 South Holmwood (as it is known today) only became a significant settlement in the 19th century, when the turnpike road was built from Epsom to Brighton via Worthing.The district of St Mary, Holmwood, was detached from Dorking and Capel parishes as a separate parish in 1838.The school of the parish of St Mary Magdalen, Holmwood, was built in 1844 and enlarged in 1870 and 1884.