The hundred of Reigate: Introduction and map

THE HUNDRED OF REIGATE

CONTAINING THE PARISHES OF

This hundred was known as the hundred of Cherchefelle at the time of the Domesday Survey and afterwards. The name Reigate occurs in 1199. (fn. 2) In 1086 Buckland, Chipstead, Gatton, Merstham, Nutfield, and Reigate (Cherchefelle) were placed in this hundred, which also included Orde, which has been identified with the parish of Worth in Sussex; (fn. 3) possibly, however, it represents North and South Worth in Merstham (see under that parish). Charlwood was probably included in Merstham, of which manor it was a member (see account of Charlwood). The chief manor in Leigh (q.v.) appears, shortly after the Survey, as a member of Ewell, and was probably so regarded in 1086 also. Burstow and Horley (q.v.) were in Wimbledon and Banstead. Part of Betchworth appears in Wotton Hundred, (fn. 4) but was included in Reigate Hundred before 1279. (fn. 5)

The hundred seems to have always been a royal one. (fn. 6) A grant of the office of bailiff of this hundred with that of Tandridge was made in 1485 to Thomas Body. (fn. 7) To a lay subsidy levied in 1546 the hundreds of Tandridge and Reigate contributed together £420 10s. 8d., of which £235 5s. 8d. was raised in Reigate Hundred. (fn. 8) A lease of the farm of the two hundreds for twenty-one years was made in 1617 to Thomas Hunt. (fn. 9) A Parliamentary Survey (fn. 10) made in 1651 shows that the certainty money due from both hundreds annually amounted to £4 14s. 6d. whilst profits of court, amercements, and other perquisites were valued annually at £8 13s. 4d. The courts leet for both hundreds were kept at Undersnowe, (fn. 11) and were held by the sheriff of the county, who received the profits and accounted for them to the public exchequer; the lord might also call and keep a court leet in any of the townships or tithings in the hundreds which paid a common fine. The surveyors stated that they could not discover that a three-weekly court had ever been held for the hundreds, although they believed the lord thereof might hold one if he pleased.