Editing Elstead (section)

==History==
Elstead's relative prosperity over the centuries can be partly attributed to the existence of the availability of a site for a watermill and a bridge over the river;{{Citation needed|date=January 2016}} parts of the bridge are dated to around 1300.<ref name="NHLE|num=1005921">{{National Heritage List for England|num=1005921|access-date=17 June 2012}}</ref>

The first known reference to Elstead is in the 1128 foundation charter for [[Waverley Abbey]] (sometimes spelt Waverly), where it was called ''Helestede''. The church of [[James, son of Zebedee|St James]] was built around ten years later. It still contains 13th-century windows and some 14th-century timbers<ref>[http://www.elstead.org.uk/anglican/stjhistory.htm History of Elstead Church] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070824012914/http://www.elstead.org.uk/anglican/stjhistory.htm |date=24 August 2007 }}</ref> and is a Grade II* [[listed building]].<ref name=bridge>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1188415|access-date=17 June 2012}}</ref>

[[File:Elstead Bridge DSC 1620.jpg|left|thumb|Elstead Old Bridge, built circa 1300]]

In the 14th century, the [[Scheduled monument|Scheduled ancient monument]] bridge was built over the [[River Wey]]. Today this old bridge, strengthened by [[Surrey County Council]] in 1993, takes the westward traffic; eastward traffic takes the new bridge alongside.<ref name="NHLE|num=1005921"/>

Elstead had a [[forge]] built in 1686 which is now an office.<ref>{{NHLE |num= 1044421 |desc= Forge Cottage |grade= II |fewer-links= yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= How it all started |date= 3 May 2023 |publisher= Elstead Lighting |url= https://www.elsteadlighting.com/history/ |access-date= 2 September 2023 }}</ref>

Elstead Mill, now a pub restaurant, was occupied by [[Oliver Cromwell]]’s ‘[[roundhead]]’ army during the [[English Civil War]] but subsequently burnt down.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Mill at Elstead, Godalming - Fuller's Pub and Restaurant Elstead|url=https://www.millelstead.co.uk/|access-date=2021-03-31|website=www.millelstead.co.uk}}</ref> The present structure is described in its [[National Heritage List for England|listing]] as being the result of several re-buildings from the 16th century.<ref name=mill>{{National Heritage List for England|num=1044454|access-date=17 June 2012}}</ref>

There were two other pub restaurants in 2021, The Woolpack and The Golden Fleece, reflecting the early dependence on the local wool trade, also in 2021 three cafe's and a fish & chip shop.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Food & Drink – Elstead Village|url=https://elsteadvillage.co.uk/food-drink/|access-date=2021-03-31|language=en-GB}}</ref>

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Elstead was known for the quality and quantity of carrots grown there, with daily shipments by train from nearby [[Milford railway station|Milford Station]] up to London's [[Covent Garden]] market during the growing season. This is attributed to the light [[sand]]y soils in the village which are excellent for carrot growing.

In 1997 a millennium oak was planted at the southern apex of the village green under the auspices of the afternoon WI.<ref>Farnham Herald 1997</ref>