The Ordinary Boys
.
Redhill has in the past hosted an annual air display at its aerodrome, as well as a steam fair opposite; however, neither were staged in 2008. The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
passes through the town each year.
The Redhill Brook runs through the town, mainly culverted, and upstream to the immediate north-east of the town are The Moors nature reserve, and the large new Water Colour housing development. The brook enters a culvert behind the station and briefly reappears in Halford's car park. Though now hidden and neglected, the brook created Redhill's geography. The flat area of Redhill was formerly the marshy flood plain caused by its dammed waters. The railway and A23 pass through or near the gap cut by the brook through the Greensand Ridge
at Earlswood, just south of the town.
and A25
roads. The junction of the M25
and M23
motorways is near Redhill, but there is no direct access to either motorway from the town. The nearest junctions are at Reigate Hill (M25), Hooley (M23) and Godstone (M25).
Redhill railway station
is at the junction of three lines: the main London to Brighton line
, the North Downs Line
from Redhill to Reading
, and the Redhill to Tonbridge Line
.
The London to Brighton service is operated by electric trains of the Southern
and First Capital Connect
operating companies. The line splits north of Redhill at Coulsdon and the two lines rejoin to the south of Redhill, allowing most fast trains to bypass Redhill. London-bound trains usually go to either London Victoria or London Bridge
. Trains through Redhill from London usually terminate at Horsham
, Portsmouth Harbour
, Three Bridges
or Gatwick Airport.
First Capital Connect operates the 'Thameslink
' service, which goes through London, calling at London Blackfriars
, City Thameslink, Farringdon
and St Pancras International, then continues north to Luton Airport Parkway and Bedford
. There is a very limited service at Redhill.
The line to the west is electrified as far as Reigate
, with a few trains from London terminating there. Through trains to Dorking, Guildford and Reading are run by First Great Western and are diesel. Most diesel trains from the North Downs Line continue to Gatwick Airport.
Numerous bus services are operated to the town, by Arriva, Metrobus and Southdown PSV
. In May 2008, route 100 to Crawley became part of the Fastway
bus rapid transport system, following redevelopment of Redhill bus station.
Air access is available at London Gatwick Airport
, which lies about seven miles to the south on the A23, as well as the small Redhill Aerodrome
(EGKR) 1.5 nautical miles south-east of Redhill town centre. Heathrow airport is just over an hour's drive to the north-west and both Luton and London City
airports are accessible by train.
had its head office in the Congreve House in Redhill.
and Donyngs sports centre, which includes an indoor swimming pool.
] *Live bus locations in Redhill
Reigate and Banstead
Reigate and Banstead is a local government district with borough status in east Surrey England. It covers the towns of Reigate, Banstead, Redhill and Horley....
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, England and is part of the London commuter belt
London commuter belt
The London commuter belt is the metropolitan area surrounding London, England from which it is practical to commute to work in the capital. It is alternatively known as the Greater South East, the London metropolitan area or the Southeast metropolitan area...
. Redhill and the adjacent town of Reigate
Reigate
Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...
form a single urban area.
History
Redhill is situated immediately to the south of a gap in the North DownsNorth Downs
The North Downs are a ridge of chalk hills in south east England that stretch from Farnham in Surrey to the White Cliffs of Dover in Kent. The North Downs lie within two Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty , the Surrey Hills and the Kent Downs...
, which is the reason for the London-Brighton railway passing through the area.
The town came into being when a road was built in 1818. The settlement was originally known as Warwick Town and became known as Redhill when the post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
moved from Red Hill Common in 1856.
A major factor in the development of the town was the coming of the railway. Redhill railway station
Redhill railway station
Redhill railway station serves the town of Redhill, Surrey, England. The station is a major interchange point on the Brighton Main Line 21 miles south of London Victoria...
continues to be an important junction. Redhill is also one of the few places in the UK where Fuller's Earth
Fuller's earth
Fuller's earth is any non-plastic clay or claylike earthy material used to decolorize, filter, and purify animal, mineral, and vegetable oils and greases.-Occurrence and composition:...
can be extracted Alfred Nobel
Alfred Nobel
Alfred Bernhard Nobel was a Swedish chemist, engineer, innovator, and armaments manufacturer. He is the inventor of dynamite. Nobel also owned Bofors, which he had redirected from its previous role as primarily an iron and steel producer to a major manufacturer of cannon and other armaments...
demonstrated dynamite
Dynamite
Dynamite is an explosive material based on nitroglycerin, initially using diatomaceous earth , or another absorbent substance such as powdered shells, clay, sawdust, or wood pulp. Dynamites using organic materials such as sawdust are less stable and such use has been generally discontinued...
for the first time at a Redhill quarry in 1867.
A large Victorian psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
to the south of Redhill, the Royal Earlswood Hospital
Royal Earlswood Hospital
The Royal Earlswood Hospital or The Royal Earlswood Asylum for Idiots in Redhill, Surrey was the first establishment to cater specifically for people with learning disabilities...
, was for 40 years home to two of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
's cousins Katherine Bowes-Lyon and Nerissa Bowes-Lyon, both of whom had learning difficulties. The inmate James Henry Pullen
James Henry Pullen
James Henry Pullen , also known as the Genius of Earlswood Asylum, was a British autistic savant, possibly suffering from aphasia.-Childhood:...
(1835-1916) was an autistic savant. He was a brilliant craftsman and artist. His work was accepted by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert
Prince Albert
Prince Albert was the husband and consort of Queen Victoria.Prince Albert may also refer to:-Royalty:*Prince Albert Edward or Edward VII of the United Kingdom , son of Albert and Victoria...
. Some of Pullen's ship models, designs and art work used to be on display at the town's Belfry Shopping Centre but have now been moved to the Langdon Down Museum in Teddington. The hospital site has now been converted to apartments.
Richard Carrington
Richard Christopher Carrington
Richard Christopher Carrington was an English amateur astronomer whose 1859 astronomical observations demonstrated the existence of solar flares as well as suggesting their electrical influence upon the Earth and its aurorae; and whose 1863 records of sunspot observations revealed the differential...
, an amateur astronomer
Amateur astronomy
Amateur astronomy, also called backyard astronomy and stargazing, is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the night sky , and the plethora of objects found in it, mainly with portable telescopes and binoculars...
, moved to Redhill in 1852, and built a house and observatory. Dome Way, where Redhill's only tower block stands, is named after it. The site suited an isolated observatory, being on a spur of high ground surrounded by low-lying fields and marsh (now Redhill). Here in 1859 he made astronomical observations that first corroborated the existence of solar flare
Solar flare
A solar flare is a sudden brightening observed over the Sun surface or the solar limb, which is interpreted as a large energy release of up to 6 × 1025 joules of energy . The flare ejects clouds of electrons, ions, and atoms through the corona into space. These clouds typically reach Earth a day...
s as well as their electrical influence upon the Earth
Electric Earth
Electric Earth is an EP released in 2002 by the New Zealand band Pitch Black.-Track listing:#Electric Earth #Urbanoia #Lizard Room ...
and its aurorae
Aurora (astronomy)
An aurora is a natural light display in the sky particularly in the high latitude regions, caused by the collision of energetic charged particles with atoms in the high altitude atmosphere...
. In 1863 he published records of sunspot
Sunspot
Sunspots are temporary phenomena on the photosphere of the Sun that appear visibly as dark spots compared to surrounding regions. They are caused by intense magnetic activity, which inhibits convection by an effect comparable to the eddy current brake, forming areas of reduced surface temperature....
observations that first demonstrated differential rotation
Differential rotation
Differential rotation is seen when different parts of a rotating object move with different angular velocities at different latitudes and/or depths of the body and/or in time. This indicates that the object is not solid. In fluid objects, such as accretion disks, this leads to shearing...
in the Sun
Sun
The Sun is the star at the center of the Solar System. It is almost perfectly spherical and consists of hot plasma interwoven with magnetic fields...
. In 1865 ill health prompted him to sell his house and move to Churt, Surrey
Churt
Churt is a village and civil parish in the borough of Waverley in Surrey, England. It is located on the A287 road between Hindhead and Farnham, and is split by the Surrey–Hampshire borders. Its origins date back to the Saxon period. The original boundary stones are visible at the junction of Green...
.
