Banstead Village

What a lovely old house, Denise. BHRG’s book ‘Banstead: A History’ (1993) provides some interesting details about the Old Vicarage. It had three floors, nine bedrooms, a drawing room, study, dining room, kitchen, larder, parlour and scullery.

In the end, it was way too large for its purpose, so as you say, towards the end of the 1930s the house and grounds were sold off and a new vicarage was built in Garratts Lane. Many years later, during the Rev Frederick Schofield’s incumbency in the 1950s, I knew the Garratts Lane vicarage very well because I lived nearby and was friends with the Schofield children.

Both vicarages, of course, were demolished long ago.

I remember the new vicarage in Garratts Lane as I was also a friend of the Rev Schofield's son Adrian. He appears in at least one of the Banstead Primary School groups on BHRG's webpages - one of those submitted by Hazel Woodrow and variously dated 1959-63 or 1953-54 - I think it was actually from 1955-56, my last year there. I came across Adrian by chance on Facebook or Twitter a few years ago and was able to send him a copy of a piece he had written in The Beacon, the school magazine. He now lives in South Africa.

Does anyone have a photograph of the Vicarage in Garratts Lane? Where exactly was it?

Lewis, the Vicarage was on the north side of Garratts Lane, almost opposite Shrubland Road. One of the entrances to the recreation ground was immediately adjoining, to the east. I believe the house and its large garden in due course were developed into (part of) the Roseland care home.

Thanks to the various members who responded.

Its location in Garratts Lane, no.34

As of April 2025, the building still exists, but it has extended much over the years. It has been empty for some time and could be scheduled for demolition anytime.

It was in use and called Arundel House until a couple of years ago, when it was a home for people with special educational needs.

It can be seen on an aerial view dated 1947 on the National Library of Scotland Maps.

When it closed down, someone contacted me and asked if we would like a model of the building, which we subsequently acquired.
We have a film of the foundation stone being laid, in our Wingrove archives.

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