The location forms part of the North Downs. The hills contain chalk and flint. Several dry valleys with natural underground drainage merge and connect to the relict headwater system of the River Wandle named 'River Bourne'. Although the Bourne river floods periodically, the soil is generally dry and is the watershed which has constituted a natural route way across the Downs for early populations.
Fossil records exist from the Pleistocene period.
There is evidence of human occupation from the Neolithic period, Iron Age, Bronze Age, Roman and Medieval.
- 675. Frithwald, an Ealdorman and viceroy of King Wulfhere of Mercia gave land at Cuthraedesdune to Chertsey Abbey. It appears as Colesdone in the Domesday Book.
- 1537. The Dissolution of the monasteries passed ownership to the King.
The Taunton Manor, in the 1535 Valor Ecclesiasticus is recorded having an annual rent accruing to the House (Hospital) of St. Thomas of Acre from the Manor of "Tauntons" was 100ss and approximately 450 acres (180 ha) of wood belonged to it valued at a yearly rent of 12d. per acre.
In 1545 Henry VIII granted two homes with land in Whattingdon manor, Coulsdon: Welcombes and Lawrences to Sir John Gresham, the manor having been owned by Chertsey Abbey in the 8th century when it was recorded as Whatindone until the English Reformation in the 16th century. The Whattingdon Manor was granted to Sir John Gresham, the manor having been owned by Chertsey Abbey in the 8th century when it was recorded as Whatindone until the English Reformation in the 16th century.
1553 The Coulsdon Manor were granted or sold to various families, including Sir Nicholas Carew(1553) Sir Francis Carew(1557), Jerome Weston, 2nd Earl of Portland, Sir Richard Mason, Sir Edward Darcy, Sir Robert Darcy, Sir Edward Bouverie (see Earl of Radnor).
- 1782 to 1921. Owned by three generations of the Byron family, who has already purchased the sub-manor of Hooley.
- 1801. The Byron family moved to live at Hooley House.
- 1838. Byron sold a large amount of land to the 'London to Brighton railway company'. Byron moves from Hooley House to Portnall's Farm.
- 1850 Hartley Farm was demolished and Coulsdon Court was built by Thomas Byron. It was said to be constructed of the last bricks to be made locally at Crossways (at Coulsdon Road, Old Coulsdon). In 1854, to avoid the Court, he adjusted the paths of some local roads, and created a gated drive from the public road.
- 1863 Edmund Byron inherited the title. After his use of the Enclosure acts were curtailed when he lost a case 1877 at the Court of Chancery, large areas were sold in 1883 to the Corporation of London. The importance of this event was reported in The Times. He also sold and gave away various plots.
- In 1921, Edmund Byron died. The remaining lands owned by the Byrons were sold. Land and manorial rights were passed to the Purley and Coulsdon Urban District Council.
The town's spelling, pronunciation and location have changed. Coulsdon originally referred to the area now known as Old Coulsdon.
The name derives from Cuðrædsdun via Cullesdone pre-1130, Culesdone pre-1190, Cullisdon 1242, Culesdene 1255, Colendone c1270, Kulisdon 1279, Collesdon 1288, Cullesdon 1323, Colleston 1324, Coulesdon 1346, Cullysdon 1377, Colynsdon 1428, Colysdon 1439, Collysdon 1563, Cowlesdon 1557, Coulsdon 1597, Cowisden 1604, Couldisdon 1610, Couldesdon 1675, Culsdon 1678, Colsdon 1724.
Additional variations include Curedesdone 675, Cudredesdone 675, Cudredesdune 967, Coulsdon 1083, Colesdone 1085, Culesdon 1234, Culisdon 1242, Cudredestreow 1251, Cullesdon 1266, Colesdene 1287, Colesdon 1290, Colesdun 1290, Culesdon 1291, Culesden 1292, Colieston 1324, Coulesden 1326, Coueleston 1332, Colisdon 1344, Culeston 1346, Cullysdon 1377, Cullisdoun 1403, Cullesdoun 1422, Culledon 1424, Colynsdon 1428, Collesdon 1439, Culsdon 1446, Cowlesdon 1539, Collesden 1544, Cowlesdowne 1553, Cullesdoy 1556, Colsdon 1558, Cowlesden 1558, Cullesden 1558, Cowllysdon 1567, Cowisden 1618, Coulsden 1619, Cowsdon 1620, Coolsden 1650, Coulesden 1650, Coilsoun 1655, Coulden 1655.
The widely accepted origin of the name is 'hill of a man called Cuthræd', (from OE pers. name + dun, a hill).[8] Alternatively the name originates from the Celtic or primitive Welsh "cull", meaning a leather bag, scrotum, bosom, womb or belly.
The current town centre appears as Leydown Cross or Leaden Cross(1800) and Smitham Bottom.] In 1905, the parish council, and then the Post Office renamed "Smitham bottom" as "Coulsdon".] The name "Smitham Bottom" has also changed. Smetheden (1331), Smithdenbottom (1536), Smythedean(e)(1548), Smythden Bottom (1588), Smitham Bottom (1719).
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