Merstham is a village in the Reigate and Banstead borough of Surrey, England and is part of the London commuter belt. It is situated just north of Redhill, near the intersection of the M25 and M23 motorways, on the edge of the North Downs and is on the route of the North Downs Way.

History

The area has been settled since pre-Roman times, and the village is mentioned in the Domesday Book

The area has long been known for it's quarries, and it was as a result of these that the village became a destination of the world's first public railway, the Surrey Iron Railway, albeit a horse-drawn one.

The village's oldest church, St. Katharine’s, dates from aproximately 1100, and the current building originates from aproximately 1220.

Merstham railway tunnel was the scene of the first railway murder, on 24th September 1905. The mutilated body of Mary Money was found in the tunnel and was first thought to be a case of suicide. On inspection however, a scarf was found in the victim's throat, and marks on the tunnel wall showed that she had been thrown from a moving train. The crime was never officially solved, but suspicion rested with Miss Money's brother, Robert Money.

Geography

Redhill is located at 51°15'00" North, 00°9'00" West (51.250, -0.150)¹.

External link

• Merstham online - the comunity website with a wealth of information
• Merstham Village
• Mertham F.C. online
• County Council web site
• The Merstham Tunnel Mystery