is a historic market town in
Surrey ,
England at the foot of the
North Downs . It is one of the main constituents of the Borough of
Reigate And Banstead .
Reigate was originally called Cherchefelle, which means ‘church field’ and is mentioned in the
Domesday Book
William I awarded granted the land around Reigate to one of his supporters,
William De Warenne, 1st Earl Of Surrey , who was created
Earl Of Surrey in
1088 .
It is believed that his son,
William De Warenne, 2nd Earl Of Surrey , ordered that
Reigate Castle be built, though the de Warennes had their southern base in
Lewes , Sussex, as well as
Sandal Castle and
Conisbrough Castle in
Yorkshire and a keep on the Warrenne land at Mortemer in
Normandy . Around
1150 the de Warennes ordered that a town be constructed below the castle. The new town, Reigate, replaced a nearby settlement known as Cherchefelle.
It is believed that the name came from Roe-deer Gate, as the town was situated near to the entrance to the de Warenne's deer park, which is now Priory Park and Reigate Park. It is reputed that prior to the signing of the
Magna Carta , the rebellious barons met in conference to hammer out the details of the document in the caves beneath the castle. The castle later fell into decay and was demolished in 1648 though the grounds and the caves remain as a public garden.
During the 13th century the Reigate Priory was founded for regular Canons of the Order of
St Augustine . After the dissolution of the monasteries in 1535 the estate was granted by
Henry VIII to
William Howard, 1st Baron Howard Of Effingham , who converted the Priory into a residence. The Effingham branch of the Howard family, including the
Earl Of Nottingham who as Lord High Admiral commanded the force which defeated the
Spanish Armada , lived there for about 140 years. The building is now used as a school.
