Cheam
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| Cheam | |
|---|---|
| OS Grid Reference: | Template:Gbmappingsmall |
| Administration | |
| Borough: | Sutton |
| County: | Greater London |
| Region: | Greater London |
| Nation: | England |
| Other | |
| Ceremonial County: | Greater London |
| Traditional County: | Surrey |
| Post Office and Telephone | |
| Post town: | SUTTON |
| Postcode: | SM3 |
| Dialling Code: | 020 |
Cheam is a place in the London Borough of Sutton.
Cheam is a small but thriving village close to Sutton. There are two main areas, North Cheam and Cheam Village. North Cheam includes more retail shops and supermarkets, whilst South Cheam is more residential.
Cheam's roots can be dated back as far as 1018, when Chertsey Abbey owned the area. In the Domesday Book, the Bishop was holding Cheam to cater for the monks. In the Middle Ages, Cheam was known for its potteries, and recent excavations have been discovered by archaelogists. In 1538, East Cheam was handed over to Henry VIII. The same year, Henry began work on Nonsuch Palace, which he decorated fantastically. This was later sold and demolished. In 1801, the time of the first census, Cheam had a population of 616.
During World War One, many of Cheam's historic buildings and character were destroyed. Only one major building survived, a small white timber framed cottage, called "Whitehall". The surrounding area of Cheam, originally fields, now became overrun by surburban houses. Now Cheam is mainly built up, but still retains Nonsuch Park (where Nonsuch Palace stood before demolition) and two large parks.
Nearest places: