As residents, we are fortunate to have the beautiful Banstead Heath on our doorstep. I'm sure some residents and visitors will know its history, but many may not. In the Sixteenth Century, the area was part of the Nonsuch Estate and was the hunting grounds of King Henry VIII; in fact, the current Sportsman Public House was one of his hunting lodges. By the nineteenth Century, Banstead Heath was common land owned by the local commoners. However, with the introduction of railways, some started to sell their rights to the land, as did others when a Yorkshire baronet Sir John…