The name Copthorne may derive from a pollarded thorn tree at the place where the hundred met. The meeting point has been suggested to be marked by an earthwork and ancient hedge at the southern end of Woodcote Park, Epsom, close to Langley Vale. The earthwork is denoted as the Nutshambles on a map of Ashtead dating from 1638.[3]
In present terms Epsom, Leatherhead and Ewell are almost uniformly called towns: for example at the county level of local government when it considers service provision and population analysis[6]— the first two were granted market town status in the Middle Ages.[2]
In a subsidy roll of the 14th century it was said to be worth £47 15s. 6¼d. and with Effingham Hundred the various land units within it were assessed in total for ship money at £136 16s. 4d. at the third such levy in 1636.[2]
Magistrates / District Judge (Magistrates Court) geographical division
The area was an eastward projection of the West Surrey (UK Parliament constituency) an 1832-1885 dual-member (MP) area.[8] With minor additions from Kingston, Effingham and Dorking Hundred it was then used for that of Epsom. Its northern bulk mirrors Epsom and Ewell the smaller modern successor.
Domesday survey
Copthorne appears in the Book as Copededorne. Copthorne was a hundred (these are not in the Domesday Book's map of the county, which focuses on the main unit, manors).[2]
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Copthorne_(hundred), and is written by contributors.
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