St John the Evangelist
St John's, Redhill
St John's is a hamlet on the fringes of Redhill, Surrey. The small community is now a conservation area circled by Earlswood and Redhill Common. St John's is in one of the three ecclesiastical parishes that make-up Redhill...
was the first of Redhill's parish churches and the parish originally stretched from Gatton in the north to Sidlow in the south.
Today
Redhill is part of the Reigate and BansteadReigate and Banstead
Reigate and Banstead is a local government district with borough status in east Surrey England. It covers the towns of Reigate, Banstead, Redhill and Horley....
local government district. Not far from the town is Gatton Park, an estate once owned by the Colmans
Colman's
Colman's is a UK manufacturer of mustard and various other sauces, based at Carrow, in Norwich, Norfolk. Presently an operational division of the multinational Unilever company, Colman's is one of the oldest existing food brands, famous for a limited range of products, almost all varieties of...
; the estate had a private chapel (now open to the public) and a Japanese garden
Japanese garden
, that is, gardens in traditional Japanese style, can be found at private homes, in neighborhood or city parks, and at historical landmarks such as Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and old castles....
.
Over the years the town centre has included many major high street names. It has a street market each Thursday and Saturday and sometimes hosts a French market. The town has a distinctive red-brick complex called the Warwick Quadrant, which houses the Harlequin Theatre and Cinema, public library, Sainsbury's and other shops, and a medium-sized indoor shopping centre (the Belfry Centre).
The former Odeon
Odeon
Odea, Odeon, or Odeum may refer to:* Odeon , ancient Greek and Roman buildings built for singing exercises, musical shows and poetry competitions-Modern era:* Cineplex Odeon, North America...
cinema built in 1938 was converted into a night club called 'Busbys' in 1976. It was renamed 'Millionaire's' in the 1980s, 'The British Embassy' in 1996 and 'Liquid and Envy' in 2003. In July 2011, it was closed down permanently to make way for new housing although the listed Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
façade is to be retained.
Redhill played host to its own music festival in 2007 headlined by The Ordinary Boys
The Ordinary Boys
The Ordinary Boys are an English indie rock band from Worthing, in West Sussex, England. Originally named Next in Line, they were influenced by mod revival and Britpop music, as well as the bands Madness, The Specials, The Kinks and The Smiths...
.
Redhill has in the past hosted an annual air display at its aerodrome, as well as a steam fair opposite; however, neither were staged in 2008. The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
London to Brighton Veteran Car Run
The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run is the longest-running motoring event in the world. The first run was in 1896, and has taken place most years since then. To qualify, the cars must have been built before 1905...
passes through the town each year.
The Redhill Brook runs through the town, mainly culverted, and upstream to the immediate north-east of the town are The Moors nature reserve, and the large new Water Colour housing development. The brook enters a culvert behind the station and briefly reappears in Halford's car park. Though now hidden and neglected, the brook created Redhill's geography. The flat area of Redhill was formerly the marshy flood plain caused by its dammed waters. The railway and A23 pass through or near the gap cut by the brook through the Greensand Ridge
Greensand Ridge
The Greensand Ridge is an extensive, prominent, often heavily wooded, sandstone escarpment and range of hills in south-east England. It runs in a horseshoe shape around the Weald of Surrey, Sussex and Kent. It reaches its highest elevation, , at Leith Hill in Surrey—the second highest point...
at Earlswood, just south of the town.
Transport
Redhill is at the junction of the A23A23 road
The A23 road is a major road in the United Kingdom between London and Brighton, East Sussex. It became an arterial route following the construction of Westminster Bridge in 1750 and the consequent improvement of roads leading to the bridge south of the river by the Turnpike Trusts...
and A25
A25 road
The A25 road is one of the three cross-country two-digit numbered roads in the southeast of England, the others being the A26 from Newhaven to Maidstone and the A27 along the south coast. It carries traffic from Guildford in Surrey through Dorking, and thence eastward along the southern edge of the...
roads. The junction of the M25
M25 motorway
The M25 motorway, or London Orbital, is a orbital motorway that almost encircles Greater London, England, in the United Kingdom. The motorway was first mooted early in the 20th century. A few sections, based on the now abandoned London Ringways plan, were constructed in the early 1970s and it ...
and M23
M23 motorway
The M23 motorway is a motorway in England. The motorway runs from south of Hooley in Surrey, where it splits from the A23, to Pease Pottage, south of Crawley in West Sussex where it rejoins the A23. The northern end of the motorway starts at junction 7 on what is effectively a spur north from...
motorways is near Redhill, but there is no direct access to either motorway from the town. The nearest junctions are at Reigate Hill (M25), Hooley (M23) and Godstone (M25).
