Leatherhead is a town located in the Mole Valley district of Surrey, England. It is situated approximately 17 miles (27 km) south of Central London. The settlement originated beside a ford on the River Mole, which is believed to be the source of its name.
Historically, Leatherhead was a royal vill during the late Anglo-Saxon period and appears in the will of Alfred the Great in 880 AD. Significant development occurred around 1200 when the first bridge across the Mole may have been constructed, potentially coinciding with the expansion of the town and the enlargement of the parish church.