Alfold, Surrey
Alfold, Surrey
Alfold is a small parish in the south-west of Surrey on the Sussex border. The name derives from the Saxon Ald(old)fold, in ancient times 'an enclosure for animals' in the great Wealden Forest.The village does not appear in the Doomsday Book, perhaps because at the time it was little more than a clearing, but it has a long and interesting history. In the 18th and 19th centuries, for example, Alfold featured prominently as a hiding area for smuggled contraband since it lay on one of the main routed from the coast. In his excellent book 'Alfold - The Story of a Surrey Village', written in 1935, F W Cobb includes a quotation from Dame Tickner of Rosemary Lane, who was born in 1764. At the age of 90 this lady told Miss Sparkes, the Rector's daughter, that there were several smugglers about in her early days. "When in bed she would hear them splashing down the lane on their powerful horses laden with spirit kegs. They turned up Mary Magdalene Lane, now a disused grass track. The smugglers' kegs were hidden in farm houses in Sidney Wood, where recesses in the great chimneys received them. If a farmer allowed the smuggled goods to be hidden in his farm he would always find a present of spirits left behind for him".
The Church of St. Nicholas was first recorded in the reign of Henry III (1216-1272), but it is known however that the church was in existence long before then. (The construction of the first Norman church, consisting of nave and chancel, took place in approximately 1100.
On the 'Roll of Rectors' for the church, two 'Strudwicks' are listed.
1694 Henry Strudwick
1715 Henry Strudwick (son of above)
Alfold - Armistice Sunday 1922
(Picture courtesy of Derek Ryde)Interesting features of the church
The Communion Table
One of the church's most prized objects is the communion tabletop, a beautiful single slab of polished Sussex marble containing fossils of freshwater winkles and well worth close examination. It was buried beneath the nave at the time of the Reformation to prevent it from being 'broken, defaced and bestowed to some common use' on the orders of Archbishop Grindal in 1571. The Rev R J Sparkes discovered it in 1842 and restored it to use. A small silver chalice hallmarked 1570 was also found buried under the chancel for safe-keeping.The Font
The beautiful font probably dates from 1080 and is one of the finest and best preserved in Surrey. There are only two of this particular design, each with a Maltese cross on a long stem, marking the font as unmistakably Norman. In 1236 an order was issued by archbishop Rich that all font Lids were to be securely fastened with a bar and staples in order to prevent baptismal water being stolen and used for magical purposes.The Churchyard
Under the shadow of the War Memorial there is a much worn slab of Sussex marble which is said to cover the grave of Jean Carre, who died 27th May 1572 and was one of the last of the French glass makers. Jean Carre was responsible for introducing into this country glass makers from Lorraine in 1567, and he obtained a license to manufacture 'glass for glazing such as is made in France, Burgundy and Lorraine'. Traces of old glass can still be found in the depths of Sydney Wood in the Parish. Local glass making died out about 1618 when timber firing for the industry was being replaced by coal.
Below the churchyard stood an old almshouse (destroyed in 1880) which in the 1870's was used as a school until the parish school opened a few years later. The children, 43 in number, were classified as 'exceedingly backward'. Also below the churchyard stand the village stocks, one of only two complete sets of stocks in Surrey. Any boy who dared to laugh in church was confined in these stocks, given a thrashing, and left to meditate on his sins until the next service of the day.
Note: I was quite surprised to find only one Strudwick grave with a stone in Alfold churchyard (Thankyou Trevor for pointing this out to me), it seems that although Alfold has seen many Strudwick's over the centuries, they have not left much for us to investigate physically. So where are they all buried? One of the reasons may be that the Alfold Strudwicks where probably farm labourours whose families could not afford expensive stones to mark the place where their loved ones were laid to rest. The one stone that is there is fairly recent compared with how far the family goes back in this area and even that stone is shared between 3 family members. As this is the only visable record I have to go on, I have decided to research the individuals mentioned to see if there is any family connection and delve a little deeper. My Alfold decendants page is here
Information on Alfold Church taken from "A History of Alfold Church" published by the church. Although there is no copyright information on this booklet please use this for research purposes only. Pictures taken by my father and scanned by myself.
