Effingham~ Guildford Borough northwest borders     3 miles west of Leatherhead on the A246

Location for a home ~ Comment:  Mostly recommended and in some parts highly recommended

ffingham is an old village that was famous as the home of the Howards of Effingham one of whom was the Commander-in-Chief of the English fleet which defeated the Spanish Armada in 1588.  Now it is a large village with the old part to the north of the A246 main Guildford - Leatherhead Road and a close knit network of more recent homes positioned to the south.   The old village is full of character in particular around St Lawrence's Church.   There is a small parade of shops with parking including a post office in The Street.

At the main crossroads in the old village is a  double mini roundabout  where the Sir Douglas Haig pub and St Lawrence Primary School are located.   St Lawrence Church itself is centred away from the through road in Church Street opposite Chapel Hill in a very picturesque spot surrounded by attractive cottages.

Howard of Effingham School is a short distance down Lower Road which runs on towards Great Bookham to the east.  To the north of this central spot Effingham Common Road runs for about three miles or so towards Effingham Junction Railway Station where there is a car park (don't leave valuables in your car here).  This pleasant open country road has attractive properties set back from it, particularly on the east side.  Polo ponies and can often been seen in the area.  

Across the A246 is a close knit network of residential roads where many of the properties are relatively small detached bungalows.  Also on this side of the A246, on passing Effingham Golf Club, Beech Avenue begins where individual detached houses on large plots border the road that runs over high undulating downland.  Before the 1987 hurricane this road was a true avenue buried in shade beneath tall arching beech trees, only a few of which remain.   The ambience of the road changed overnight although the undergrowth since has become thicker every year, unfortunately it will still be some time before the avenue is restored to its former glory.   High Barn runs parallel with Beech Avenue bordering the western edge of Ranmore Common with scattered farmhouses and other properties.  This is true riding country with enormous open space and a network of bridleways and other paths, but the soil varies from flint and chalk to soggy and holding clay.

Accommodation
The Sir Douglas Haig pub is situated in The Street, it is a traditional central village pub with letting rooms available.  
Tel: 01372 456886.   

Schools:   St Lawrence County                 Tel: 01372 452870
                   Howard of Effingham              Tel: 01372 453694
                   St Teresa's School                      Tel: 01372 452037
                   St Teresa's Prep                          Tel: 01372 453456
History
Effingham Court Palace, the home of the Howards, now only survives as remnants at Lower Place Farm.   The first Lord Howard of Effingham, the father of Drake's Commanding Officer,  took his title from the manor held by his family from 1550 to 1647.  There were two other important manors in Effingham, one is the moated grange in Great Lee Wood, once the manor of Effingham la Leigh and the other was the medieval property of the Earls of Gloucester, East Court which is now incorporated into a St Teresa's School to the south.  

Other notable properties:  The Red House is next to the Roman Catholic church which was designed by Lutyens in 1893 for Gertrude Jekyll’s close friend Susan Muir-Mackenzie.  It is one of his most important early houses and given its name due to the now disappeared red paint inside the house.     Effingham House is now Effingham Golf Club with stuccoed appearance of early 19th century with a three bay entrance.