Leatherhead is a small town in Surrey. The origins are Anglo-Saxon; in 880AD it was known as Leadriden and was noted in the Domesday book as Leddrede meaning ‘the place where people can ride across the river’. There has been a bridge over the River Mole in Leatherhead since medeval times.
The Swan Hotel was, for 300 years, the inn used by horse drawn carriages and coaches.
One of the oldest buildings in Leatherhead is the Running Horse public house dating back to 1403. It lies south of town on the banks of the River Mole. It is said that Elizabeth I had to spend a night there because the river had flooded and crossing was impossible..
There used to be several industries including Ronsons Lighters and Goblin Vacuum Cleaners, both were used as ammunitions plants during World War II. Most industries moved from the area in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Today commerce accounts as the main employer.
In the 1940’s and 1950’s Leatherhead became home to a Remploy Factory these factories were designed to give work to local disabled people. On May 22nd 2007 the Company decided to close the Leatherhead factory and a further forty-two sites.
In the early 1980’s the town was modernised with a pedestrian only High Street and a one way traffic system. Trade in the town has fluctuated since then seeing both good and bad periods.
The towns’ only hotel the Bull Hotel closed in the late l990’s and a Lidl store now stands on the site.
The Leisure Centre was built in 1960 and extended in the 1980’s. It has swimming and teaching pools, courts and a gym. It caters for several activities such a gymnastics and trampoline clubs. It also has a café and a children’s play area. In 2006 plans were submitted for a rebuild but now it looks as though only a refurbishment and an extension are the works that will be done.
Bocketts Farm, off Young Street, is a well-known Rare Breed Farm and it also has a Petting Centre used widely by schools for day trips and teaching.
North Leatherhead or Leatherhead Common, as it is sometimes known, has one local public house, The Royal Oak, and there are two large stores here, Tesco and B&Q.
There are a number of shops in the Swan Centre in the High Street like Next, Clarks Shoes and Dorothy Perkins together with smaller retail premises. There is also a wide choice of restaurants and cafes serving quality food from Chinese to Italian and English to Indian.
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