Editing Ashtead (section)

===Location and topography===
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Ashtead is a large village in the [[Mole Valley]] district of [[Surrey]], approximately {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} south of central London. It lies on the southern edge of the [[London Basin]] and the highest point in the parish is {{convert|129.5|m|ft|abbr=on|sigfig=3}} above [[ordnance datum]]. Both the [[Sutton and Mole Valley lines|Epsom to Leatherhead railway line]] and the [[A24 road (England)|A24]] run from northeast to southwest through the settlement, broadly parallel to [[The Rye (brook)|The Rye]], a [[tributary]] of the [[River Mole]].<ref name=Stuttard_1995_pp20-22>{{harvnb|Stuttard|1995|pp=20–22}}</ref><ref name=Jackson_1977_p17>{{harvnb|Jackson|1977|p=17}}</ref>

The historic core of Ashtead is known locally as "The Village" and is focused around the main shopping area along The Street (A24).<ref name=MVDC_character>{{cite web |url= https://www.molevalley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/home/building-planning/local-plans/ashteadldfbuacaaccess.pdf |title= Built-up area character appraisal: Ashtead |author= <!--Not stated--> |date= 23 February 2010 |publisher= Mole Valley District Council |access-date= 25 May 2021 |archive-date= 14 May 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210514104059/https://www.molevalley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/home/building-planning/local-plans/ashteadldfbuacaaccess.pdf |url-status= live }}</ref> The residential area to the north west, closer to [[Ashtead railway station|the railway station]], is known as "Lower Ashtead" and incorporates secondary shopping centres on Craddocks Parade and Barnett Wood Lane.<ref name=MVDC_character/><ref>{{cite news |last= Dyckhoff |first= Tom |date= 15 November 2013 |title= Let's move to Ashtead, Surrey |url= https://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/nov/15/lets-move-to-ashtead-surrey |work= The Guardian |location= London |access-date= 29 May 2021 |archive-date= 17 May 2016 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160517002205/http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/nov/15/lets-move-to-ashtead-surrey |url-status= live }}</ref>{{refn|Historically, the term 'Lower Ashtead' was used exclusively for the area bordered by Barnett Wood Lane, Agates Lane, Ottways Lane and Harriots Lane, corresponding to the land of the former manor of Little Ashtead.<ref name=Stuttard_1995_pp65-79>{{harvnb|Stuttard|1995|pp=65–79}}</ref><ref name=Davies_2003>{{cite journal |last1= Davies |first1= H.J. |year= 2003 |title=Ashtead chapel & church in the 12th & 13th centuries and the origins of the Little Ashtead manor |url= https://leatherheadhistoryarchive.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/VOL_6_NO_7_2003.pdf |journal= Proceedings of the Leatherhead & District Local History Society |volume= 6 |issue= 7 |pages= 179–184 |access-date= 29 May 2021 }}</ref>|group=note}}

There are two protected nature reserves in Ashtead: [[Ashtead Common]], a {{convert|181|ha|acre|adj=on|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} woodland, is owned and managed by the [[City of London Corporation]] and is to the north west of Lower Ashtead;<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/surreys-national-nature-reserves/surreys-national-nature-reserves |title= Surrey's National Nature Reserves |author= <!--Not stated--> |date= 14 March 2017 |publisher= Natural England |access-date= 22 February 2021 |archive-date= 26 February 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210226093906/https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/surreys-national-nature-reserves/surreys-national-nature-reserves |url-status= live }}</ref> the {{convert|54|ha|acre|adj=on|abbr=on|sigfig=2}} [[Ashtead Park]] is to the east of The Village and is owned by Mole Valley District Council.<ref>{{NHLE|num=1001490|desc=Ashtead Park|grade=II |access-date=22 February 2021 }}</ref>