The name is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Cillesfelle", meaning "land of a man called Cēol".[3][2] Another older variant was 'Chilesfeld'.[2] The village church was constructed in the early Norman period, and gives its names to the Five Bells pubs.[2] Chelsfield was historically a stopping place for drovers.[2]
In 1868 Chelsfield station was opened, however, it was located 1 mile west of the village.[2] As a result, in 1925 land near the station was bought by Homesteads Ltd. and developed for housing, thus creating what is sometimes referred to as 'New Chelsfield.'[2] Further development occurred after the Second World War, with New Chelsfield eventually merging with Green Street Green and Goddington, however the introduction of the London Green Belt stymied development around the village.[2] The New Chelsfield area is now largely a commuter suburb.
St Martin of Tours churchCrosshall, a partly 18th-century, Grade II listed building in ChelsfieldThe Five Bells, a Grade II listed pub in Chelsfield[6]
In practice, Chelsfield is split into two very distinct areas: the historic Chelsfield Village sited to the east of the main Orpington bypass (the A224) and New Chelsfield, which grew up in the first half of the 20th century after the sale of some of the Waring family estates.[citation needed] The A224, known as Court Road, now separates the historic village from its Anglican church which is dedicated to St Martin of Tours and which dates back, in parts, to the 12th Century.[7]
Edith Nesbit (1858–1924) – children's author who lived nearby Halstead; her Railway Children is said to have been inspired by her frequent use of Chelsfield station.[2]
Michael Oakeshott (1901–1990) – philosopher and political theorist, born in Chelsfield.[9]
Miss Read (1913–2012, birth name Dora Jessie Saint) – author, spent most her childhood in Chelsfield.[2]
Gary Rhodes (1960–2019) – television chef, lived in Chelsfield.[10]
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