Redhill railway station
Redhill railway station
Redhill railway station serves the town of Redhill, Surrey, England. The station is a major interchange point on the Brighton Main Line 21 miles south of London Victoria...
is at the junction of three lines: the main London to Brighton line
Brighton Main Line
The Brighton Main Line is a British railway line from London Victoria and London Bridge to Brighton. It is about 50 miles long, and is electrified throughout. Trains are operated by Southern, First Capital Connect, and Gatwick Express, now part of Southern.-Original proposals:There were no fewer...
, the North Downs Line
North Downs Line
The North Downs Line is the name of the passenger train service connecting Reading, on the Great Western Main Line, to Gatwick Airport, on the Brighton Main Line...
from Redhill to Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
, and the Redhill to Tonbridge Line
Redhill to Tonbridge Line
The Redhill to Tonbridge Line is a railway line running from Redhill, Surrey to Tonbridge, Kent in southeast England. It branches off the Brighton Main Line at Redhill station and, after 20 miles, joins the South Eastern Main Line at Tonbridge station....
.
The London to Brighton service is operated by electric trains of the Southern
Southern (train operating company)
Southern is a train operating company in the United Kingdom. Officially named Southern Railway Ltd., it is a subsidiary of Govia, a joint venture between transport groups Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, and has operated the South Central rail franchise since October 2000 and the Gatwick Express service...
and First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect
First Capital Connect is a passenger train operating company in England that began operations on the National Rail network on 1 April 2006...
operating companies. The line splits north of Redhill at Coulsdon and the two lines rejoin to the south of Redhill, allowing most fast trains to bypass Redhill. London-bound trains usually go to either London Victoria or London Bridge
London Bridge
London Bridge is a bridge over the River Thames, connecting the City of London and Southwark, in central London. Situated between Cannon Street Railway Bridge and Tower Bridge, it forms the western end of the Pool of London...
. Trains through Redhill from London usually terminate at Horsham
Horsham
Horsham is a market town with a population of 55,657 on the upper reaches of the River Arun in the centre of the Weald, West Sussex, in the historic County of Sussex, England. The town is south south-west of London, north-west of Brighton and north-east of the county town of Chichester...
, Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour
Portsmouth Harbour is a large natural harbour in Hampshire, England. Geographically it is a ria: formerly it was the valley of a stream flowing from Portsdown into the Solent River. The city of Portsmouth lies to the east on Portsea Island, and Gosport to the west on the mainland...
, Three Bridges
Three Bridges
Three Bridges is a neighbourhood within the town of Crawley, in the county of West Sussex in England.-History:Three Bridges was a tiny hamlet, which first began to grow with the coming of the London and Brighton Railway in 1841...
or Gatwick Airport.
First Capital Connect operates the 'Thameslink
Thameslink
Thameslink is a fifty-station main-line route in the British railway system running north to south through London from Bedford to Brighton, serving both London Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport. It opened as a through service in 1988 and by 1998 was severely overcrowded, carrying more than...
' service, which goes through London, calling at London Blackfriars
Blackfriars station
Blackfriars station, also known as London Blackfriars, is a central London railway terminus and London Underground complex in the City of London, England. Its platforms will eventually span the River Thames a short distance downstream from Blackfriars Bridge. The current entrance is located on the...
, City Thameslink, Farringdon
Farringdon station
Farringdon station is a London Underground and National Rail station in Clerkenwell, just north of the City of London in the London Borough of Islington...
and St Pancras International, then continues north to Luton Airport Parkway and Bedford
Bedford
Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire, in the East of England. It is a large town and the administrative centre for the wider Borough of Bedford. According to the former Bedfordshire County Council's estimates, the town had a population of 79,190 in mid 2005, with 19,720 in the adjacent town...
. There is a very limited service at Redhill.
The line to the west is electrified as far as Reigate
Reigate
Reigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...
