Runfold

infobox UK place
country = England
latitude=51.220598
longitude=-0.753766
official_name= Runfold
map_type= Surrey
population =
shire_district= Waverley
shire_county = Surrey
region= South East England
constituency_westminster= South West Surrey
post_town= Farnham
postcode_district = GU10
postcode_area= GU
dial_code= 01252
os_grid_reference=SU871476

Runfold is a village in Surrey, U.K., about 2 miles (3 kilometres) NNE of Farnham.

Runfold lies on the ancient trackway known as the Pilgrims' Way and on the former route of the A31 road, which has by-passed the village since the early 1990s. Loss of through traffic has made the village safer and quieter but has affected the village economy, with the loss of the service station, post office and "Alf's Café", a notable transport café. One pub remains; this is the Princess Royal which has recently expanded and now offers hotel accommodation; the former Jolly Farmer has now become a Chinese restaurant.

The village has been seriously affected by mineral extraction, subsequent infilling of the resultant sand and gravel pits, and the heavy vehicle movements associated with that industry.

Runfold Manor is a large house in the east of the village, at the foot of the Hog's Back. Much of the contents were auctioned in 2005 when the owners decided to move away. [ From: Evening Standard - London Date: 19/10/2005] Barfield School, an independent mixed gender Primary School, is in the village; Mike Hawthorn, Britain's first Formula 1 motor racing World Champion was educated here. [Farnham Herald, 23rd May 2008]

Runfold, along with a number of other villages in the Surrey and Sussex Weald (such as Alfold, Dunsfold, Durfold and Chiddingfold) comprise the "Fold Villages", the suffix probably relating to the clearance of forest and staking out of resultant pasture as grazing land for sheep or cattle in Saxon times.

References