The ancient settlement of Cobham has its roots in the Iron Age. It has grown up over the centuries out of two adjoining villages, Church Cobham and Street Cobham. For a long time it was a typical rural English village, with farming and milling the main industries. However, following the arrival of the railway in the 1880s it became increasingly suburban, and a busy central shopping area developed from the 1960s. Cobham has had strong ties with the aviation and motor industries since the early twentieth century; the major manufacturers Railton, Airspeed and Vickers were all based here at one time or another. Yet despite the encroachment of the modern era, Cobham retains its village feel, with the Church Cobham conservation area home to a host of beautiful listed buildings, and the iconic red-brick mill standing proud on the River Mole nearby.

Author Biography

David Taylor has lived all his life in Cobham and he is now recognised as an authority on the history of the Cobham area. His passion for local history led him to research the history of the now internationally famous eighteenth century landscape garden at Painshill. On creation of the Painshill Park Trust, David became one of the first trustees and he continues to serve on the Board of Management. He is a member of the Council of the Surrey Archaeological Society and the Domestic Buildings Research Group (Surrey) and works as an advisor to Cobham's Conservation Trust. He was also a founder member of the Esher District Local History Society and is now its president. David has written seven books on the history of Cobham as well as contributing to a variety of other publications such as the Surrey Archaeological Society Collections and Country Life magazine.