The church is quite a treasure. Designed by George Gilbert Scott, it is built as a mini-cathedral in cruciform layout and has many interesting features. It was at the centre of the Denbies Estate and it served the 300 members of staff and their families who were employed there. The walk up from Denbies afforded some wonderful views back towards Dorking and across the valley.
A pleasant leisurely boat trip on a glorious afternoon. The staff of the Godalming Packetboat Company were very helpful as was the volunteer lady who walked with the horse. Excellent scones for tea and plenty of cream to go with them. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.
GATTON PARK …
… where nature seamlessly meets the man-made.
The afternoon began, as it so often does on Surrey Hill Society visits, with greeting familiar faces and getting acquainted with some new members. All from the shelter of my waterproof hood as the clouds decided to sprinkle us with rain. Hey Ho: Spring Time in Surrey. No matter; within minutes of starting to walk, the sun broke through and we found ourselves bathed in the sight and sound of the bluebells of Nut Wood. A mile or so later, breaking out of the wood, the Capability Brown landscape opened out before us. However, it was only seeing it through the eyes of our expert guide, Glyn Sherratt, I realised just how much contrived the whole scene is. Was it just co-incidence that we passed by the lakes at exactly the time when the sunlight turned the ripples into gold and silver sparkles? Or was it that Glyn was guiding us according to Capability Brown’s design of when best to view it? Something to contemplate as I stood in the tranquillity of Japanese Garden. And yet nothing quite matched the privilege of seeing the view from Gatton House itself across the Mole Valley, usually only visible to the staff and students of the Royal Alexandra & Albert School. Tea, cakes and one final mystery before the end of the afternoon: just how did those earlier gardeners produce the Bundled Ash? I think it is rather nice that our predecessors can still baffle Modern Science!
Carol Coyne – Founder Member
What a day! One recent Saturday I felt as if I had been transported back in time and I was once again reminded why I fell in love with the Surrey Hills in the first place. I had the great pleasure of spending a day in Blackheath village and visiting a few of its magnificent Arts and Crafts houses. This hidden gem in the heart of the Hills really is worth the visit.
I was a bit worried in the morning of the visit as it was pouring with rain when I left home and I was taking a friend with me promising her a day she wouldn’t regret. Luckily the sun came out again as we entered the Cricket Pavilion where the other members of the group were gathered. The sun stayed with us for the whole day and my friend enjoyed herself so much that at the end of the day she decided to join the Surrey Hills Society.
Thanks to the excellent organisation of the Society, we had Sarah Sullivan – an architect and member of the Arts & Crafts Movement in Surrey – as our leader for the day. We were able to hear all about the history of the village and especially its Arts and Craft identity through the work of architects like Charles Harrison Townsend. We also learned about influential women having sojourned in Blackheath – people like Anna Lea Merritt whose work can still be admired on the walls of the village church.
A wonderful lunch and delightful cream tea were served in the Arts and Crafts style Cricket Pavilion. Even a Victoria sponge cake, freshly made by the daughter of one of the home-owners of a house we visited, made its way to our table! Delicious as it was, it disappeared in a flash.
What a lovely village and such marvellous and friendly inhabitants! They say that once you settle down in Blackheath, you never move away. You might swap houses with your neighbours, but not go further than that. And now having seen it for myself, I truly understand why.
Marika Elzinga
I joined #DiscoverGuildford at the Compton Circular walk a few weeks ago as a plan of #GetFit2015 and decided to come on The Surrey Hills Society trek along The Devils Punchbowl which Pete also lead.
Pete is a really knowledgeable and fun guide to be with. He does not rush new trekkers like me. Instead he always takes good care of us with well-planned routes and good cultural and historical stories behind every corner we have been to. I thoroughly enjoy his treks.
We meet new people every single time; good fun, good laughs and good people. I strongly recommend these to all my friends and just cannot wait for a weekend to join a new trek as a mini getaway from the busy daily life.
Well done Pete, and good luck for your plan to climb the Kilimanjaro.
Thanh Hà Dương (who regularly participates to the 20-30s walks)
our events there or whilst dining independently.?ÿ They are now in the running for a national award which relies on people voting for them.?ÿ If you would be prepared to vote for them, please see the web link below which will take you to the details on their own web site.
A big thank you to everyone who donated to the Cooper boys, Darren and Philip, who rode in the recent Ride London 100 mile cycle challenge on behalf of the Surrey Hills Society. They did the ride, in extremely poor conditions, but told us that they enjoyed the extra challenges the weather threw at them, saying: ‘The rain belted down for ages, we couldn??t have been wetter, but the camaraderie of the other cyclists around us and the crowds kept us going – the experience was amazing all in all. We??ll do it again next year if the Society wants us to, and hope we might stay dry and get to ride all the Surrey Hills next time??. Their target of ?500 to help the National Trust install a drinking water fountain on Leith Hill has been achieved, but if anyone wants to donate, the JustGiving site is still open. Any further donations will be gratefully accepted, or cheques can be sent made payable to Surrey Hills Society. www.justgiving.com/thebrotherscooper
Two brothers, Darren and Philip Cooper, will be taking part in the Prudential Ride London/Surrey Classic on 10 August on behalf of the Surrey Hills Society. Their mother Diane has been volunteering for the Society since its inception and is a keen supporter. The boys told us, ??Having been enjoying road cycling for a while now – and taking on bigger and bigger challenges – it??s great that we are able to compete on behalf of the Surrey Hills Society in the Prudential 100 miler. The fact that the route goes through the hills that are part of this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that we??ve known since childhood makes it really special. Training is going well and we can??t wait to take up the challenge and enjoy traffic-free roads for a day!?? By day Darren works for a Woking-based charity, the ??York Road Project?? as well as teaching English at a local language school. Philip is a self-employed camera and sound-man, who??s done a little bit of work for the Surrey Hills AONB in the past. Both grew up and still live in the Woking area. Darren adds, ??The Olympics really got me into road cycling and I started to ride regularly with a club. Now my brother is hooked too and we both like to get out at weekends as much as possible.?? The money raised will go towards providing financial support for the installation of a restored drinking fountain for visitors to Leith Hill tower. The Society has been approached by the National Trust Surrey Hills to see if we can assist with their fundraising efforts and this appears to be a perfect match for our cyclist??s sponsorship money. The fountain will provide free drinking water for the walkers, cyclists, families, dogs and horses who make up the 600,000 visitors to the tower each year. We??re hoping that people will show their support for this event, and the Leith Hill project, and sponsor the boys even for just a small amount. Please take a look on their JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/thebrotherscooper
© Surrey Hills Society, Registered No. 6555157 London, Registered Charity No.1125532.
Surrey Hills Society, Warren Farm Barns, Headley Lane, Mickleham, Dorking, Surrey RH5 6DG
