Elstead

Coordinates: 51°11′02″N 0°41′53″W / 51.184°N 0.698°W / 51.184; -0.698

Elstead is a semi-rural civil parish in Surrey, England with shops, houses and cottages spanning north and south sides of the River Wey; development concentrated on two roads that meet at a central green. It includes Pot Common its southern neighbourhood. Hamlets in the parish, marginally separated from the village centre, are Charleshill and Elstead Common, both rich in woodland. Elstead is on the B3001 about 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) west of the A3 Milford interchange and lies between Farnham and Godalming.

History

Elstead's relative prosperity over the centuries can be partly attributed to the existence of the availability of a site for a watermill and a bridge over the river, parts of the bridge are dated to around 1300.

The first known reference to Elstead is in the 1128 foundation charter for Waverley Abbey (sometimes spelt Waverly), where it was called Helestede. The church of St James was built around ten years later. It still contains 13th century windows and some 14th century timbers and is a Grade II* listed building.