Pictures of Alfold Church and surroundings
taken by my father and I on the morning of September 11th, 2001
The red tiled houses are typical of the architecture that surrounds the church. Click on the image to view a larger version.
The above 5 pictures are courtesy of Alan Bullen and were taken by him in July 2005. See if you can spot the house that was once the village store in the 1922 Armistice Sunday picture elsewhere on the page.
Early Alfold Wills & Deeds Back in 1997 when I first started my research I remember visiting the record office in Islington, North London and trawling through index's to wills. I will never forget seeing an entry for ''John Strodewyke', alias 'John of Alfold'' dated 1544 and writen in old hand. From that moment on I was hooked on the genealogy and history that goes with it.Some of the below wills are also included on the 'Strudwick Wills page' with more detailed references. I have repeated them here for the purpose of having the Alfold records all in one place to help in the process of looking for links between families.
NAME & LOCATION REFERENCE OTHER ..., of Alfold [dw/pa/5/1544/2] John, alias John of Alfold [In dw/pa/5/1544/8] John of Alfold, yeoman [dw/pa/7/7 f.212; dw/pa/5/1598/81] Abs 378 Thomas of Alfold, husbandman [hro 1589 b55]
378. - JOHN STRUDWICKE of Alfold, yeoman.
19 July, 1597. Wife Joane use of land called Okehurst until son John be 21. Youngest son Thomas Strudwicke. Daus. Alice, Anne and Mary Strudwicke. Residue to wife Joane Executrix. Overseers, Friends John Kynge and Thomas Hurst.
Witn. Richard Kinge, Henry Poulter and Margerie his wife and Alice Grover. Debts owing to John Didlesfold, John a Deane the elder, John Stringer, Joane Frances and Edward Marlyn.
Proved 13 April, 1598. [fo. 212.
There also exists the following deed which is probably the same 'John of Alfold' as per the above will reference who died in 1544.
18 Nov. 33 HEN. VIII, 1541.
Deed by John Strodwyke otherwise called John Awlfold giving, granting & confirming to Henry Walker and John Berozefold a messuage with garden called Cokers garden abutting on a wood called Strudewykswood on the west part and land formly of John Phellypp called Soweland on the south and west of the said garden and certain land called Badbury being in Kerdeford in Sussex. To hold to them etc. to the use of grantor's son William and his heirs lawfully begotton, with reminder to grantor's son John and his heirs for ever.
Alfold Marriages Taken from Surrey Marriages, Volume V
L = License, b = bachelor, sp = spinster, B = Birth, otp = of this parish, (x) = made mark ?
1663 11 Feb Strydwick William
Albery Jane of Westbury Greene
(married at Loxwood Chapel)1735 16 Dec Hunt (Mr) John of Hascombe
Strudwicke (Mrs) Elizabeth of Oakhurst
in this parish by L1767 3 Nov Strudwick Thomas, sojourner and lab. (x)
Botting Ann sp both otp by B
Wit: John King, JW (James Woods)1786 14 Mar Strudwick Thomas
Hearsey Mary (x) both otp by B
Wit: WI, JB (William Ireland, James Botting)1790 1 Jun Strudwick Charles (x) b
Hill Sarah (x) (-) both otp by B
Wit: Jas Puttick, JB (James Botting)1791 1 Mar Coovey Jessey (x) of Wisborough Grn
Strudwick Emmey (x) (-) by B
Wit: Ric and Peter Butcher1796 21 Jun Strudwick James (x) b
Penfold Susanna (-) both otp by B
Wit: Wm Penfold (x), JB1797 19 Apr Strudwick Henry (x) b
Hill Hanah (x) sp both otp by B
Wit: JB, Geo Foster (x)1798 15 Aug Strudwick John of Newport, Hants b
Fair Sarah otp (-) by L with cons. of Wm Fair the father
Wit: John Nye, JB1823 2 Apr Strudwick William (x) b
Kennings Mary (x) sp both otp by B
Wit: Jas Strudwick (x), Hann Strudwick (x)
Alfold Baptisms, Marriages and Burials
Information extracted from the Surrey Registers, Volume VI and the International Genalogical Index (IGI).
