Surrey ::: Project ETERNITY

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, and borders on Hampshire, Berkshire, Greater London, Kent, East Sussex and West Sussex.

Surrey has a population of approximately one million. The traditional county town is Kingston upon Thames, which was lost to the county following the continued expansion of London. The present county town is 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 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.

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.

The highest point in Surrey is Leith Hill near Dorking at 965 feet (294 m) above sea level.

History

Main article: History of Surrey.

The name comes from the Old English suther-ge meaning southern district and is first recorded in A.D.722 as Suthrige.

Surrey was anciently divided into the fourteen hundreds of Blackheath, Brixton, Copthorne, Effingham, Elmbridge, Farnham, Godalming, Godley, Kingston, Reigate, Tandridge, Wallington, Woking and Wotton.

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 Spelthorne acquired from Middlesex.

In the 1974 local government reform caused Gatwick Airport and some surrounding land to be transferred to West Sussex. In the enactment of Local Government Act 1972, Horley and Charlwood were also to be transferred, but fierce local protests led to a reversal of this decision.

Towns and Villages

Places of interest

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 Garden, 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.

Devil's 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 Natural Beauty, close to the Greensand Way and North Downs 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.

Other places of interest

Youth Hostels

Official county website

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