Caterham Car Recovery …

In 1975 an IRA bomb exploded in the Caterham Arms public house, wounding ten off-duty soldiers and twenty-three civilians. The pub was favoured with the Welsh Guards, who had just returned to Caterham Barracks after performing in Northern Ireland. The men accountable for the bombing were subsequently jailed for murders and bombings. They were freed in April 1999 following the Good Friday Agreement.

Caterham Asylum, subsequently known as Caterham Mental Hospital and later still as Saint Lawrence’s Hospital, was an extensive establishment to treat the mentally ill. Joey Deacon lived in the hospital or its grounds for around 50 years.

Until 1987 the offices, factory and showroom for the legendary Caterham Cars and creators of the Caterham 7 sports car were found in Caterham when the company repositioned to a new factory in Kent but kept a Caterham South showroom finally exited the town and moved to Crawley in February 2013. The former showroom they occupied has now been converted into homes for retired people.

Angus Deayton grew up in Caterham; he attended both Oakhyrst Grange and Caterham Schools. Famous sportspeople from Caterham include the footballers Nicky Forster, David Price and cricketer Dar Lyon, who were born in the town.