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The ancient
village of Lingfield lies to the extreme south-east
of the county.
St Peter's
Cross in the centre of the village dates from 1415 and once
marked the boundary between two manors.
Standing
by the village pond is hollow oak tree thought to be over
400 years old. Beside this is 'The Cage', a lock up built
in 1773 as a temporary gaol for minor felons and last used
in 1882.
The
Church of St Peter & St Paul, dating from the 14th century
and rebuilt in 1431, contains the finest brasses in Surrey.
Around the church is a Conservation Area with many beautifully
preserved buildings from the 16th to the 18th century. The
nearby library is located in the Old Guest House of the College
for Secular Chaplains, built in 1431.
The village
is best known for Lingfield
Racecourse, established in 1890. Set in 600 acres of
beautiful Surrey countryside and known for years as 'Lovely
Lingfield', the racecourse hosts the prestigious Derby Trial.
Race meetings are a unique blend of National Hunt racing,
Flat racing on the turf and All Weather racing.
On the
River Eden, between Lingfield and Edenbridge, stands Haxted
Mill. The watermill is double-fronted with the first half
built in 1580 and the other 1794. Now fully restored, the
building houses a working water mill, museum, picture gallery
and award-winning restaurant.
At Newchapel,
between Lingfield and East Grinstead, is the spectacular London
Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ and the Latter Day Saints
(Morman Temple). Set in attractive grounds, the temple itself
is only open to followers of the sect but others are welcome
at the visitor centre.
Just
north of the Newchapel roundabout is the British
Wildlife Centre, home to one of the finest collections
of native wildlife in the UK. The new centre was set up in
1997 by David Mills, a former dairy farmer, who wished to
help people learn more about the UK's facinating wildlife.
There is plenty to see at any time of the year and most animals
can be seen whatever the weather.
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Lingfield