Baptisms (c) 1658-1840 Marriages (m) 1658-1694 Burials (b) 1658-1840 Index of entries from the Surrey Register, including variants Shrudwicke, Stredwick, Strudwicke
Ann c1721, b1722, b1782,b1816, Arthur c1778, Caroline c1821, Charity b1772, Charles c1695, c1732, b1736, b1743,c1766, Elizabeth c1700, c1785, c1789, c1799,c1816, Ellen c1827, Emey c1768, Emma c1810, b1759, Francis c1768, George c1780, 837, Hannah c1790, b1799, c1804, b1817, 1826, Harriot c1793, Harvey c1839, Henry b1710, c1725, b1760, b1763, c1764,c1772, c1834, James c1770, c1801, c1823, c1830, Jane c1826, John b1693/4, c1702, c1726, c1764, Lydia c1800, Martha c1787, Mary c1666, c1692, b1693/4, c1730, c1823, Meseck c1796, Ralph b1726, Rose b1670, Ruth c1783, Samuel c1792, Sarah b1690, c1770, c1786, b1818, Sarah Ann c1825, Susan c1782, Thomas c1698, b1716, b1791, c1797, 1827, William m1663, c1696, c1775, c1794, c1802, c1832, b1833, Widow b1795. Baptisms from the Surrey Register in date order.
1666 26 Aug Strudwick Mary Daughter of Ralph and Rose, of Okehurst 1692 17 Feb Strudwick Mary Daughter of William and Sarah, his Wife 1695 30 Jul Strudwick Charles Son Henry, Rector, and Mary 1696 03 Dec Strudwicke William Son of Henry, Rector, and Mary 1698 06 May Strudwicke Thomas Son of Henry, Rector, and Mary 1700 05 Sep Strudwicke Elizabeth Daughter of Henry, Rector, and Mary 1702 07 May Strudwiche John Son of Henry, Rector, and Mary 1721 27 Apr Strudwicke Ann Daughter of Henry and Betty 1725 08 Jun Strudwicke Henry Son of Henry and Betty, Born 15 May 1726 18 Oct Strudwicke John Son of Henry and Betty, Born 8 Sept 1730 19 Nov Strudwicke Mary Daughter of Henry, Rector and Betty his Wife 1732 25 Jul Strudwicke Charles Son of Henry and Betty 1764 19 Feb Strudwicke Henry Son of Henry and Mary of Loxwood 1764 22 Jul Strudwicke John Son of William and Betty 1766 29 Apr Strudwicke Charles Son William and Elizabeth 1768 18 Sep Strudwick Emey Daughter of William and Betty 1768 17 Jan Strudwick Francis Son of Thomas and Ann 1770 15 Jul Strudwick James Son of William and Betty 1770 21 Oct Strudwick Sarah Daughter of Thomas and Ann 1772 17 Nov Strudwick Henry Son of William and Betty 1775 19 Mar Strudwick William Son of William and Betty 1780 19 Mar Strudwick George Son of William and Betty 1782 03 Nov Strudwick Susan Daughter of Henry and Mary 1783 12 Jan Strudwick Ruth Daughter of William and Betty 1785 13 Mar Stredwick Elizabeth Daughter of William and Elizabeth 1786 07 May Strudwick Sarah Daugher of Thomas and Mary, Poor 1787 20 May Strudwick Martha Daughter of Thomas and Mary 1789 06 Feb Strudwick Elizabeth Daughter of Thomas and Mary 1790 19 Sep Strudwick Hannah Daughter of Thomas and Mary, Paid. 1792 09 Apr Strudwick Samuel Son of Thomas and Mary, Paid 1793 16 Jun Strudwich Harriot Daughter of Thomas and Mary, Paid. 1794 23 Nov Strudwick William Son of Thomas and Mary, Paid 1796 15 May Strudwick Meseck Son of Thomas and Mary 1797 25 Jun Strudwicke Thomas Son of Thomas and Harriott 1799 30 Mar Strudwick Elizabeth Daughter of Thomas and Mary 1800 21 Sep Strudwick Lydia Daughter of John and Sarah 1801 16 Aug Strudwhick James Son of Henry and Hannah 1802 04 Jul Strudwhick William Son of John and Sarah 1804 29 Jul Strdwhick Hannah Daughter of Henry and Hannah 1810 11 Mar Strudwick Emma Daughter of George and Mary 1816 06 Oct Strudwick Elizabeth Daughter of James and Elizabeth, Lab 1821 25 Feb Strudwick Caroline Daughter of Charles and Bet, Lab 1823 02 Feb Strudwick James Son of Charles and Bet, Lab 1823 22 Jun Strudwick Mary Daughter of William and Mary, Lab 1825 14 Aug Strudwick Sarah Ann Daughter of William and Mary, Lab 1826 16 Apr Strudwick Jane Daughter of Charles and Bet, Lab 1826 24 Dec Strudwick Hannah Daughter Thomas and Elizabeth, 1827 02 Dec Strudwick Ellen Daughter of William and Mary, Lab 1830 21 Mar Strudwick James Son of William and Mary, Lab 1832 11 Nov Strudwick William Son of William and Mary, Lab 1834 28 Sep Strudwick Henry Son of William and Mary, Lab 1837 15 Jan Strudwick George Son of William and Mary, Lab 1839 10 Nov Strudwick Harvey Son of William and Mary, Lab
Baptisms extracted from the IGI and listed in date order.
