About Chessington.
The name Chessington apparently derives from the Anglo-Saxon Cissan dun, which means hill belonging to Cissa, Cissa being the name of the man who owned the land at the time.
Chessington does appear in the Domesday Book, the very first census, as Cisedune and Cisendone and was partly held by Robert de Wateville and Miles Crispin.
According to the Domesday Book, its assets were one and a half hides, part of a mill, worth around 2 shillings, four ploughs and woodland worth 30 hogs and it rendered roughly £7, information based on the Surrey Domesday Book.
The original mansion, situated were the World of Adventures is currently located, was built in 1348 and in the English Civil War it became a royalist stronghold and was eventually destroyed by Oliver Cromwell and his Parliamentary hordes.
Thus, the name Burnt Stub came into being and is still used to this day to describe the house, although it can be known as Hocus Pocus Hall, since the hall first opened to the public in 2003, there was no public access prior to this date to the house or hall.
When it was rebuilt initially it was an inn and was then rebuilt, to a far grander scale, by the Vere Barker family, starting in the 18th century.
Reginald Goddard turned the grounds into a zoo in 1931 and it became part of the Tussauds Group in 1978, they subsequently turned it into the theme park you see today.
You've probably been very near Chalky Lane without realising it as the entrance to the lane is almost directly opposite the main entrance to the theme park.

War time.
The former site of RAF Chessington Hospital, demolished in the 1990's, was originally opened as RAF Hook around 1938 as a regional barrage balloon depot and was operated by RAF Balloon Command.
It was a key part of Britain's defences against the Luftwaffe during WWII and featured a large number of barrage balloon sheds, accompanied by a large number of garages and workshops for the station's support vehicles.
Some say that during the war there was a prisoner of war camp in Chessington, whether that was at the site of the RAF base or somewhere else nearby, I have no information, however, it was used apparently initially to house German POW's and then Italian POW's.
Apparently, the German prisoners kept the camp in good order, tidy and worked in the local community and were generally looked upon favourably by the local folk.
However, the Italians were not thought of in the same way, they were lazy, the camp became an utter mess and the prisoners were considered to be surly and miserable, according to local folklore.

The football club.
Chessington & Hook United Sports and Social Club evolved from the original Chessington FC, which was formed in 1921. A series of mergers over the years culminated with the coming together of Chessington United Football Club and Hook Youth/United in 1986.
The amalgamation brought together the Intermediate section of Chessington United based at Chalky Lane and the thriving Youth and junior sections of Hook Youth/United, which had been formed in 1986 and based at Lovelace Playing Fields.
The Clubs activities, it was decided, were to be centred on the facilities at Chalky Lane, which had been the home of Chessington United since the mid-sixties.
They had taken out a lease on what was known as St. Mary's Recreation Ground, although at the time it was just an open space.
Over the years the ground has been developed, almost entirely by voluntary effort, into the facility it is today.
Recently the Club has regained Senior status, with the Senior team playing in the FA Cup and FA Vase. The strong Youth set up provides the opportunity for those aged between 5 and 18 to benefit from properly structured football.
In recent years the Club has been able to sponsor both Girls and Ladies football and has provided facilities for Archery and Ladies Netball.
The Club prides itself on the fact that it is maintained on a purely voluntary basis. All the Committee members, trainers, managers, ground staff and adult helpers give of their own time.
Likewise the players receive no payment whatsoever from the Club. All players, from Youth to Seniors are required to pay a membership fee.
The aim of the Club over the years has always been to promote soccer through Youth with progression to Junior, Intermediate and Senior level as appropriate to the highest standard.
Also, to foster and encourage other sporting activities for the local community consistent with the facilities available at the Club.
Since the establishment of Hook Youth in 1976 there has been a steady growth in the number of local youths who have become members of the Club.
In the last few years there have been as many as 19 teams involving up to over 250 youngsters. The structure of the Club allows boys reaching the age of 18, or in some circumstances earlier, to have the opportunity to progress into the adult section of the Club.
The address of the club is: Chalky Lane, Chessington, Surrey KT9 2NF.