Banstead Village

WINKWORTH ROAD, BANSTEAD


Historically, all through traffic in this area used to converge on the narrow Banstead High Street.

A Banstead “by-pass” road was first proposed by the Ministry of Transport in 1923, to connect Croydon Lane with Fir Tree Road, but the project remained on hold for several years, while much of what had been Winkworth Farm, remained open land merging into Banstead Downs.

The first development of the farm land started in 1928, with the laying of Wilmot Way and Buff Avenue, followed by houses in 1929 and other roads locally followed progressively, along with the decision by Epsom Rural District Council to start on the bypass.

Winkworth Road was opened in 1932, thereby relieving traffic through the narrow Banstead High Street.

This image, circa 1935, shows the newly completed bypass included the luxury of service roads to houses on both sides of the road.
Today, some front gardens have been sacrificed for off-road parking, and the road looks a bit busier.

Details courtesy of the publication “Banstead – A History”, produced by the Banstead History Research Group

Postcard courtesy of Dunmore Series