, with a few trains from London terminating there. Through trains to Dorking, Guildford and Reading are run by First Great Western and are diesel. Most diesel trains from the North Downs Line continue to Gatwick Airport.
Numerous bus services are operated to the town, by Arriva, Metrobus and Southdown PSV
Southdown PSV
Link title Southdown PSV Limited is a medium sized country bus operator with 22 various routes across East Surrey and West Kent. Most of their routes are operated on behalf of Surrey County Council or Kent County Council, other work includes Railway replacement services for emergencies and planned...
. In May 2008, route 100 to Crawley became part of the Fastway
Crawley Fastway
Fastway is a bus rapid transit network linking Crawley with Gatwick Airport and Horley, the first to be constructed outside a major city. It uses specially adapted buses that can either be steered by the driver or operate as "self steering" guided buses along a specially constructed track...
bus rapid transport system, following redevelopment of Redhill bus station.
Air access is available at London Gatwick Airport
London Gatwick Airport
Gatwick Airport is located 3.1 miles north of the centre of Crawley, West Sussex, and south of Central London. Previously known as London Gatwick,In 2010, the name changed from London Gatwick Airport to Gatwick Airport...
, which lies about seven miles to the south on the A23, as well as the small Redhill Aerodrome
Redhill Aerodrome
Redhill Aerodrome is located southeast of Redhill, Surrey, England, in green belt land.Redhill Aerodrome has a CAA Ordinary Licence that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction as authorised by the licensee .-Early history:The airfield came into use in the...
(EGKR) 1.5 nautical miles south-east of Redhill town centre. Heathrow airport is just over an hour's drive to the north-west and both Luton and London City
London City Airport
London City Airport is a single-runway airport. It principally serves the financial district of London and is located on a former Docklands site, east of the City of London, opposite the London Regatta Centre, in the London Borough of Newham in east London. It was developed by the engineering...
airports are accessible by train.
Economy
The first iteration of British Island AirwaysBritish Island Airways
British Island Airways was the legal successor to British United Island Airways . It commenced operations under that name in mid-1970. Ten years later it merged with Air Anglia, Air Wales and Air Westward to form Air UK, at the time the UK's biggest regional airline and its third-largest scheduled...
had its head office in the Congreve House in Redhill.
Famous people
- Skye EdwardsSkye EdwardsSkye Edwards is a British singer-songwriter, born in East London. Her career began in 1994 when she and the Godfrey brothers formed the band Morcheeba, which released five albums with Skye as lead vocalist...
, former singer of the group MorcheebaMorcheebaMorcheeba are a British band, mixing influences from trip hop, rock, R&B, and pop.They have produced 7 albums since 1995, two of which reached the UK top ten.-Biography:...
. Lives in South Nutfield near Redhill - Kevin KennerKevin KennerKevin Kenner is an American concert pianist.-Biography:At the age of 17, Kenner participated in the International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw and was awarded the 10th prize and a special prize from the jury called Honorable Mention...
, American-born concert pianist, is now living in Redhill. Notable for winning both the Top Prize in the International Chopin Competition and the Bronze Medal in the International Tchaikovsky Competition. - George Smith, England footballer & league manager coached Redhill FC from 1951-52.
- Ronnie BiggsRonnie BiggsRonald Arthur "Ronnie" Biggs is an English criminal, known for his role in the Great Train Robbery of 1963, for his escape from prison in 1965, for living as a fugitive for 36 years and for his various publicity stunts while in exile. In 2001, he voluntarily returned to the United Kingdom and...
, was living at Alpine Road, Redhill, when he was arrested for his part in the Great Train Robbery (1963)Great Train Robbery (1963)The Great Train Robbery is the name given to a £2.6 million train robbery committed on 8 August 1963 at Bridego Railway Bridge, Ledburn near Mentmore in Buckinghamshire, England. The bulk of the stolen money was not recovered...
. - Bernard BresslawBernard BresslawBernard Bresslaw was an English actor. He is best remembered for his comedy work, especially as a member of the Carry On team.-Biography:...
, actor, best known for his part in the Carry On FilmsCarry On filmsThe Carry On films are a series of low-budget British comedy films, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. They are an energetic mix of parody, farce, slapstick and double entendres....
