Chaldon: Walking and Medieval Architecture

Chaldon brings together walking, medieval art and architectural history. It also has a recreation area and the pilgrimage tradition of the North Downs Way. This offers several different points of interest for planning your trip: the local footpath network, historic buildings and the connection to an ancient route.

Walking Trails and Pilgrimage Tradition

Chaldon Footpaths & Walks offers seven self-guided walks covering all of Chaldon’s footpaths. The North Downs Way also passes through the village, but has a different focus: it is an ancient route that pilgrims still walk today from Winchester to Canterbury. The two options help you plan around different themes. The seven walks offer a choice of routes in the local network; the North Downs Way reflects an ongoing pilgrimage tradition.

Medieval Art and Architectural History

A wall painting dating from around 1200 is located on the west wall of the Church of St Peter and St Paul. It is considered one of the most important English wall paintings of its time. It predates the building phases of Chaldon Court and Tollsworth Manor mentioned here, providing an early point of reference for Chaldon’s artistic and architectural history.

Chaldon Court is a 14th-century house. Its eastern chimney dates from the 17th century and was encased in the 18th century. Both parts of the building have moulded roof structures with crown posts. The house, chimney and encasing represent clearly distinct building phases. The crown-post roof structures are another architectural feature shared by both parts of the building.

Tollsworth Manor is also an important medieval building and is listed as a Grade II* building. Its three-bay cross-wing with solar is dated to the period from 1326 to 1358, while the three-bay hall range dates from 1433. The cross-wing is therefore the older of the two parts. The different dates offer a closer insight into the property’s architectural history.

Recreation Area and Historic Landscape

A 2025 neighbourhood plan describes Six Brothers Field as Chaldon’s main recreation area. Well-maintained footpaths connect historic buildings, sites and features of the old estate, giving the public access to its landscape and historic features. The field and the estate paths have different emphases: recreation on the one hand, historic landscape on the other.

The former St Lawrence’s Hospital Burial Ground is managed in an environmentally friendly way to protect its biodiversity. The entrance is on the Bridleway 77 bridle path, about 150 metres from Green Lane. The site was open to the public in 2024; check before visiting whether access is still available.

Discover more destinations: Dorking, Sunbury-On-Thames, Smallfield, Camberley, Bramley, Shepperton, Chilworth, Ashford

For the regional travel overview: Surrey.