Editing Ashtead (section)

===St Giles' Church===
[[File:St Giles' Church, Park Road, Ashtead Park (NHLE Code 1028685) (August 2013) (1).jpg|thumb|St Giles' Church]]
St Giles' Church is first recorded in a charter of the [[Bishop of Winchester]] that dates from the early 12th century.<ref name=Stuttard_1995_p28>{{harvnb|Stuttard|1995|p=28}}</ref>  It was built around 1115 with an endowment from Laurence of Rouen, probably as a private chapel for the nearby manor house.<ref name=Stuttard_1995_p28/><ref name=SGSG_Our_Story>{{cite web |url= https://sgsgashtead.org.uk/ourstory |title= Our Story |author= <!--Not stated--> |publisher= St Giles' St Georges' |access-date= 11 May 2021 |archive-date= 12 May 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210512160254/https://sgsgashtead.org.uk/ourstory |url-status= live }}</ref> The oldest surviving part is the east end of the [[nave]], the south wall of which includes some Roman tiles.<ref name=SGSG_Our_Story/><ref name=NHLE_StGiles>{{NHLE|num=1028685|desc=Church of St Giles|grade=II|fewer-links=yes|access-date=22 February 2021}}</ref>

The [[chancel]] was added in the 13th century and St Giles' became a church in its own right, with a [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|rector]] and [[vicar]].<ref name=Stuttard_1995_p28/> A substantial rebuilding took place in the 15th and 16th centuries, during which the tower was added.<ref name=SGSG_StGiles>{{cite web |url= https://sgsgashtead.org.uk/our-story-st-giles |title= St Giles' |author= <!--Not stated--> |publisher= St Giles' St Georges' |access-date= 22 February 2021 |archive-date= 28 February 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210228122232/https://sgsgashtead.org.uk/our-story-st-giles |url-status= live }}</ref> The east window, which is attributed to the 16th-century artist [[Lambert Lombard]] of [[Liège]] was transferred from [[Herkenrode Abbey]], Belgium, in 1818.<ref name=NHLE_StGiles/> [[Charles Bagot]], ambassador at The Hague, procured the glass from the owner of the dissolved abbey and presented it to the church in honour of his relative, Mary Howard.<ref>Austin, E. J., ''Ashtead Church: its Story and Memories'' (Epsom, 1933), p. 26.</ref> The stone [[reredos]] and panelled-cedar chancel ceiling date from the same period. The [[ring of bells|ring]] of six bells dating from 1725, was recast as a peal of eight in 1873.<ref name=SGSG_StGiles/>

A major redevelopment took place in the 1890s, which included the renewal of the roof, [[pew]]s and [[pulpit]]. A new organ chamber was built at the same time and new arches were opened in the walls of the chancel and north aisle.<ref name=SGSG_StGiles/> The [[lychgate]] was erected in 1903 in memory of [[Lucas baronets|Sir Thomas Lucas]].<ref name=SGSG_StGiles/> The churchyard contains 16 [[Commonwealth War Graves Commission|Commonwealth war graves]] of service personnel of both World Wars.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ashtead (St Giles) Churchyard {{!}} Cemetery Report|url=https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/44617/ashtead-st-giles-churchyard/|website=Commonwealth War Graves Commission |access-date= 20 July 2023|language=en}}</ref>