Gatton is a small parish located about two miles north-east from Reigate and two miles north of Redhill. It enclosed about 1200 acres of land, part to farmland and about 550 acres to Gatton Park, which is very picturesque and popular with visitors on open days.

Gatton, St. Andrew's Church, 1890
Photographic Survey and Record of Surrey no. 595

The upper part where Gatton Hall, St Andrew parish church and the old Town Hall is located slopes gently down from Tower woods at Gatton Bottom, past The Japanese Gardens, recently restored, then on past the Lake to Temple Wood which borders the A242

Gatton is one of the oldest parishes in Surrey and is unique in its ability to have survived over the years, having remained a small hamlet, when other hamlets have developed into towns. Earliest documentary evidence of its existence appears to date back to 880AD. A church has existed in the parish since the Doomsday Survey 1086. The present Church of St Andrew dates back to the 15^th Century. The registers go back to 1599. Until recent years it had no school or Public house.

What made Gatton of special value to would-be Gentlemen purchasers, was that from 1442 until the Reform act of 1832 Gatton with its small population, returned two members to Parliament. The Doric temple built by Sir George Colebrooke in 1765 to represent the Town hall, still stands today. By 1832 Gatton became known as the Rotten Borough.

Gatton Hall, new portico, 1904
Photographic Survey and Record of Surrey no. 992

Over the years the Manor was held by seven generations of the Monson family and in 1888 it was sold by Lord Monson to Jeremiah Colman who made his fortune from mustard. Unfortunately Gatton Hall was destroyed by fire in 1934 which included its beautiful marble floor. Sir Jeremiah had it rebuilt but to a less extravagant design.

Gatton Hall from the air, before the fire which destroyed it in February 1934
Photographic Survey and Record of Surrey no. 9075

Gatton Hall interior showing marble hall (destroyed by the fire in February 1934). It is modelled on the lines of the Corsini Chapel in the Basilica of St John Lateran, Rome
Photographic Survey and Record of Surrey no. 9076

In 1948 The Royal Alexandra and Albert school Foundation procured Gatton for the development of a boarding school. It is still is in operation (Sept. 2008). The school Internet link reported 410 boys & 360 girls on the school roll (3/4/08).

Buildings & Sites

• Gatton Marble Hall
• The Old Town Hall
  
• St Andrews Church
• Japanese Garden
• Gatton Park Lake & Ponds

Links to other sources

Gatton: http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=42955

A vision of Britain through time Gatton, Surrey :http://vision.edina.ac.uk/place/place_page.jsp?pid=5224

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