Chaldon offers two clear focal points for planning a trip: medieval architectural history and walking routes. One striking feature is the wall painting, dating from around 1200, on the west wall of the Church of St Peter and St Paul: it is regarded as one of the most important English wall paintings of its time. Other highlights include historic houses, the village’s network of footpaths and the North Downs Way, which runs through Chaldon. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Chaldon, this selection can help you choose a location that suits your interests: church art and architecture, walking, or a combination of the two.
Church Art and Architectural History
The wall painting in the Church of St Peter and St Paul has an approximate date and a clearly identified location within the church: it was created around 1200 and is on the west wall. Its status as one of the most important English wall paintings of its time makes it a notable art-historical landmark in Chaldon.
Chaldon Court is a 14th-century house with a chimney on its east side dating from the 17th century, which was encased in the 18th century. Both sections feature moulded roof structures with crown posts. Chaldon Court therefore reveals several layers from different periods: the house, chimney and casing do not all belong to the same era. The roof details add a structural feature to this architectural history without implying that the two sections are from the same period.
Tollsworth Manor is also a significant medieval building and is listed as a Grade II* building. Its sections date from different periods: the three-bay cross-wing with solar dates from 1326 to 1358, while the three-bay hall range dates from 1433. The cross-wing is therefore several decades older than the hall range. Those interested in historic architecture can find a concrete comparison here between two building sections of different dates.
Walking Routes, Pilgrim Route and Recreation
Chaldon Footpaths & Walks offers seven self-guided walks covering all of Chaldon’s footpaths. This gives you several ways to plan your walks, rather than limiting the village to a single tour. The North Downs Way offers a different perspective: it runs through Chaldon, is an ancient route and is still used by pilgrims travelling from Winchester to Canterbury. This puts a choice of self-guided walks alongside a route associated with pilgrimage, offering different perspectives on exploring the area on foot.
Six Brothers Field is Chaldon’s main recreational area, as designated by the 2025 Neighbourhood Plan. On the former manor estate, well-maintained footpaths connect historic buildings, sites and other features. They give the public access to the estate’s landscape and its historic features. These paths combine walking with the historic character of the estate, without implying a connection to any particular named building.
The Former Burial Ground: Nature and Access
The former environmentally friendly management of the former St Lawrence’s Hospital Burial Ground was intended to protect its biodiversity. The entrance is on Bridleway 77, about 150 metres from Green Lane. In 2024, the site was open to the public. If you plan to visit, check access before you go.
The different themes offer a clear choice: the seven self-guided walks showcase the breadth of the local footpath network, the North Downs Way its connection with pilgrimage, and Six Brothers Field its role as the main recreational area. The historic buildings and wall painting complement these walking themes with architectural and art history. This lets you choose Chaldon based on whether you want to focus your trip mainly on architecture, pilgrimage tradition, or walking and recreation.
Discover more destinations: Salfords, Betchworth, Ashford, Horley, Farleigh, Weybridge, Charlwood, Newchapel.
For the broader travel guide: Surrey.
