On Tuesday 8th December, over thirty volunteers took part in restoration work at the former burial site of St. Lawrence's Hospital in Chaldon. The project was made possible by various local organisations, as well as a grant from Tandridge District Council's Environmental Initiatives Scheme.

The team was led by Kate Mayo of the Downlands Countryside Management Project, and pupils from de Stafford School, who have been maintaining the site and raising funds for a memorial seat and board at the grounds.

Parish Councillor Julia Thomas commented: "The site was a hive of activity and people felt at the end of the day that we had made a big improvement and shown that the area and the patients buried there hadn't been forgotten."

The site of St. Lawrence's Hospital is now occupied by Hambledon Park Housing Estate in Coulsdon Road, Caterham-on-the-Hill. However, residents were becoming increasingly concerned with the neglected state of the burial ground, prompting action from Chaldon Parish Council. Thanks to their efforts, many of the inscriptions on the gravestones of the patients buried there between 1914 and 1965 are now visible and restoration work is set to continue into 2010.

For volunteering opportunities, contact Julia Thomas on 01883 344070. More information about St. Lawrence's Hospital is available online at www.workhouses. org.uk (see

Caterham Asylum under MAB Institutions). Caterham libraries also have copies of "St Lawrence's - The Story of a Hospital 1870-1994" (R.Malster) available for reference and loan, whilst East Surrey Museum has some early records from the Asylum available on request.