Surrey

Surrey

Spelthorne Runnymede Surrey Heath Woking Elmbridge Guildford Waverley Mole Valley Epsom and Ewell Reigate and Banstead Tandridge

Surrey is a county in southern England, one of the 'Home Counties'. It is divided into a number of districts - Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Guildford, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Tandridge, Waverley, Woking.

Until 1889, Surrey contained the present-day London boroughs of Lambeth, Southwark and Wandsworth. In 1965 the boroughs of Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond and Sutton were made part of Greater London, and Staines and Spelthorne acquired from Middlesex.

Surrey has a population of approximately one million. The traditional county town was Guildford, which despite having a cathedral is not a city, and which is home to the University of Surrey. Today, the council is still based in Kingston upon Thames, although there are plans to move the offices to Woking.

Due to its proximity to London there are a great many commuter villages in Surrey, the population density is very high and the denizens of the county are more affluent, on average, than other UK citizens.

The county council offices at County Hall are currently located in Kingston upon Thames which is no longer in Surrey.

Much of Surrey is in the Green Belt and, since the soil is very sandy and agriculture not intensive, there are a large number of footpaths, bridlepaths and commons or Access lands. Therefore Surrey provides much in the way of rural leisure activities, the Horse population being very large.

Much of Surrey is rolling downland, the North Downs Way being a scenic Long distance path. There are many notable beauty spots including Box Hill, Frensham Ponds and Puttenham Common.

Towns and Villages

• Abinger Common, Abinger Hammer, Addlestone, Albury, Alfold, Ash, Ashford, Ashtead
• Bagshot, Banstead, Betchworth, Bisley, Bletchingley, Blindley Heath, Bramley, Brockham, Buckland, Burgh Heath, Byfleet
• Camberley, Capel, Caterham, Chaldon, Charlwood, Chertsey, Chiddingfold, Chipstead, Chobham, Christmaspie, Churt, Claygate, Cobham, Cranleigh
• Dorking, Dormans Land, Dunsfold
• Earlswood, East Clandon, East Horsley, Effingham, Egham, Elstead, Englefield Green, Epsom, Esher, Ewell, Ewhurst
• Farncombe, Farnham, Fetcham, Forest Green, Frensham, Frimley
• Godalming, Godstone Green, Gomshall, Great Bookham, Guildford
• Hascombe, Haslemere, Headley, Hersham, Hindhead, Holmbury St Mary, Holmwood, Hooley, Horley, Horsell, Hurst Green
• Kingswood
• Leatherhead, Limpsfield, Lingfield, Little Bookham
• Merrow, Merstham, Mickleham, Milford
• Normandy, Nutfield
• Ockham, Ockley, Onslow Village, Ottershaw, Oxshott, Oxted
• Peaslake, Pirbright, Pyrford, Puttenham
• Redhill, Reigate, Ripley, Rowley,
• Salfords, Send, Shalford, Shepperton, Shere, Shottermill, South Godstone, Staines, Stoke D'Abernon
• Tadworth, Tandridge, Thames Ditton, Thorpe, Tilford, Tongham
• Virginia Water
• Walton-on-Thames, Walton-on-the-Hill, Wanborough, Warlingham, West Clandon, West Horsley, Westcott, Weybridge, Whyteleafe, Windlesham, Wisley, Witley, Woking, Woldingham, Wonersh, Worplesdon, Wotton

National Trust Properties

Box Hill just north of Dorking is woodland and chalk downland with superb views from the top of the hill. The eminent British myrmecologist and coleopterist Horace Donisthorpe freqented this location during his studies of British ants.

Clandon Park, an 18th century Palladian mansion in West Clandon to the east of Guildford. The house, which holds interesting collections, and the gardens are both attractive.

Claremont, landscape gardens south of Esher. The gardens date from 1715,

Dapdune Wharf on the River Wey in Guildford is home to a restored Wey barge, the Reliance.

Devils Punch Bowl at Hindhead is another common with fine views and walks.

Frensham Common home to a variety of plant, animal and birdlife. Scenic with pleasant walks (and horse rides). Frensham Great Pond houses assorted sailing activities whilst Frensham Little Pond provides family picnicing spots.

Hatchlands Park in East Clandon, east of Guildford, was built in 1758 with Robert Adam interiors and a fine keyboard collection.

Holmbury St Mary is a charming village in an Area of Outstanding Beauty, close to the Greensand Way and North Down Way. It was developed in the 19th century and still has a mainly Victorian character as on the whole no new building is allowed. The youth hostel, constructed in the village in 1935, was the first purpose-built by the Youth Hostel Association.

Leith Hill to the south west of Dorking is the highest point in south-east England. Woods, Rhodedendrons and magnificent views from the many walks.

Oakhurst Cottage in Hambledon near Godalming is a restored 16th century worker's home.

Polesden Lacey at south of Great Bookham is a Regency villa with extensive grounds. Each summer open air theatre is presented in the grounds.

River Wey & Godalming Navigations from Godalming to the Thames at Weybridge. Interesting scenery, well kept locks and well maintained towpaths make for pleasant walks.

Runnymede at Egham is the site of the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215. Attractive meadows and woodland, part of which are a site of special scientific interest.

Shalford Mill is an 18th century water-mill on the River Tillingbourne.

Winkworth Arboretum south east of Godalming was created in the 20th century with impressive flowers in the spring and magnificent colours in the autumn.

Witley Common is heathland south of Godalming.

Wotton Wotton House was the family seat of John Evelyn, the 17th-century diarist and horticulturist.

Youth Hostels

Hindhead - Devil's Punchbowl, Thursley. This is a totally secluded cottage in a rural beauty spot and has no car access.

Holmbury St Mary - In wooded grounds in the hills with easy access. SE of Abinger.

Tanners Hatch - A cottage in the woods on the outskirts of Ranmore Common NW of Dorking.

External Links

Surrey County Council

Referenced By