This is a complete list of Alfold baptisms listed in the IGI. There will be some duplication with the Surrey registers. Eventually I hope to create a masterlist and master index but for now I am going to list them by source with no complete index as yet.
Batch Notes 1666 26 Aug Mary daughter of Ralph and Rose C067912 1690 3 Jul Sarah daughter of William and Sarah Strudwicke C067912 1691 17 Feb Mary daughter of William and Sarah C067912 1695 30 Jul Charles son of Hen. and Mary Strudwicke C067912 1696 3 Dec William son of Henry and Mary Strudwicke C067912 1698 6 May Thomas son of Henry and Mary Strudwicke C067912 1700 5 Sep Elisabeth daughter of Henry and Mary Strudwicke C067912 1702 7 May John son of Henry and Mary Strudwicke C067912 1721 27 Apr Ann daughter of Hen. and Betty Strudwicke C067912 1725 8 Jun Henry son of Henry and Betty Strudwicke C067912 1726 18 Oct John son of Henry and Betty Strudwicke C067912 1730 19 Nov Mary daughter of Henry and Betty Strudwicke C067912 1732 25 Jul Charles son of Henry and Betty Strudwicke C067912 1764 19 Feb Henry son of Henry and Mary Strudwicke C067912 1764 22 Jul John son of William and Betty Strudwicke C067912 1766 27 Apr Charles son of William and Elizebath Strudwicke C067912 1772 15 Nov Henerey son of Wellam and Bety C067912 1775 19 Mar William son of William and Betty C067912 1778 19 Apr Arthur son of William and Betty C067912 1780 19 Mar George son of William and betty C067912 1782 3 Nov Susan daughter of Henry and Mary C067912 1783 12 Jan Ruth daughter of William and Betty C067912 1785 13 Mar Elizabeth daughter of William and Elizabeth C067912 1786 7 May Sarah daughter of Thomas and Mary C067912 1787 20 May Martha daughter of Thomas and Mary C067912 1789 6 Feb Elizabeth daughter of Thos. and Mary C067912 1790 19 Sep Hannah daughter of Thos. and Marey C067912 1792 9 Apr Saml. son of Thos. and Marey C067912 1793 16 Jun Heryet daughter of Thos. and Marey C067912 1794 23 Nov Willm. son of Thos. and Marey C067912 1796 15 May Meseck son of Thos. and Marey C067912 1800 28 Sep Lydia daughter of John and Sarah C067911 1802 4 Jul William son of John and Sarah C067911 1804 29 Jul Hannah daughter of Henry and Hannah C067911 1810 11 Mar Emma daughter of George and Mary C067911 1816 6 Oct Elizabeth daughter of James and Elizabeth C067913 1821 25 Feb Caroline daughter of Charles and Bet C067913 1823 2 Feb James son of Charles and Bet C067911 1823 22 Jun Mary daughter of William and Mary C067911 1825 14 Aug Sarah Ann daughter of William and Mary C067911 1826 16 Apr Jane daughter of Charles and Bet C067913 1826 24 Dec Hannah daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth C067913 1827 2 Dec Elen daughter of William and Mary C067913 1830 21 Mar James son of William and Mary C067913 1832 11 Nov William son of William and Mary C067911 1834 28 Sep Henry son of William and Mary C067911 1837 15 Jan George son of William and Mary C067911 1839 10 Nov Harvey son of William and Mary C067911 1842 21 Aug Richard son of william and Mary C067911 1846 1 Feb Susanna daughter of William and Mary C067911 1851 9 Nov William son of James and Maria C067911 1855 14 Jan James William son of James and Maria C067911 1857 25 Oct Ellen daughter of James and Maria C067911 1860 1 Jul Thomas son of James and Maria C067911 1863 5 Jul Mary Jane daughter of James and Maria C067913 1872 7 Apr Fanny Agnes daughter of Charles and Miriam C067913
Alfold marriages listed in the Surrey Register Volume VI
1663 11 Feb Strudwick William, Albery Jane, of Wisborough Green (Married In Loxwood Chapel)
Alfold marriages extracted from the IGI
This is a complete list of Alfold marriages listed in the IGI.
