Did You Know? Leatherhead appeared in the ‘The War of the Worlds’ by H.G. Wells?! (first published in 1898)

‘He’ took his wife to Leatherhead to escape the Martians!!!

“Saturday starts like any other day until the military engages the Martians. Soon the narrator loses confidence in the ability of the military to stop the threat. The Martians were using their Heat Ray to destroy everything in their path.

The narrator acquires a cart and horse, gathers his wife and heads to Leatherhead where he has family, and far away from the Martian landing site. After leaving his wife in Leatherhead the narrator heads back to return the horse and cart.

He is also curious about the Martians. He doesn’t want to miss their defeat. The next morning while the narrator is viewing the damage from a window of his house he sees a soldier wandering into his garden. The narrator invites him in for tea and learns that the man is the last remaining man in his troop. The Tripod Martians killed everyone else with their Heat Rays. He was spared because his horse fell on him and the Martian walked past him.

After looking at the devastation from his window, the narrator decides to go to Leatherhead, get his wife and head to Newhaven, then out of the country. Meanwhile, the soldier plans to head to London so he can join his platoon. They pack some food for the trip and start out together…..