Population 9,384 Country England Post town WOKING Local time Tuesday 10:19 PM District Borough of Woking UK parliament constituency Woking | Region South East Sovereign state United Kingdom Postcode district GU21 Shire county Surrey Dialling code 01483 | |
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Weather 10°C, Wind SW at 6 km/h, 92% Humidity | ||
Horsell community choir
Horsell is a village in the borough of Woking in Surrey, England, located less than a mile north-west of Woking town centre. In November 2012, its population was 9,384.
Contents
- Horsell community choir
- Map of Horsell Woking UK
- A spooky school poem by author luke temple and the children of horsell junior school
- History
- Horsell Common
- Schools and facilities
- Notable people
- References
Map of Horsell, Woking, UK
Horsell has a close association with H. G. Wells' classic science fiction novel The War of the Worlds, the sand pits of Horsell Common being chosen as the site of the first Martian landing. Horsell Common has since been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. Another landmark is the McLaren Technology Centre, built on the northern edge of the common in the early 2000s for the McLaren Group.
A spooky school poem by author luke temple and the children of horsell junior school
History
Horsell was first documented in the 13th century, although the parish church of St Mary the Virgin is believed to date from the middle of the 12th century. The name probably comes from the Anglo-Saxon horig scylf, meaning "muddy slope". This may refer to the hill now carrying the metalled track known as "Horsell Rise"; tricky for cars in winter conditions it is then very much enjoyed by local children who create toboggan slides down the centre of it.
Until the late 19th century, the village consisted of scattered cottages and farms, surrounded by fields, heathlands and nurseries. Suburban development eventually began in the 1880s, although the village remains largely rural in character.
Horsell Common
The commonland includes Horsell Common, which is notable for being the place where the martians landed in War of the Worlds, an Ancient Burial Ground and a Muslim Burial Ground. One of Horsell's most significant locations is Horsell Common. The common includes a bomb crater from WW2, a large, seasonal pond with a sandpit (which is where the Martians landed) and an open field which extends to the grounds of the McLaren HQ. Many different species of plants and wildlife can be found there. There was a Home Guard base there, though this has long since disappeared. The Common is popular with the locals and people of Woking Borough.
Schools and facilities
The Anglican parish church of St Mary the Virgin dates back to the middle of the 12th century, and still retains the original doors. The church has strong links with one of the village's junior schools, Horsell C of E Junior School. The village's other schools include the Horsell Village School, built 1851, and independent school St. Andrew's School along with Woking High School, formerly Horsell High School.
It is also the home of Woking and Horsell Cricket Club, whose members have included Alec and Eric Bedser. Those famous twins played cricket for Surrey, and Alec played with great success for England.
Notable people
Notable people from Horsell include: