Outwood, Surrey


Outwood is a village in the Surrey weald. It is home to Outwood Mill which was once the oldest working windmill in England. It was damaged in gales in January 2012 and in October 2013. The mill and grounds have been closed to the public ever since, with an application for withdrawal of rights of access applied for. Plans to restore the mill appear to have faltered.

History

The earliest known reference to Outwood is in 1542; the Court Roll refers to the restrictions concerning the felling of timber in Outwood mostly in the parish of Burstow. In 1665, the Post Mill was built.
The Baptist Chapel, no longer in use, was built in 1834. In 1869, St John the Baptist Church was built in what was the north of Burstow parish. This was followed in 1870 by the creation of the ecclesiastical parish of St John the Baptist, taking in parts of Bletchingley, Burstow, Horley, Horne, and Nutfield.
The school was opened in 1876; it is now converted into apartments. In 1887, Outwood Cricket Club was formed, and is still active.
The Victoria County History records Abbot's Hospital, Guildford, owned land in Outwood in 1911.
In 1929, the village hall was built, called the Lloyd Hall. The following year, Outwood Drama Society was formed, but is now defunct.
Outwood Parish Council was created in 2000. A multi-use games area was established in 2010 when Wells Court was built and opened. In 2014, Lloyd Hall closed for a new hall to be built on the same site.

Demography and housing

In 1891 the census recorded 586 residents in Outwood in 140 houses; the populated fluctuated and homes increased over a century. The 2001 census recorded 569 people in 224 homes.
Output areaDetachedSemi-detachedTerracedFlats and apartmentsCaravans/temporary/mobile homesshared between households
155 75 3 7 18 3

The average level of accommodation in the region composed of detached houses was 28%, and the average made up of apartments was 22.6%.
Output areaPopulationHouseholds% Owned outright% Owned with a loanhectares
72026140.2%42.5%1,109

The proportion of households in the civil parish who owned their home outright compares to the regional average of 35.1%; the proportion who owned their home with a loan compares to the regional average of 32.5%. The remaining % is made up of rented dwellings.

Walking in Outwood

There are several miles of public, National Trust footpaths and bridleways as well as Outwood Common. The paths cross open common, woodland and fields, which change through the seasons: much of the countryside in and around Outwood is part of the Harewoods estate, which is owned and managed by the National Trust.
There are two main National Trust parking areas. One is opposite the windmill and the other is on the track leading to the cricket pitch on Outwood Common. The National Trust holds guided walks at certain times of the year.