Edition 13 Winter/Spring 2013 Surrey Hills Society views The Heritage of the Surrey Hills Society members enjoy a walk on Holmbury Hill Tramway at the gunpowder mills We are very blessed throughout the a walk up to Holmbury Hill from Belmont was the site of a gunpowder mill since Surrey Hills to have many locations with School in Holmbury St Mary. It was a Tudor times and the site is being slowly interesting heritage and historic glorious winter’s day with stunning views excavated by a team of volunteers led by connections. The picture (top) shows the to the distance across the weald. Andrew Norris with advice from Prof. chimneys of Albury Park Mansion (Albury Holmbury Hill is the site of remains of an Alan Crocker, who has also written books village is famed for its iconic chimneys). Iron Age hillfort, one of 3 located on the on the area. The photo above shows Albury Park is also well-known for its greensand ridge between Guildford and the old tramway track that used to carry beautiful gardens laid out by famed Dorking and is thought to date back to raw materials across the Tillingbourne designer John Evelyn, but the building’s the lst century AD. At 857 feet, river. main attraction lies with the 63 uniquely Holmbury Hill is the fourth highest point in designed brick chimneys by Pugin, Surrey, with Leith Hill four miles away Active members of the Society will have commissioned by owner Henry being the highest point in the southeast. joined us as we visit and explore many Drummond in 1846, which are said to of these, as well as attending informative replicate the Elizabethan chimneys of You will read inside of our forthcoming talks. Make a date in your diary to join Hampton Court Palace. plans to visit and learn about Chilworth’s us this year as we broaden our gunpowder mills and their fascinating knowledge of the fascinating history Just before Christmas, members enjoyed history. Although now in ruins, Chilworth within our county. www.surreyhillssociety.org Discover and help conser ls ve the natural beauty of the Surrey Hil Registered Charity number 1125532 Chairman’s View It is January, it is zero degrees outside Wood Fair in October, as well as giving and I am currently looking at the draft list you information about promoting our local of events that our band of volunteers are farmers and their produce. putting together for 2013 and I can hardly wait for the year to begin! See confirmed This newsletter sees our first Surrey Hills events on the back page, not forgetting to Enterprises page with their theme of Love check our website for updates and new Local, helping to support and promote events from time to time. local Surrey Hills businesses. The first two to be featured, Denbies and Clock We have some late winter events to help Barn Hall are offering discounts to you shake off the winter blues and then in Society members. April we have Chairman’s Day which I urge you all to book in your diaries now. Finally, I want to thank all the wonderful Working with the team at the AONB volunteers who give up their time to Board office and the parish councils support the Surrey Hills Society and for Chris with Richard Pitts at the AGM along the Tillingbourne Valley, we hope all that they do and I want to give a this year to put in an ambitious bid to the Hope Mausoleum on 10 May, which has special thank you to Richard Pitts who Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an also won some HLF funding, and back by stood down as Membership Secretary at exciting project interpreting the history, popular demand, Fenella Harrison talking the AGM. Richard was a founder particularly the industrial history, of this about prolific children’s writer and member of the Society, got the first valley. Read more about this on our scientist, Beatrix Potter. In September membership scheme off the ground, and Board Update page. We are going to we are looking at how fields got their to where it is today. I would also like to explore some of that heritage in a names in Newdigate, with a walk through wish Stella Cantor well in her new role as fascinating day out at Chilworth history back to the 13th century. Again, Membership Secretary and look forward Gunpowder Mills. We will also look at back by popular demand, another visit to to working with her. restoration in the nearby ancient church the Surrey History Centre in Woking to I hope you enjoy 2013 and I look forward of St Martha, up the hill on the famous discover more of Surrey’s past and how it to meeting you at an event soon! Pilgrim’s Way, as well as enjoying the is preserved at the centre. magnificent views while we are there. Chris Howard Because we like promoting everything Chairman’s Day really is worth booking a Chairman the Surrey Hills has to offer, we are also day off