Banstead

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Banstead
map_type= Surrey
latitude= 51.322
longitude=-0.204
population = 8,512 [ [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=5942963&c=SM7+2NN&d=14&e=16&g=490903&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1 Census data] ]
shire_district= Reigate and Banstead
shire_county = Surrey
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Reigate
post_town= BANSTEAD
postcode_district= SM7
postcode_area=SM
dial_code= 01737
os_grid_reference= TQ251596

Banstead is a town in Surrey, England, on the border with Greater London. It is part of the borough of Reigate and Banstead. Banstead is on the North Downs and is protected by the Green Belt; Banstead Downs is a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

Although Banstead is a town, it is frequently referred to and known as "Banstead Village".

The settlement appears in the "Domesday Book" as "Benestede". It was held by Richard from the Bishop of Bayeux. Its "Domesday" Assets were: 9½ hides, 1 church, 1 mill worth £1, 17 ploughs, woodland worth 20 hogs. It rendered (in total): £8. [ [http://www.gwp.enta.net/surrnames.htm Surrey "Domesday Book"] ]

Economy

The centre of Banstead has a typical high street which stretches from the war memorial at one end to the library at the other. Every year, Scouts and Guides parade down the high street in recognition of Remembrance Day and St George's Day. The shops found in the town are those which are frequently associated with the upper middle class, for example Marks & Spencer Simply Food, Boots the Chemist and Waitrose. There are also a variety of restaurants along the high street.

Other than the limited amount of employment in the retail sector based around the high street, a small number of jobs are found in the public sector; in the local authority offices and NHS facilities to the west of the Banstead's centre, and in various schools across the area. However, the majority of Banstead's residents will commute out of the district for employment.

Religion

Banstead has several churches. The All Saints Church and Banstead Baptist Church are both located on the high street. Within the area there is also Banstead Community Church, St Ann's Catholic Church, the Methodist Church, St Paul's Church and the United Reform Church.

Education

There are several schools in and around Banstead.

Primary

* Banstead Infant School
* Banstead Community Junior School
* St Anne's Catholic Primary School
* Warren Mead Infant School
* Warren Mead Junior School

econdary

* The Beacon School, Piquets Way is the predominant secondary comprehensive school in the area. The school has had two Headteacher's, Mr John Darker from 1986-2008 and Mrs Jennifer Thomas from 2008. The Beacon has recently had a negative media reception due to a failing Ofsted inspection in December 2007 that lead to the school being placed in special measures. Mrs Thomas, the current head of the Beacon, is leading a school improvement programme. In May 2008, the school had its first Osted monitoring visit that showed that the school was making 'satifactory progress'. Due to this result, Mrs Thomas was asked to remain as the permanent head of the Beacon to ensure continued improvement. Surrey County Council aim to have the school out of special measures by December 2009. Since the Ofsted visit, strong appointments have been made in the senior leadership team at deputy headteacher level, including an experienced deputy head seconded from another school. Nork Park (a public park which used to lend its name to the school itself) backs on to the rear perimeter of the school.

During the time that the Beacon was called Nork Park Secondary school, it was one of only two schools in the UK to supply ball boys to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Which it still does.

Independent

All of the following schools are preparatory and pre-preparatory.
* Aberdour School - between Banstead and Burgh Heath.
* Greenacre School
* The Priory School, BansteadFurther education is not available in the town, most students will travel to institutions in Sutton, Epsom or Reigate.

Transport

* The majority of the town is bypassed by the A217 dual carriageway to the west. The A2022 passes through the residential area just to the north of the town centre, however the town centre frequently suffers from traffic congestion.
* There are several bus services through the town, linking to Epsom, Sutton and Croydon, which all have good onward bus and rail connections.
* Banstead railway station is located to the west of the town's centre, across the A217. It is closer to Nork than to Banstead itself therefore if travelling by public transport, it is often quicker and easier to get a train to Sutton railway station then a bus from the station concourse directly into Banstead town centre, as Banstead railway station is a single track, unmanned station, which only sees 2 trains per hour, and has no ticket machine. Apart from a travel permit machine.

Landmarks

* The old village well stands to the east of the town centre in Woodmansterne Lane. It is almost 300 feet deep and was last used around the end of the 19th Century. The wellhead cover dates from the 18th Century and still contains the winding gear.

* The parish church of All Saints was built around the end of the 12th Century on a site donated by Nigel de Mowbray, Lord of the Manor. The West window was designed by Dante Gabriel Rossetti and produced by William Morris.

* Nork Park contains the remains of the Colman family mansion (as in "Colman's Mustard"). There are also many apple trees which date from the original orchard and can still be seen.

References

See also

*Banstead railway station
*Nork

External links

* [http://www.bansteadhistory.com/ Banstead History Research Group]
* [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/GBH_match_page.jsp?ons=Reigate%20and%20Banstead A vision of Banstead and Reigate through time]
* [http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/bound_map_page.jsp?first=true&u_id=10217659&c_id=10001043 Map of Banstead's historic boundaries]
* [http://www.mapquest.co.uk/cgi-bin/ia_find?link=btwn%2Ftwn-map_results&random=106&event=find_search&uid=udca6aj7r5a2laea%3A25q6bgqabw&country=Great+Britain&SNVData=&address=1+High+Street&city=Banstead&Zip=&Find+Map.x=22&Find+Map.y=12 Modern day map of Banstead from Mapquest.co.uk]
* [http://www.bansteadcommonsconservators.org.uk/ Banstead Commons Conservators]
* [http://www.wymann.info/EpsomDowns/branch.html Epsom Downs Branch railway line site]