This heritage trail takes in the idyllic village of Abinger Hammer, situated in TILLINGBOURNE TRAILS the heart of the Tillingbourne Valley. Explore the sites of the former mills and historic houses in and around the village, taking in the scenic fields and country roads which run through what was once a booming and thriving Abinger industrial landscape. Length 3.5 km Duration approx. 1.5-2 hours Easy level of difficulty START in the centre of Abinger Hammer village (RH5 6RX). There is a small village car park on the B2126 (Felday Road), next to the bridge, but For more details, download the printable pdf (www.tillingbournetales.co.uk/places/trails) Continue on this path as it veers otherwise parking is very limited (if no parking is available in Abinger, it right, past the side of a house, and may be best to park at Gomshall station and start the walk opposite Old then left, carrying on until you Hatch Farm, adding 1km to the walk). reach Felday Road (*note the road is very busy*). Cross directly over If starting from the centre of the the road and climb the stile to the village and Felday Road (facing footpath opposite. the Post Office and Tea Room), turn left and walk along the A25, with the Tillingbourne Continue along the path, crossing over on your left. START the stream via the bridge, and then as it ascends upwards past Oxmoor Copse on your right. At the fence corner is another stile which you need to cross. The forge at Abinger Hammer was likely situated on the extensive millpond where the ‘Kingfisher’ farm shop and watercress beds are today. The forge particularly flourished in the 16th century, and local tradition holds that guns were made there In the next field there is a clump of and used against the Spanish Armada. The Hammer Clock (in its present form) trees and hedge at the far right corner, dates to 1909 and stands as a tribute to the village’s ironworking tradition, at the field’s top end. Follow the path featuring a carved figure of a blacksmith known as ‘Jack the Hammer’. towards it (this path may not be visible all year) and the gap between the fields and marker. Turn immediately left by Continue through the village, the stile over the low fence into a passing the Hammer Clock on triangular-shaped field. your right and ponds on your left. Opposite Old Hatch Farm, turn left onto the marked bridleway Follow the path alongside the fence No22. on your right until you reach the field’s corner and T-junction with public bridleway signs. Turn left to go down the hill, enjoying the Hatch Farm is a Tudor farmhouse Walking route likely on the site of a medieval manor fabulous views of the North Downs. house, and was known as Harms Hatch in the 13th century. It took the name Slarkes in the 18th century, At the bottom of the hill you will named for its family of occupants. © License No. 100019613 come to Paddington Farm. Go left and then right through the farmyard between the barns until you come to As you continue on the bridleway, Cross the field and enter a tarmac road. As you carry on down you will pass two semi-detached the woods on the other to the road towards the A25, you will houses on your right. Crossing the side. Turn immediately pass Paddington Mill on your left Tillingbourne you will come to a path right and continue on the and millpond on your right. junction just before a house gateway. path. Take the right-hand path, following When you reach the A25, turn left at the village Though there was likely the garden fence on your right. sign, and take the footpath verge next to the a Domesday corn mill at Turn right and continue road (*be careful along this narrow path*). Paddington, the present As the path goes up the hill past alongside the side of the field, You will pass Kingfisher Farm Shop on the building dates to c. 1840 Southbrook Farm, continue along it to running parallel to the woods. left and its watercress beds, before eventually and was run by nearby Paddington Farm. By the top of the rise. A small path then After 50 yards you will see In about 100yds, take the un- returning to 1915, however, it was doubles back on your left and traverses a stile on your left. As you marked path on the left, Felday Road used as a stable and across a field, which you should follow. cross over, you will come towards a large oak tree in the and the Start even later as a store for out of the woods and middle of the field. At the Point watercress containers, arrive in another field. other end of the field, cross (refreshments and is now converted to the stile and turn right. suggested at Tea residential use. 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