Early
glass making, evidence of which can be seen in Sidney Wood, appears to provide the oldest trace of land use in the village. The glass industry in Alfold ended around 1615 when using charcoal was banned in glass production. Alfold is not mentioned in
Domesday Book. The earliest mention of Alfold, in the 13th century, records that it was attached to Shalford Manor. A charter of
William Longespee, son of the
Earl of Salisbury, records that the
advowson, with the Manor of Shalford, is given to John, son of Geoffrey
Earl of Essex, who died in 1256. Four manors existed, namely Wildwood now represented by Great and Little Wildwood Farms and Wildwood Copse and Moat, was formerly possessed by the lords of
Albury and
Stoke D'Abernon, the D'Abernons and their successors. In the 13th century they had land in Alfold and in a deed of 1313 John D'Abernon's wood called
le Wylwode is mentioned. Markwick and Monkenhook over their history have been held by
Waverley Abbey,
Viscount Montagu and the
Earl of Onslow; and
Sydney alias Hedgecourt or Rickhurst (Rykhurst) lies partly in
Dunsfold held by the Sydney (then Dorrington) family. Alfold Park, formerly with a
moat (as did Wildwood Farm), belonged to the manor of Shalford and contained ; however it lost its park before
John Speed's map was made in the reign of
James I. After the invention of
gunpowder, charcoal was extensively burnt in the parish for gunpowder works in
Dunsfold,
Cranleigh, and
Sussex. The parish comprised of which only in 1848 were common or waste, and A Baptist chapel was erected in 1883, and an elementary school in 1876. Significant other homes mentioned in 1911 were Sydney Manor and Sachel Court; Sachel Court was owned by Thomas Smith Wharrie, an engineer in Scotland and director of British Mutual Banking Company Ltd. ==Landmarks==