Batch Notes 1823 2 Apr William Strudwick & Mary Kennings M067911 1841 7 Nov Caroline Strudwick & William Faulkner M067911 1849 31 Dec Sarah Strudwick & Leonard Wale M067911 1850 29 May James Strudwick & Maria Vincent M067911 1850 29 May Ellen Strudwick & William Potter M067911 1853 18 Jul Henry Strudwick & Hannah Covey M067911 1735 16 Dec Eliz. Strudwicke & John Hunt M067912 1767 3 Nov Thomas Strudwick & Anne Botting M067913 1786 14 Mar Thomas Strudwick & Mary Hearse M067913 1790 1 Jun Charles Strudwick & Sarah Hill M067913 1791 1 Mar Emmey Strudwick & Jessey Coovey M067913 1796 21 Jun James Strudwick & Susanna Penfold M067913 1797 19 Apr Henry Strudwick & Hanah Hill M067913 1798 15 Aug John Strudwick & Sarah Fair M067913 1849 29 Jul Jane Strudwick & George Barnett M067913 1873 27 Dec William Strudwick & Agnes Mary Barnett M067913 1875 27 Mar Ellen Strudwick & Edwin Denyer M067913
Alfold burials listed in the Surrey Register Volume VI
1670 25 Aug Strudwick Rose Wife of Ralph, of Okehurst 1690 Sarah (No Listing but in index, check this one) 1693/4 15 Mar Strudwick John Son of William, Weaver Aff, 19th 1693/4 05 Apr Strudwick Mary Daughter of William, Weaver Aff 7th Mar 1710 05 May Strudwick Mr. Henry, Rector of Alfold, Aff. 6th 1716 03 May Strudwick Thomas Son of Henry and Mary, His Wife, 1722 Strudwicke Ann Daughter of Henry and Betty, His Wife 1726 08 Apr Strudwicke Ralph, Aff. 10th 1736 24 May Strudwicke Mr. Charles Aff. 29th 1743 12 Feb Strudwicke Charles Son of Henry, Rector and Betty, 1759 06 Apr Strudwicke Emma Daughter of Henry and Charity, of Dunsfold 1760 11 Dec Strudwicke Mr Henry, of Dunsfold 1763 12 Dec Strudwicke Rev. Mr. Henry, Rector of Alfold 1772 06 Sep Strudwicke Charity Wife of Henry, Rector 1782 22 Feb Strudwick Ann Daughter of Thomas 1791 21 Feb Strudwick Thomas, Senior 1795 06 May Strudwick Widow, of Sidney 1799 26 Feb Strudwhick Hannah Daughter of John and Sarah 1816 26 Feb Strudwick Ann of (-), 75 Years 1817 23 Feb Strudwick Hannah, 39 Years 1818 08 Oct Strudwick Sarah, 62 Years 1827 28 Mar Strudwick Thomas, Widower, 84 Years 1833 01 Oct Strudwick William Son of William and Mary, 11 Months
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