, used to live in Redhill. - Liz May BriceLiz May BriceElizabeth May Brice is an English actress. She is known for roles such as the convicted murderer Pat Kerrigan on ITV1's Bad Girls. To international audiences she may be more familiar as a minor cast member of the horror films Resident Evil and AVP: Alien vs Predator.-Career:Brice was born in...
, actress, best-known for her role on ITV1's Bad GirlsBad Girls (TV series)Bad Girls is an award-winning British television drama series that was broadcast on ITV from 1999 to 2006. It is produced by Shed Productions, the company which later produced Footballers' Wives and Waterloo Road...
was born here in 1975 - Richard Christopher CarringtonRichard Christopher CarringtonRichard Christopher Carrington was an English amateur astronomer whose 1859 astronomical observations demonstrated the existence of solar flares as well as suggesting their electrical influence upon the Earth and its aurorae; and whose 1863 records of sunspot observations revealed the differential...
the famous amateur astronomerAmateur astronomyAmateur astronomy, also called backyard astronomy and stargazing, is a hobby whose participants enjoy watching the night sky , and the plethora of objects found in it, mainly with portable telescopes and binoculars...
lived in Redhill from 1852 - 1865. It was at his observatory in Redhill that he made his famous solar flareSolar flareA solar flare is a sudden brightening observed over the Sun surface or the solar limb, which is interpreted as a large energy release of up to 6 × 1025 joules of energy . The flare ejects clouds of electrons, ions, and atoms through the corona into space. These clouds typically reach Earth a day...
observations. - Aleister CrowleyAleister CrowleyAleister Crowley , born Edward Alexander Crowley, and also known as both Frater Perdurabo and The Great Beast, was an influential English occultist, astrologer, mystic and ceremonial magician, responsible for founding the religious philosophy of Thelema. He was also successful in various other...
, occultist. He and his family lived at The Grange, Redhill between 1881 & 1884. - Edwina CurrieEdwina CurrieEdwina Jonesnée Cohen is a former British Member of Parliament. First elected as a Conservative Party MP in 1983, she was a Junior Health Minister for two years, before resigning in 1988 over the controversy over salmonella in eggs...
, the former Conservative MP and junior health minister lived in Redhill until 2007. - Dame Judi DenchJudi DenchDame Judith Olivia "Judi" Dench, CH, DBE, FRSA is an English film, stage and television actress.Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years she played in several of William Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo...
, the famous actress, and her daughter Finty WilliamsFinty WilliamsTara Cressida Frances Williams is an English actress who performs under the name Finty Williams....
both live near Redhill in Outwood, SurreyOutwood, SurreyOutwood is a village in the Surrey weald. It is home to the oldest working windmill in England. The village lies to the east of the M23 which runs between the M25 and London Gatwick Airport. A neighbouring village is Smallfield....
. - Michael GrecoMichael GrecoMichael Greco is an English actor and poker player. He was educated in Surrey, England at Reigate College. Internet rumours claim he was born in Dunbar, Scotland, but Greco himself states that this is false, and that he grew up in London....
, past EastEndersEastEndersEastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
actor who played Beppe DiMarco, went to school at St Bede's in Carlton Rd, Redhill - Tim DryTim DryTim Dry is a mime artist, writer, songwriter and actor, best known for appearing in ‘Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi’ and for being half of a duo, Tik and Tok, that popularized robotic mime in the UK in the 1980s.-Early years:...
, best known for appearing in ‘Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi’ and for being half of the duo Tik and Tok Tik and TokTik and TokTik and Tok are the robotic mime and music duo of Tim Dry and Sean Crawford. They began performing together with SHOCK: a rock/mime/burlesque/music troupe in the early 1980s with Barbie Wilde, Robert Pereno, L.A. Richards and Carole Caplin....
, that popularized robotic mime in the UK in the 1980s, was born in Redhill in 1952. - Carole HerseeCarole HerseeCarole Hersee is a costume designer who is best known for appearing in the centrepiece of the iconic United Kingdom television Test Card F, which aired on BBC Television from 1967 to 1998 and was revived in 2009...
