Langley Vale

For the hamlet on the mid-north coast of New South Wales, see Lansdowne (village), New South Wales.

Langley Vale
Langley Vale  Langley Vale shown within Surrey
OS grid reference	TQ234561
District	Epsom and Ewell
Shire county	Surrey
Region	South East
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	Epsom
Postcode district	KT
Dialling code	01372 27
Police	Surrey
Fire	Surrey
Ambulance	South East Coast
EU Parliament	South East England
UK Parliament	Epsom and Ewell
List of places UK England Surrey

Langley Vale is a residential locality of Epsom and Ewell Borough traditionally part of Epsom in the English county of Surrey. It is mixed buffered: to the north-east by Epsom Downs Racecourse, by hill farms and by Woodcote Park Golf Course. The nearest settlements are Burgh Heath and Tattenham Corner to the east, Tadworth to the south-east, Walton-on-the-Hill and Headley to the south, Ashtead to the west and the Woodcote part of Epsom to the north.

History

Patent Rolls and similar reveal the Vale was originally a farm with several tenants and later it became in effect a single farm (Langley Bottom Farm) and that after the Black Death or at least after the 14th century it started to disappear from the map. In a document dated 1255/1268 the land appears to be held by a William de Langley. John at Ley from Headley takes it on in 1331/2 and again in 1333/4, succeeding John de Langley. In 1347/8 the tenant is a John at Ley then the records give out. In 1435/6 another John Langley is tenant as subtenant of a William de Langhead of Epsom. The manorial survey of 1496 suggests it was being farmed as a single holding.

Historically, the land which comprised the village of Langley Bottom was, until 1877, part of the Ashtead Park Estate, although it was in the parish of Epsom.

It was subsequently sold as building land. OS maps show gradual development - in 1895, the road layout is shown but no development. By 1913 roads and some houses are named. By 1932 there are more houses but still some undeveloped areas. A great deal of development took place after World War II and in the 1970s infill houses were built on some of the large gardens.

Originally known as Langley Bottom, the 'village' changed its name, likely in the 1930s, to Langley Vale.

The village has a long association with the racing industry and Epsom Racecourse. Many trainers set up training stables within the village and by the 1950s as there was as many as 15 training stables in Langley Vale. Many villagers worked in the racing industry, too.

Economy and amenities

Epsom and Ewell Borough Council has permitted minor back-plot development which has permitted higher density development, and some subdivision of plots while still keeping to neat road grid (nucleated village layout) with designated but sufficient parking to every house, overall, except for The Derby, which takes place on a start-of-summer weekend.

The village has no pub (The Rubbing House across the racecourse being nearest) and very little in the way of shops, a small community centre and church. There is a single petrol station on the main road, and one school.

Transport

Road

The village is accessed by one road.

The village has only two bus services; the E5 to Watersedge via Epsom and the 676 school bus to Rosebery School (Epsom), St Andrew's School (Ashtead) and Therfield School (Leatherhead).

Rail

The nearest stations are Tattenham Corner (2 miles by road or 1 mile on foot across the fields) and Epsom Downs (about 2.5 miles).

Emergency services

• Surrey Police
• South East Coast Ambulance Service, formed, as of 1 July 2006 by the merger of the Surrey Ambulance Service, Sussex, and Kent ambulance services
• Surrey Fire and Rescue Service

See also

• List of places of worship in Epsom and Ewell

External links

• The Langley Vale Village community website
• History and Pictures of Langley Vale Village