The Group’s headquarters are located in St John’s Chapel where copies of census, parish and school records can be accessed along with maps, photographs, sale particulars and books relating to Westcott. Most of our records are now computer-based allowing ready access to researchers through Excel’s search facility,  and with safe storage on CD/DVD.

Members are encouraged to carry out research projects and current studies include wells, post boxes and air raid shelters as well as individual house and road histories.

To assist the task of finding out ‘Who lived Where and When in Westcott’ the following is a selection of the registers and records that can be consulted by appointment or by email:

Census Returns   1841 – 1911

Westcott National Schools Admissions from 1895 – 2001

Parish Registers of Holy Trinity, Westcott

Baptisms       July 1852 – Dec 1999

Marriages     Nov 1852 – Dec 1999 (indexed)

Burials           Oct 1852 – Dec 1999 (indexed)

Monumental inscriptions and burial plans relating to Holy Trinity churchyard.

Registers of baptisms, marriages and burials at St John’s Chapel

Tithe Apportionments for the Parish of Dorking (1840) and for the Ecclesiastical District of Westcott (1886)

Selected large scale Ordnance Survey maps and aerial photographs

Additional information is available from School Log Books (1863 to 1983), including a transcription of all individual entries, and from selected references to Westcott in the Dorking Advertiser (1898 to 1948).

Electoral registers, street directories, newspaper extracts, wills etc.

The Group has a record of Westcott-related material in Dorking Museum Library (which holds the bulk of the David Knight collection of Westcott photographs and ephemera), in the London Metropolitan Archives, Minet Library etc. as well as in the Surrey History Centre (where most known manorial documents are held) and is currently contributing to the Exploring Surrey’s Past project.

The website www.westcotthistory.org.uk and the accompanying email address info@westcotthistory.org.uk  attract many enquiries, especially from family historians.