, notable for appearing as an eight year old child in the central image of the iconic television Test Card FTest Card FTest Card F is a test card that was created by the BBC and used on television in the United Kingdom and in countries elsewhere in the world for more than four decades...
was born in Redhill in 1958 - David HewlettDavid HewlettDavid Ian Hewlett is an English-born Canadian actor best known for his role as Dr. Meredith Rodney McKay on the science fiction television shows Stargate SG1 and Stargate Atlantis.-Early life:...
, actor, star of Sky OneSky OneSky1 is the flagship BSkyB entertainment channel available in the United Kingdom and Ireland.The channel first launched on 26 April 1982 as Satellite Television, and is the fourth-oldest TV channel in the United Kingdom, behind BBC One , ITV and BBC Two...
's Stargate AtlantisStargate AtlantisStargate Atlantis is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of MGM's Stargate franchise. The show was created by Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper as a spin-off series of Stargate SG-1, which was created by Wright and Jonathan Glassner and was itself...
, and Stargate SG-1Stargate SG-1Stargate SG-1 is a Canadian-American adventure and military science fiction television series and part of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stargate franchise. The show, created by Brad Wright and Jonathan Glassner, is based on the 1994 feature film Stargate by Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich...
was born here in 1968 - Bevis HillierBevis HillierBevis Hillier is an English art historian, author and journalist. He has written on Art Deco, and also a biography of Sir John Betjeman.-Life and work:...
, biographer of Sir John Betjeman, was born here in 1940 - Peter HowittPeter HowittPeter Howitt is an English actor and film director. He grew up in Eltham, London and Bromley, Kent, Peter used to be a part of the Priory Players in the Priory behind Christ Church, Eltham. He studied at the Drama Studio London. He has two children, Luke and Amy...
, actor and director, used to live near Donyngs Sports Centre - Ian McKayIan McKay (writer)Ian McKay is an English writer, critic, publisher, and translator.-Life and career:The son of former national hunt jockey and racehorse trainer Geoff Laidlaw, Ian McKay was born in Epsom, Surrey, and studied at Chelsea School of Art...
(formerly Laidlaw), art critic and writer, lived here between 1976-1980 - Katie MeluaKatie MeluaKetevan "Katie" Melua is a British-Georgian singer, songwriter and musician. She moved to Northern Ireland at the age of eight and then to England at fourteen. Melua is signed to the small Dramatico record label, under the management of composer Mike Batt, and made her musical debut in 2003...
, singer and songwriter lived here briefly in 1998 - Robert MilsomRobert MilsomRobert Steven Milsom is an English footballer, currently playing for Aberdeen. He can play in central midfield or on the left wing, although he started his career as a left back.-Fulham:...
, Fulham F.C.Fulham F.C.Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
midfielder was born here. - Nick HornbyNick HornbyNick Hornby is an English novelist, essayist and screenwriter. He is best known for the novels High Fidelity, About a Boy, and for the football memoir Fever Pitch. His work frequently touches upon music, sport, and the aimless and obsessive natures of his protagonists.-Life and career:Hornby was...
, author, was born in Redhill on 17 April 1957 - Derek ParaviciniDerek ParaviciniDerek Paravicini is a blind English autistic savant and a musical prodigy. He lives in Surrey.-Biography:Paravicini was born extremely prematurely, at 25 weeks . His blindness was caused by oxygen therapy given during his time in a neonatal intensive care unit...
, the celebrated blind savantSavant syndromeSavant syndrome , sometimes referred to as savantism, is a rare condition in which people with developmental disorders have one or more areas of expertise, ability, or brilliance that are in contrast with the individual's overall limitations...
prodigy currently residing at the RNIB College in Redhill - Henry Thomas PringuerHenry thomas pringuerDr. Henry Thomas Pringuer DMus, BMus, FCO was an English composer, organist and one of the first examiners for Trinity College, London....
, organist and composer, was organist at St. Matthew's Redhill c.1870-1880 - Sophie RaworthSophie RaworthSophie Jane Raworth is an English newsreader and journalist who works for British broadcaster the BBC. She is the main presenter of the BBC News at One, presenting Tuesday to Friday, and regularly appears on the BBC News at Six and occasionally on BBC News at Ten.-Early life:Born in Surrey to a...
, journalist and newsreader, born here 1968 - Alec Harley ReevesAlec ReevesAlec Harley Reeves, CBE was a British scientist best known for his invention of pulse-code modulation . He was awarded 82 patents.-Early life:...
