Although at times known as the county town of Surrey, Leatherhead has never lost its village identity. Its strategic location attracted the Romans and then the Saxons, who built a Minster church and made it a centre of royal authority. Medieval Leatherhead was a place of some importance, but after a Tudor heyday it declined until London revived its fortunes. ... a notable contribution to developing and satisfying interest in the history of towns in Surrey. Nonsuch Antiquarian Society