History Group
Leigh History Group is a small informal group interested in researching, preserving, and making more widely available the history of our village.
We founded in 2009 with the aims of producing a readable non-academic history of the village storing and preserving our historical archives recording and preserving the memories of village inhabitants. In 2011 the Parish Council adopted the BT phone box on the Green, and we converted it into the History Box to hold changing displays of historical material.
ReLeighable Memories – Surrey Childhood in the Early Post-War Years
A book packed with memories and tales of 1950s’ childhood in the village of Leigh (near Reigate), launched at the village Flower Show on July 18th 2026. It is called ReLeighable Memories, and its title is a play on the pronunciation of the village’s name.
All of the 16 main contributors to the book were pupils at the village school in the 1950s. And in its 132 pages they tell what it was like to be taught by fearsome teachers and to grow up in Leigh at a time when life was very different from now – but was changing, in good ways and bad.
Click here to order your copy online for £8 plus p&p or for other ways of ordering please email leighhistory@gmail.com.
Also available, our first published book, A History of Leigh was published in 2021. In 97 colour illustrated pages this paperback book tells the story of Leigh from the bronze age to the present day and gives a sense of the ways in which life in this area has changed over time.
Click here to order your copy online for £8 plus p&p or for other ways of ordering please email leighhistory@gmail.com.
We are actively seeking new members for the group so if you are interested in researching local history, organising the archives, preparing displays or contributing in any way please get in touch via leighhistory@gmail.com.
We would also like to hear from you if you would like to contribute your memories of life in the village, whether spoken, written, or in photos. (Photos and written material will be scanned and returned).
Click here to read more about Leigh’s history
With thanks to all who helped convert the history box, including Malcolm Parker & Andrew Pagnell for laying the paving, Keith Janes for fitting the display units, SSA in Mitcham, Surrey for supplying the signage, and Paul Wilkinson for fitting it. Contributions were gratefully received from Surrey County Council, the Residents Association and the Parish Council. And thanks especially to Harriet Hall without whom none of this would have happened.