, electronics engineer, inventor of Pulse code modulation, was born here in 1902 - Anna SmithAnna Smith (tennis)Anna Smith is a professional tennis player who represents the United Kingdom. She has won three International Tennis Federation singles titles, 12 ITF doubles titles and reached a career high singles ranking of world no. 262 on 9 August 2010. Smith is currently the British number 9 with a ranking...
, tennis player, born in Redhill 1988 - George BestGeorge BestGeorge Best was a professional footballer from Northern Ireland, who played for Manchester United and the Northern Ireland national team. He was a winger whose game combined pace, acceleration, balance, two-footedness, goalscoring and the ability to beat defenders...
, footballer, lived just out of Redhill (gatton Bottom) until death.
Emergency services
Redhill is served by these emergency services:- Surrey PoliceSurrey PoliceSurrey Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the county of Surrey in the south of England.The force is led by Chief Constable Mark Rowley and has its headquarters at Mount Browne, Guildford, Surrey...
, based at ReigateReigateReigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...
Police StationPolice StationPolice Station is a American TV series that aired in syndication in 1959. Stories were taken from actual files.- Cast :*Baynes Barron as Sergeant White*Larry Kerr as Detective Chuck Mitchell*Henry Beckman as Detective Stan Abramson...
. - Surrey Fire & Rescue Service, at ReigateReigateReigate is a historic market town in Surrey, England, at the foot of the North Downs, and in the London commuter belt. It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of Reigate and Banstead...
Fire StationFire stationA fire station is a structure or other area set aside for storage of firefighting apparatus , personal protective equipment, fire hose, fire extinguishers, and other fire extinguishing equipment... - South East Coast Ambulance ServiceSouth East Coast Ambulance ServiceThe South East Coast Ambulance Service is the NHS Ambulance Services Trust for south-eastern England, covering Kent , Surrey, West Sussex and East Sussex . It also covers a part of north-eastern Hampshire around Aldershot...
was formed from the merger of SurreySurrey Ambulance ServiceSurrey Ambulance Service was the ambulance service for the County of Surrey in England until July 1, 2006, when it was succeeded by a South East Coast Ambulance Service also covering Sussex and Kent....
, SussexSussex Ambulance ServiceSussex Ambulance Service was the ambulance service for the County of Sussex in England until July 1, 2006, when it was succeeded by a South East Coast Ambulance Service also covering Surrey and Kent....
, and KentKent Ambulance ServiceKent Ambulance Service was the ambulance service for the County of Kent in England until July 1, 2006, when it was succeeded by a South East Coast Ambulance Service also covering Surrey and Sussex....
Ambulance services on 1 July 2006. - East Surrey Hospital, a major hospital with A & E departmentEmergency departmentAn emergency department , also known as accident & emergency , emergency room , emergency ward , or casualty department is a medical treatment facility specialising in acute care of patients who present without prior appointment, either by their own means or by ambulance...
, about 1.5 miles south of the town centre.
Sport and recreation
The town is home to Redhill Football ClubRedhill F.C.
Redhill F.C. is an English football club based in Redhill, Surrey. The club are currently members of Sussex County League Division One and play at Kiln Brow.-The beginning:...
and Donyngs sports centre, which includes an indoor swimming pool.
Education
- St. Bede's SchoolSt. Bede's SchoolSaint Bede's School is a mixed comprehensive secondary school in the English town of Redhill, Surrey. It was opened in 1976 as a girls' middle school but now has over 2300 male and female pupils aged 11–18 , with around 400 students in the sixth form...
, a secondary schoolSecondary schoolSecondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
specialising in MusicMusicMusic is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
and ITInformation technologyInformation technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
. - East Surrey CollegeEast Surrey CollegeEast Surrey College is situated in the town of Redhill, a busy shopping and commercial centre for surrounding small towns. The College has over 1,100 full-time students and more than 9,000 part-time students; studying courses that range from vocational qualifications to community leisure...
is based in Redhill. - The Warwick SchoolThe Warwick SchoolThe Warwick School is a community secondary school located in Redhill, Surrey. It is co-educational and caters for students in the 11-16 age range in that it doesn't have a sixth form.-External links:*...
which is a technology school is in Noke Drive.