Kingswood, Surrey

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude= 51.2931
longitude= -0.2086
official_name= Kingswood
map_type= Surrey
population = <6,000
shire_district= Reigate and Banstead
shire_county = Surrey
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= Reigate
post_town= Tadworth
postcode_district= KT20
postcode_area= KT
dial_code= 01737
os_grid_reference= TQ248559

Kingswood is a village in Surrey just to the east of the A217 near Tadworth. Other nearby villages are Lower Kingswood, Chipstead, Burgh Heath and Walton-on-the-Hill. The village forms a ward with Burgh Heath in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The census area "Kingswood with Burgh Heath" has a population of 6,219. [http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=5942957&c=KT20+6EB&d=14&e=16&g=491041&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&enc=1 Census data] ]

There are several independent shops, a large mock-Tudor pub - the "Kingswood Arms", and the railway station along the northern side of the main street (Waterhouse Lane). The southern side is not built up and looks out onto open fields.

Notable buildings

The financial services company Legal & General have one of their largest offices (not their registered office) at a site on the eastern outskirts of Kingswood. It is widely speculated that there is a nuclear bunker under the site; naturally this has never been confirmed.

Legal & General's corporate training centre, known as St Monica's, was once a girls boarding school of the same name. A notable former student was the author Vera Brittain. It was used as the fictional St Trinian's in the comedy films of that name. [ [http://www.flickr.com/photos/donnasmillie/254431483/ St Monica's, Kingswood] ]

The BBC houses its Research and Development Department at Kingswood Warren, a 19th century estate hidden away in the suburban sprawl of Kingswood village. The BBC has owned and occupied the site since 1948 but in 2006, the BBC Trust confirmed plans to sell the site and relocate the department by 2011.

There is a community website for the village called About My Area KT20.

Transport

* Kingswood railway station is located on the Tattenham Corner Line, close to the centre of the village.
* There are no direct bus services passing through the village. The nearest bus stop is on the A217, on the side of the Tadworth roundabout, for services to Reigate and Redhill; or for services to Epsom and Sutton the stop is across the A217 opposite Tadworth Children's Hospital.

Famous Residents

* Chris Coleman - former manager of Fulham Football Club
* Ben Thatcher - Charlton Athletic footballer
* Mark Pembridge - former Fulham Football Club
* Danny Murphy - Fulham Football Club footballer
* Simon Jordan- Owner of Crystal Palace Football Club
* Nigel Reo-Coker - Aston Villa Football Club
* John Sullivan - sitcom writer, notably "Only Fools and Horses".

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2004/09_september/06/warren.shtml BBC Kingswood Warren]
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/rd BBC Research & Development]