work for. helping to promote the Surrey Hills Music Continuing on the theme of “heritage” Festival in May, lots of events around from the front page, we have a talk on the woodlands including the Surrey Hills New Notelets Watts Chapel, Compton Gift packs available Now available to buy - a beautiful gift membership pack with notelet set, car sticker, special offers and lavender bag. All for the price of a single membership of £15. A great gift for the friend who has We are pleased to announce the launch If you would like to buy some, they are everything! of a new set of notelets with some super available for just £4 at all our events and pictures of the Surrey Hills. The first set wherever we take our promotional To order phone Chris Howard on were so popular that we have followed displays. Alternatively you can purchase 01483 894437. them up with yet more images of some of them from Guildford Tourist Information the wonderful scenery and buildings that Centre (priced £4.50) or by sending a Our thanks to May Gurney for providing make the Surrey Hills such a special cheque for £5 (to include p&p) to Surrey graphic design and printing of our landscape. All the pictures were provided Hills Society – Notelets, Warren Farm newsletters. Thanks to our society members by members or supporters of the Society Barns, Headley Lane, Mickleham, for their on-going contributions and their - a big “thank you” to all of them. Dorking, Surrey RH5 6DG photos. Registered Charity number 1125532 2 News from the Surrey Hills Board Landscape Conservation and Access projects Read on for details of two exciting heritage projects we are involved in… Front Line Surrey Hills events for local communities to take involved in such an unusual project”. part in. If you would like to get involved in the Front Line project there are lots of ways The project, called Front Line Surrey to do so; volunteers are needed for all Hills, will run over the next two years and aspects. No prior experience is will include fort garrison days, living necessary, just a willingness and interest. history events and a series of walks and Roles vary from explainers, fort guides, talks. Gatton Community Theatre will be archaeological assistants, actors, staging an open air theatre production in backstage theatre assistants and the grounds of Reigate Fort and Surrey historical researchers. View Inside Reigate Fort County Archaeological Unit will For more information about any of these investigate mysterious structures around opportunities, please email Pennie King Some of Surrey’s leading conservation the site, presumed to date from the at [email protected] organisations are working together to Second World War, as well as uncovering reveal the lesser-known military history of more evidence of “Monty’s secret Reigate Fort. bunker”. Planning update Funding has been granted to the Surrey The National Trust’s ranger for Reigate Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Fort, Marc Russell, says “the history of Clive Smith, the Surrey Hills Planning Board which is working with the National Reigate Fort is so fascinating. I can’t wait Adviser has submitted AONB planning Trust, Gatton Trust, the Surrey Youth to share its stories and uncover more of advice on 115 planning applications in Support Service and Surrey County its secrets with our local communities. It’s the financial year 2011/2012. Archaeological Unit to devise an exciting a great opportunity to learn more about programme of educational and research your local area, meet new people and get Two high profile applications in 2012 have been the proposed golf course and hotel at Cherkley Court and the oil and gas exploratory drilling appeal at The Tales and Trails of the Tillingbourne Valley Coldharbour. In the case of Cherkley The Surrey Hills Board has established a raise the profile of the Estates that are Court, the Surrey Hills advice given working group, to prepare a Stage 1 bid situated in the valley; develop walking expressed serious concerns about the likely impact of the proposed golf course to the Heritage Lottery Fund for a and cycling trails including links to on this protected landscape. The officer Landscape Partnership Project for the railway stations; promote local recommendation to refuse permission Tillingbourne Valley. businesses and engage education was overturned by a majority vote of providers, particularly for disadvantaged The Tales and Trails of the one. As the Secretary of State did not or excluded groups. Tillingbourne Valley project seeks to call-in the application for his own inspire and engage people; research, The project is currently being worked up determination, the Council issued record and archive the history; enhance with the HLF bid needing to be submitted planning permission.